(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

By: Marques Eversoll

Once upon a time, the Bucks traded Ray Allen for a 28-game rental of Gary Payton. From then on, it’s been like I’ve looked at my computer screen with one eye because I couldn’t bear to see the damage.

Moving Brandon Knight at the trade deadline this time around was a shock. It took a while to digest, and my immediate thought was that the Bucks better be “170% sure” Knight wasn’t going to re-up with Milwaukee. I’ve since taken a deep breath, and now I’m OK even if they’re only 100% sure.

Knight will be a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Bucks could match any offer he signs with another team. Think back a couple years when Jeff Teague signed a four-year, $32 million offer sheet with the Bucks, then the Hawks matched it and Teague stayed in Atlanta. (That would have been fun.)

It’s possible Knight wanted to move on, or maybe he wanted to “own the future” in Milwaukee. Either way, the Bucks saw what they had – a borderline All-Star (Knight) in the final year of his contract – and they saw a long, natural point guard and reigning Rookie of the Year, who happens to be under contract until 2017. Clearly, Hammond, Kidd & Co. saw the Michael Carter-Williams option as a more sound investment.

In a few years, 2017-18 Bucks could be something. Jabari Parker will have a few seasons under his belt, and Giannis Antetokounmpo will probably be 7-6 with a 9-10 wingspan by then. Aside from the glaring need for a legit post presence, the Bucks’ arrow is pointing up.

Not to leave out Tyler Ennis and Mason Plumlee, but the Bucks didn’t trade Knight because they were sold on Ennis and the not-as-good Plumlee brother. They traded Knight because they really like Michael Carter-Williams.

And how can you not be intrigued by the new marriage between MCW and his new head coach Jason Kidd? MCW isn’t the scorer (15.0), nor the shooter (.380/.256/.643) that Knight is (17.8, .435/.409/.881). But MCW (7.4 APG) is a natural point guard, whereas Knight is more of a scoring guard. Kidd was always a pass-first point guard (7.7 APG as a rookie, 9.7 in his second year), but he developed his shot over time – struggling as a rookie (.385/.272/.698) line, then posting a (.400/.400/.800) line in back-to-back years late in the twilight of his career.

If you’re MCW, 110% of the questions you’ve been asked since you’ve been an NBA player have been either: “Are you tanking?” or “How does it feel to be a good player on a god awful team?” Now, you’re on a playoff team. The first team in league history to have doubled its previous season win total before he All-Star break. And, oh by the way, you get to play under a head coach who may be the prototype for a young pass-first point guard to emulate.

Even though the face of the franchise (Jabari) was only able to suit up for 25 games before suffering a season-ending injury, the Bucks have still racked up 30 wins.

The No. 2 pick in 2014 (Jabari) will rejoin the Bucks to start 2015. If there were a re-draft for the 2013 draft, the Bucks probably now have picks 1-2 in Giannis and MCW, in whichever order. So, you end up with the two finest players in the 2013 draft, then the guy who would have gone No. 1 (Jabari) most years.

It’s not for nothing. Knight should have been an All-Star this season, and he’s proven (to me) that he’s a player to build around. And chances are that, somewhere, there is at least one team planning to pay him a pretty penny this summer.

But, hey. Maybe the Bucks got it wrong. Maybe Knight liked it in Milwaukee and wanted to be a part of the process. And if he does … well, he’s free to do what he pleases this summer. I mean, there’s still a spot for a scoring guard next to MCW. That’s probably not happening. But you know. It could happen…