RealGM

EDIT: Credit to Docri for being the originator for the contest.

So we're rolling into a deader part of the year as the off season is mostly over and now we're just waiting for the season to start so we figured it was a good time to roll out a TnT challenge game and the votes returned with Rolling Trade Challenge winning by a bit.

So let me explain how the challenge works...The winner of each week will pick the weekly challenge. This week we're doing "Get Giannis Shooters".

The goal:

Litter the Bucks with shooters with trying to make the Finals as their goal.

The stipulations:

We're going to make this hypothetical post-December 15th so that everyone is available for trade. Only Giannis is off limits and I'll limit it to up to two separate trades. Everyone other than Giannis and and all picks are available. The goal is to compete though. No littering it with rebuilding level talent shooters and picks coming back.

How to participate/all other misc info:

So below comment your trade and only trades. (no feedback. If you notice someone's trade is illegal just pm a mod or them explaining.) and all trades are still required to have the reasoning why everyone does it, etc.

We're going to play it by ear right now so we don't have everyone post in 3 days and then have to wait an entire week just to start voting and then lose interest so the sooner your entrees are in the better!

I'll give a 24 hour notice though for last entrees and then from there we will vote and the poster with the most votes will pick next week's challenge. The mods will be discussing a potential prize for the poster who wins the most weeks as well and we'll let you know when we arrive to it. Let me know if you have any questions!

Trade 1
Milwaukee trades: John Henson, Matthew Dellevadova, DJ Wilson
New York trades: Tim Hardaway Jr., Ron Baker, Luke Kornet
New York takes a year off Hardaway, dumps Baker, gets a complimentary post player to Porzingas, a veteran backup point, and takes a shot on a recent first round pick. Milwaukee adds a quality wing that can shoot, a terrible wing that can shoot, and an awful center that can shoot.

Trade 2
Milwaukee trades: Shabazz Muhammad, Tyler Zeller
Washington trades: Jodie Meeks, Thomas Bryant (absorbed with TPE, so technically, this is two deals)
Milwaukee simply moves Muhammed for a shooter. Zeller for Bryant is probably a bit of a downgrade but they aren't hurting for center depth, this allows salary matching with Meeks. Absorb Bryant with Vaughn TPE to help Washington get closer to being out of the tax. Washington doesn't care about these end of bench players, and only cares about money.

Depth chart
Brook Lopez/Thon Maker/Luke Kornet
Giannis/Ersan Ilyasova
Khris Middleton/Tony Snell/Donnie Divencenzo
Tim Hardaway Jr./Sterling Brown/Jodie Meeks
Eric Bledsoe/Malcolm Brogdon/Trevon Duval

Most players on the roster would be shooting over 35%. Maker is iffy but might, Giannis won't, Bledsoe is streaky. Pretty much everyone else is a reliable threat from deep.

Alright, let's get this out of my system:

TRADE #1

Bucks trade/Hornets receive
Tony Snell
Matthew Dellavedova

Hornets trade/Bucks receive
Nicolas Batum

The Bucks take a chance that Batum can regain his health and his game. If so, perhaps Bud can have him and Giannis make sweet music together.

The Hornets *don't* take the chance that Batum can regain his health and his game. They lose on talent but save $4M this year, $4.5M next year, and $15M the year after that. It's admittedly a step down talentwise while they want to impress Kemba, but they do get guys who know their roles, and Delly can even chip in a few badly needed minutes at PG.

TRADE #2

Bucks trade
DJ Wilson
Thon Maker
2nd rounder
cash

Bucks receive
Patrick Beverley

More non-shooters out, more shooters in. Beverley should be a nice fit, especially with Batum and Giannis ballhandling.

Clippers trade
Patrick Beverley

Clippers receive
Thon Maker
2nd rounder

Clippers start clearing out their PG overload, bringing back a developing C who can grow with SGA and Robinson.

Mavericks trade
something fake

Mavericks receive
DJ Wilson
cash

The Mavs have just enough capspace left to take back this former 1st round pick for free and see if they can get something out of him.

