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Pistons still have cap space, Bucks losing and have massive payroll...


Detroit still has about $10 million we can use to absorb a contract. Bucks are a second apron team that has been losing 10s of millions each year the last few seasons. The Bucks are currently looking at a $75+ million luxury tax bill alone with a total payroll amount of $268 million. If they don't turn things around soon, I'd say its almost a guarantee they will be shedding some salary.

You can take a look at all the luxury tax teams here https://www.spotrac.com/nba/tax/_/year/2024/sort/tax_total (there are 14 of them).... The Pelicans are in lottery with a small tax bill they will almost certainly try to get under unless they turn things around. I could see a few other teams also want out.

Even though it sucked a bit to sit on so much space this summer, we are still in a position to make another positive move before the trade deadline using our space and perhaps an expiring to bring in another solid rotation player to upgrade whoever our management feels is a weaker piece.

For the Bucks specifically it would likely be Bobby Portis or Pat Connington's salary they would want to dump, with Brook Lopez being an outside shot as well.

They don’t have any picks to give us.

They should have never went for Dame. Should have kept Holiday, passed on extending Lopez and Middleton and got some younger wings. It’s a **** show and now they’re going to lose Giannis.

Who on our roster don't we want to overpay? Who should we trade away before the deadline?
I'd package Tobias, Duren, the dead money that is Dedmon, and a 1st rounder for Giannis.

theBigLip wrote:They don’t have any picks to give us.

They should have never went for Dame. Should have kept Holiday, passed on extending Lopez and Middleton and got some younger wings. It’s a **** show and now they’re going to lose Giannis.

All true, but most franchises struggle with the same exact stuff post-championship. Everybody gets paid like a star and you can no longer afford those critical role players. Then you start getting desperate and next thing you know you are trading for AI.

He's a complete turd, but Ainge is one of the few across all major sports who has built something of a reputation for striking when the iron is hot. Most teams wait too long to blow it up or make major moves.

Imagine firing a 30-13 coach and then going 19-26.

bstein14 wrote:Pistons still have cap space, Bucks losing and have massive payroll....

For the Bucks specifically it would likely be Bobby Portis or Pat Connington's salary they would want to dump, with Brook Lopez being an outside shot as well.

Bobby Portis- Abso freaking lutely. But they are never salary dumping him. At his salary, with him not being an expiring contract, and his production I’m guessing every team in the league would at least have some interest in acquiring him.

Brook Lopez- he’s a 36 year old expiring contract with 1,100+ games played at the NBA level, playing over 30 minutes per game. I wouldn’t mind him, but even with him having a ring he’d likely only be a rental for the remainder of the season. I don’t think he’s willingly joining a team building its way up.

Pat Connaughton- Joe Harris shot .487 on eFG% last season at 32. This season 32 year old Pat is shooting .405 on eFG%. To say I feel like we’ve been down this road before seems correct. And Pat is not on an expiring contract. I’m not saying I don’t think he’ll improve, but I am saying it seems like he’s trending downward in his career.

VicVinegar wrote:Imagine firing a 30-13 coach and then going 19-26.

Or thinking “we need to do great in the playoffs and win championships” and then hiring Doc Rivers

Can't see the bucks selling off guys. Read they wnt to attempt to add something. They don't have much to give though and are strapped by apron.
Once or if Middleton comes back they should be better.

Those 6 teams though from Philly to Cleveland could definitely use our cap space to get them under. I'm going to resist the urge to look any further into this though but I encourage you guys to let me/us know who we could get from them lol

How about letting the Bucks and everyone else stew in their payroll issues until they are ready to give up a first (if they have one)? No first, we have nothing to talk about.

I doubt the Bucks trade Giannis, but could you imagine if OKC went all in with like 7-8 first round draft picks for Giannis? They obviously would have to give up one of Chet or Williams as well but they could still have quite the incredible trio with Giannis, SGA and whoever they get to keep in that deal. I'm guessing the Bucks would prefer Chet over Williams.