Windhorst: Chris Paul to Bucks Trade 'Is Going to Become a Conversation'

After a disappointing end to their season, the Milwaukee Bucks could be focused on adding Chris Paul to their roster for the 2020-21 campaign. 

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Paul being traded to the Bucks is "is going to become a conversation" this offseason:

The Bucks have had the NBA's best regular-season record in each of the past two seasons, but they've been eliminated from the postseason before reaching the Finals both years. The Miami Heat sent them home with a 103-94 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Tuesday night. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo's contract status could play a factor in what the Bucks do this offseason. The reigning NBA MVP has one year left on his current deal and is eligible to sign a supermax extension. 

Despite Milwaukee's abrupt playoff exit, which saw Antetokounmpo miss the final game because of a sprained ankle, he has no intention of requesting a trade. 

"It's not happening," Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes after Tuesday's loss. "That's not happening. Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season."

Per Marc Stein of the New York Times, rival teams expect the Bucks to pursue a deal for Paul if the Oklahoma City Thunder make him available. 

The Thunder had a terrific season in their own right, making the playoffs with a 44-28 record and taking the Houston Rockets to seven games in the first round.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti clearly has an eye on the future after last year's trades of Paul George, Russell Westbrook and Jerami Grant set him up with as many as 15 first-round draft picks between 2020 and 2026. 

Paul is owed $41.3 million next season and has a player option for $44.2 million in 2021-22, per Spotrac. The 35-year-old averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 assists per game for Oklahoma City this season. 

The Bucks struggled to replace Malcolm Brogdon at point guard after he signed with the Indiana Pacers last summer. 

ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported in May that Milwaukee's ownership group would be willing to pay into the luxury tax "depending on how far the team goes this season."

Even though the Bucks' playoff run wasn't what anyone with the team expected, Antetokounmpo's looming free agency, assuming he doesn't sign an extension this summer, could prompt the organization to go beyond its comfort zone with the payroll.