SAD NEWS: Milwaukee Bucks announced that Robin Lopez is leaving immediately after facing…

The Milwaukee Bucks’ apparent need for a defensive upgrade on the perimeter has many asking if they’ll make moves at the trade deadline on February 8.

While the answer to that question remains up in the air, a report from The Athletic’s Bucks insider Eric Nehm details that any move Milwaukee makes will likely not involve any of their four highest-paid players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez.

Even with new head coach Doc Rivers manning the sidelines, the Bucks’ defense has remained subpar—ranking 19th in defensive rating and 23rd in points allowed per game.

However, Milwaukee has few assets to trade at the deadline, and apparently, none of them include their top stars.

If the Bucks want to keep their top four players intact and, per league sources, all indications suggest that the Bucks have little interest in any deal that forces them to move one of their top four earners, that means Horst would have to try to find a deadline deal using the rest of the roster.

And, if Horst wants to trade for a player that makes over $15 million, it would likely require including at least one of Pat Connaughton or Bobby Portis.

Trade rumors are a considerable part of the NBA as the deadline approaches.

For veterans like Portis and Connaughton, this is nothing new, and as such, both players said they’ll continue to do what they’re supposed to until something concrete materializes on the trade front.