ROSTER
Lopez/Henson/Zeller
Giannis/Ilyasova
Batum
Middleton/Brogdon/DiVincenzo/S.Brown
Bledsoe/Beverley/Connaughton

It looks a little thin at SF but in fact Giannis/Batum/Middleton are all going to be playing all over the court anyway. I really wanted to send Bledsoe to Orlando for Ross+, but couldn't think of any assets the Magic would actually give up to fix the value.

Delly, Snell, Henson, Brogdon, Donte, next 1st for Hill, Korver, Love

Bev, Lou, Wes for Bledsoe, Thon, 2 2nds

3 way to make the money work.

Hill/Bev
Midds/Lou
Giannis/Korver/Wes
Love/Ersan//DJ
Brook/Tyler

Cavs rebuild and Clips cut some money while getting a few assets.

Bucks get shooters and a more competitive team.

Tony Snell
Malcom Brogdon

For

Evan Fournier

Reasoning: Milwaukee gets a potential Middleton replacement in case they don’t retain him. If they do retain him Evan could easily start next to Middleton and provide the shooting they need. Bucks also get rid of Snells horrible contract and lose Brogdon a player I don’t envision them matching next off season due to Eric Bledsoe’s pending free agency and their tax situation (matching offers 12m+)

Orlando gets a full season with Brogdon prior to committing big money to him. A player Hammond is familiar with (drafted him I think) and fits the current core. Orlando will miss Fournier, but they hope to draft his replacement in one of Reddish/Barrett/Langford/Alexander in next years draft. Snell is owed less and expires the same year as Fournier so it frees up a little cap as well.

Milwaukee trades: Snell, Henson, Bledsoe, 2 second rounders (20/21)
Milwaukee gets: Hill, Korver, Vucevic

Why? They gain shooting and experience without giving up core assets.

Orlando trades: Vucevic
Orlando gets: Bledsoe, MIL 2021 second rounder

Why? Open minutes for Bamba, get a starting level PG

Cleveland trades: Hill, Korver
Cleveland gets: Snell, Henson, MIL 2020 second rounder

Why? They cut salary and get younger, open minutes for Sexton

Spencer Dinwiddie and Allen Crabbe for Eric Bledsoe and D.J. Wilson

Bucks get a shooter and an underrated point guard replacement

Nets get a prospect and an expiring contract that would be useful this season on the court

Bucks Trade:
Khris Middleton
Thon Maker
Sterling Brown

• Bucks get a dramatic scoring Wing who can really form a dynamic duo with Giannis.
• Bledsoe gets a legitimate consistent threat to kick out to.
• Bucks possibly get a chance at forming their own "Splash Brothers" with mentor Klay Thompson on new Rookie shooting sensation Donte DiVincenzo.
• Bucks, highly likely, get to move up in the 2nd Round of the 2019 NBA Draft (likely exercising the swap to the Mavs pick)

Warriors Trade:
Klay Thompson
2019 2nd Swap (Bucks have right to swap to the highest second they have)

• Warriors get a jack-of-all Trades Wing to replace Thompson who brings extra Defense & would fit perfectly with Durant, Curry, Green & Cousins.
• Warriors also get a good backup for Cousins in Thon Maker who fits their style/system perfectly as well.
• Warriors get some additional youth infusion for their bench in Sterling Brown, who's athletic shooting ability will help the 2nd unit.

--Mags

I'll put in a half hearted effort.

Suns trade
------------------
Bridges
Daniels
Anderson

Why for Suns: Suns need a PG and they've liked Bledsoe in the past. They get to get off Ryan Anderson's contract and the cost for all this is a downgrade of 7 spots in last year's draft.

Bucks trade
------------------
Bledsoe
DiVincenzo
Henson

Why for Bucks: Not many better PF shooters than Ryno. Bridges has some upside here and Daniels is a career 40+% 3pt shooter.

