Bucks/Kings…Everyone Hates It

[hugepatsfan]

[bpcox05]

As a Kings fan, I need extra incentive here.

- DeRozan is the better player
- They both expire in 2 years, but DeRozan's deal is partially guaranteed next year and won't become fully guaranteed until 1/10/2027. This makes me think we could technically trade him midseason during the 2026-27 season and a team could waive him and only be on the hook for his partially guaranteed money (essentially, he could be used as a TPE to help other teams save money midseason. That can be valuable.)
- DeRozan is the type of vet I want our young guys to be around (definitely not Kuzma)

[sackings916]

As a Kings fan, I need extra incentive here.

- DeRozan is the better player
- They both expire in 2 years, but DeRozan's deal is partially guaranteed next year and won't become fully guaranteed until 1/10/2027. This makes me think we could technically trade him midseason during the 2026-27 season and a team could waive him and only be on the hook for his partially guaranteed money (essentially, he could be used as a TPE to help other teams save money midseason. That can be valuable.)
- DeRozan is the type of vet I want our young guys to be around (definitely not Kuzma)

Agreed. There’s no reason for Sac to do this. DeRozan put up an efficient 22ppg last year, would much rather use him in a 6th man role and let him expire or buy out his partial guarantee next season than trade for Kuzma.

[Clav]

I would have to watch the Kings in person several times if they run a lineup of Schroder/LaVine/Murray/Kuzma/Sabonia. It is the basketball equivalent of 24 hours of Lemons

Sac is my closest NBA stadium to go to, if they roll this lineup out at home I will go to this game

[SNPA]

Keegan Murray needs to play SF. That’s his best position and it gives the Kings the size needed. This mean Sac needs PFs (plural). Currently…Saric. That’s it. That’s the biggest problem now that there’s a PG.

Perry needs to turn one of Monk/DDR into a PF. This achieves that, but it rough….but what are the alternatives? Putting Keegan at PF dooms the Kings to being small and playing Keegan out of his best role.

[One_and_Done]

I hate it for the Bucks. No team that's trying to contend should aspire to have Demar on their roster.

Contending teams should aspire to have Kuzma on their roster instead?

Kuzma can be a harmless bench player if he's not playing well. Will Demar agree to come off the bench?

[penbeast0]

Kuzma can be a harmless bench player if he's not playing well. Will Demar agree to come off the bench?

At his age, to be with a genuine contender and a true superstar like Giannis, I would guess so. Not certain but he never complained about having to share the ball with Lavine or Sabonis.

[One_and_Done]

Kuzma can be a harmless bench player if he's not playing well. Will Demar agree to come off the bench?

At his age, to be with a genuine contender and a true superstar like Giannis, I would guess so. Not certain but he never complained about having to share the ball with Lavine or Sabonis.

I think the chances are low, but if he's happy to play 20mpg off the bench I'd take him on the Bucks. The Bucks are desperate enough that his talent is worth a roll of the dice provided it's purely as a bench scorer who rarely plays next to Giannis.

[landoc88]

Kyle Kuzma for Malik Monk works in trade machine. Straight up trade.

[sackings916]

Kyle Kuzma for Malik Monk works in trade machine. Straight up trade.

Same as DeMar the Kings would need compensation if trading 1 of them for Kuzma.

[sackings916]

Kuzma can be a harmless bench player if he's not playing well. Will Demar agree to come off the bench?

At his age, to be with a genuine contender and a true superstar like Giannis, I would guess so. Not certain but he never complained about having to share the ball with Lavine or Sabonis.

I think the chances are low, but if he's happy to play 20mpg off the bench I'd take him on the Bucks. The Bucks are desperate enough that his talent is worth a roll of the dice provided it's purely as a bench scorer who rarely plays next to Giannis.

Wait you acknowledged DeRozan has talent?! Also he absolutely should play with Giannis, that would be a deadly pick and roll and DeRozan would be a guy that would take some pressure off Giannis and score if the defense keys in on him. And with Giannis and Turner they have the rim protection and length to cover DDR when he gets cooked on defense.

[GatherStepGuru]

So weird it might actually be the best trade the Bucks can make.

Both players have been playing out of position imo. Neither is a 3; Kuz is a ball handling 4, and Derozan is a 2. This helps both get back to their natural position. Even though I think Derozan is a tier better of a player, might be a trade that makes sense situationally.

[One_and_Done]

At his age, to be with a genuine contender and a true superstar like Giannis, I would guess so. Not certain but he never complained about having to share the ball with Lavine or Sabonis.

I think the chances are low, but if he's happy to play 20mpg off the bench I'd take him on the Bucks. The Bucks are desperate enough that his talent is worth a roll of the dice provided it's purely as a bench scorer who rarely plays next to Giannis.

Wait you acknowledged DeRozan has talent?! Also he absolutely should play with Giannis, that would be a deadly pick and roll and DeRozan would be a guy that would take some pressure off Giannis and score if the defense keys in on him. And with Giannis and Turner they have the rim protection and length to cover DDR when he gets cooked on defense.

Giannis needs to be surrounded by spacing, not guys who will clog the space he operates in. That's why the Bucks GM signed Turner. They get it.

[sackings916]

I think the chances are low, but if he's happy to play 20mpg off the bench I'd take him on the Bucks. The Bucks are desperate enough that his talent is worth a roll of the dice provided it's purely as a bench scorer who rarely plays next to Giannis.

Wait you acknowledged DeRozan has talent?! Also he absolutely should play with Giannis, that would be a deadly pick and roll and DeRozan would be a guy that would take some pressure off Giannis and score if the defense keys in on him. And with Giannis and Turner they have the rim protection and length to cover DDR when he gets cooked on defense.

Giannis needs to be surrounded by spacing, not guys who will clog the space he operates in. That's why the Bucks GM signed Turner. They get it.

DeRozan can shoot, it’s not like he’s Ben Wallace out there. He’s obviously knockdown in the midrange, he can shoot 3s and has to be defended at the 3 not only from the threat of the 3 but also because he will get downhill and pull up from midrange.

[One_and_Done]

Wait you acknowledged DeRozan has talent?! Also he absolutely should play with Giannis, that would be a deadly pick and roll and DeRozan would be a guy that would take some pressure off Giannis and score if the defense keys in on him. And with Giannis and Turner they have the rim protection and length to cover DDR when he gets cooked on defense.

Giannis needs to be surrounded by spacing, not guys who will clog the space he operates in. That's why the Bucks GM signed Turner. They get it.

DeRozan can shoot, it’s not like he’s Ben Wallace out there. He’s obviously knockdown in the midrange, he can shoot 3s and has to be defended at the 3 not only from the threat of the 3 but also because he will get downhill and pull up from midrange.

Demar will shoot... after he's dribbled the air out of the ball and left Giannis standing there holding his thumb. He's not a good off ball shooter or spacer. They could maybe coexist for very limited minutes, but on the whole you'd prefer to keep them separate. Demar comes off the bench to create some offense when Giannis sits, then when Giannis is back in Demar sits.

[OxAndFox]

To be honest. It would be far, far more high and low than this.
DO AGAIN!

[OxAndFox]

Keegan Murray needs to play SF. That’s his best position and it gives the Kings the size needed. This mean Sac needs PFs (plural). Currently…Saric. That’s it. That’s the biggest problem now that there’s a PG.

Perry needs to turn one of Monk/DDR into a PF. This achieves that, but it rough….but what are the alternatives? Putting Keegan at PF dooms the Kings to being small and playing Keegan out of his best role.

Honestly, if the Kings did this and the Kuminga thing. I would be ecstatic. Not because it elevated the team or anything. Just that it a) got the most selfish ball player in the NBA off the team and b) got Keegan to be a 3, WITH backup.
Kuzma coming off the bench for Kuminga would be great for the Kings. Now if only they had a leader to go with the likes of Schroder, Lavine, Kuzma, Kuminga. Woah. That's a load of...personality will we say?

[nzahir]

I dont get why people dislike this for the Bucks

Would be a great deal for them, Bucks for sure owe some sort of value

There will be a whole at SF though and already a pg hole

Maybe bring back Brogdon and split pg duties with him, KPJ, and DDR as another ball handler+ Giannis