Roster (10 man)

C - Giannais, Lopez
PF - Ryan Anderson, Illaysova
SF - Middleton, Snell
SG - Bridges, Daniels
PG - Brogdon, Delly

Deep bench - Zeller, Wilson, Connigton

Giannias moves to center where he, Lopez, and Anderson play the bulk of the 4-5 minutes. On those rare occasions where the bucks need a bigger center Giannias moves down to PF and Lopez starts and Zeller gets more run. Roster relies heavily on Bridges being a contributor from the get go, but he seems ready for the challenge.

Trade 1

Milwaukee: McCollum, Leonard, Layman, Baldwin
Portland: Fournier, Brogdon, Vucevic, Zeller
Orlando: Bledsoe, Snell, Maker, future MIL 2nd

Blazers shake it up moving from McCollum to similar type player (and contract) Fournier and they add Brogdon in their guard mix. They get even more value with the Vuc/Leonard and avoid the tax. Actually they will be at 125 million, so they will need one more small move for that.

Magic swap Vucevic with Bledsoe (both expiring), they fill a place in desperate need and give more time to Bamba. They also trade Fournier with Snell (cheaper same contract), Maker and a 2nd which seems also fair. There will be tons of potential in Orlando with Gordon/Isaac and Bamba/Maker.

Trade 2

Milwaukee: Beverly, Gallinari
Clippers: Lin, Henson
Atlanta: Dellavedova, Wilson, future LAC 2nd

LAC cut 12 more million from next year's bill, which will help them even more to keep Harris and make their mark in 2019 FA.

Atlanta continue to gather assets and get a mentor for Trae Young.

Beverly/DDV/Baldwin
McCollum/Brown/Muhammad
Middleton/Connaughton/Layman
Antetokounmpo/Gallinari/Wood
Lopez/Ilyasova/Leonard

Trade 1:

Milwaukee:

In: Vucevic, Fournier, Daniels
Out: Henson, Delladova, Snell, protection removed from 2019 pick, 2019 Denver 2nd, 2020 Washington 2nd, 2020 MIL 2nd, Duval

Why: Surround Giannis with shooters. Vucevic can shoot. Fornier can shoot. Daniels can shoot. Upgrades only cost them 2nds and protections off of a pick that was going to convey no matter what.

Phoenix:

In: Henson, Delly protections removed from MIL pick, 2019 Denver 2nd
Out: Chandler, Daniels

Why: Get protections removed from the MIL pick (I'd ask for the 2020 protections to be removed, so still reverse lotto protected 2019 and then unprotected 2020, but can be 2019 if you prefer) and a 2nd. The cost being taking on Henson and Delly next year, but both can be serviceable for their tenure. Sets up $40m to come off the books when they and Ryno expire at. Delly can serve as the vet PG this year on a team seriously lacking one.


Orlando:

In: Snell, Chandler, 2020 Washington 2nd, 2020 MIL 2nd Duval
Out: Vucevic, Fournier

Why: Shave 7m off of Fornier's deal swapping him for Snell. Swap Vuc's expiring for Chandler's expiring and pick up a pair of 2nds and a promising undrafed FA (Duval) in the process (frees up minutes for Bamba and gives him a mentor as well). They lean into the tank.

Trade #2:

Milwaukee:

In: Marcus Morris

Why: Shooting around Giannis. Morris I think would fit well next to him on both ends of the floor.

Boston:

In: Sterling Brown

Why: Dip under the tax. Assuming Jabari Bird gets waived (as he should be), they get another 2nd round wing prospect to replace him as the 15th man

Lopez/Vucevic/Maker
Giannis/Ersan/Wilson
Middleton/Morris
Fournier/Daniels/Divincenzo
Bledsoe/Brogdon

Trade one:

Milwaukee sends: Eric Bledsoe, 2020 2nd, Top 20 protected 2022 1st (then 2 2nds if not converted)
Milwaukee receives: Lou Williams, Patrick Beverly

Orlando sends: Nikola Vucevic, OKC 2020 1st (top 20 protected)
Orlando receives: Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee 2020 2nd

LAC sends: Lou Williams, Patrick Beverly
LAC receives: Nikola Vucevic, OKC 2020 1st, Milwaukee 2022 1st

Reasons:


Trade two:
Bucks send: John Henson, Malcolm Brogdon
Memphis sends: Jamychal Green, Garrett Temple, 2019 2nd



End game:
Beverly/Brown/Delly
Middleton/Williams/DDV
Giannis/Snell/Temple
Green/Ersan/Wilson
Bropez/Zeller/Thon

w/CAVS
G.Hill, Korver
for
Bledsoe, Wilson, Dellavedova


Cleveland upgrades at PG or at least gets a higher scoring guard that they may need if they plan on the making the POs. They have to take Delly back, but also get a look at DJ Wilson.

Bucks add 41% and 44% 3 point shooters.

BUCKS
G. Hill / Brogdon
Korver / DiVencenzo / Connaughton
Middleton / Snell / Mohammed
Giannis / Ilyasova / Maker
Lopez / Henson / Zeller

TRADE 1

MIL TRADES - Eric Bledsoe, Malcolm Brogdon, John Henson, 2 R2 Picks
MIL RECEIVES - CJ McCollum, Jake Layman

ORL TRADES - Evan Fournier
ORL RECIEVES - Eric Bledsoe, Caleb Swanigan

PDX TRADES - CJ McCollum, Caleb Swanigan, Jake Layman
PDX RECIEVES - Evan Fournier, Malcolm Brogdon, John Henson, 2 R2 Picks

PDX shakes up their two guard lineup, MIL secures #3 in their big 3 and a great compliment to Giannis and ORL gets their PG who, if he doesnt work, is an EC and creates extra cap space in 2019.

TRADE 2

MIL TRADES - Tony Snell, Matt Delladova
CHA TRADES - Nicolas Batum

MIL goes all-in and buys Batum low. CHA shaves half Batum's salary off as Delladova expires in 1 rather than 2 years.

TRADE 3

MIL TRADES - DJ Wilson, Tyler Zeller
LAC TRADES - Pat Beverly

LAC snags a big young guy and backup C for a player likely not in their long term plans and MIL goes for a complimentary 3/D backup PG.

FA SIGNED - Lucas Nogueria, Jason Terry

PG - CJ McCollum (20) / Pat Beverly (28)
SG - Kris Middleton (20) / CJ McCollum (14) / Sterling Brown (14)
SF - Nicolas Batum (30) / Kris Middleton (12) / Pat Connaughton (6)
PF - Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) / Ersan Ilyasova (14)
C - Brook Lopez (23) / Thon Maker (15) / Ersan Ilyasova (10)

DEEP BENCH - Donte DiVincenzo, Jake Layman, Lucas Nogueria, Jason Terry

Didn't realize about Teletovic, thanks to those who pointed it out. Revised:

Trade 1

Milwaukee trades:

Eric Bledsoe
John Henson
Thon Maker
Donte DiVincenzo
Tony Snell (in place of Mirza Teletovic)

Cleveland trades:

Kevin Love
George Hill

Cleveland gets out of what they realize was a bad idea in extending Kevin Love to that contract and get out of the George Hill contract as well, picking up nice expirings in Bledsoe who can also mentor Sexton and help Cleveland out if they wanted to run a combo guard 1-2 punch with Sexton and Bled, and Teletovic's contract is also expiring. Cleveland also picks up John Henson, young and intriguing Thon Maker, and Donte DiVincenzo for young promising pieces in the rebuild.

Milwaukee gets a great offensive weapon in Love to pair with Giannis who's got a terrific shooting stroke and also pick up George Hill, who's proven to be elite from deep minus the Cleveland stint, while being able to share ball-handling responsibilities and is a decent defender. They move Giannis to the 3 and Middleton to the 2 and take advantage of the size on the squad. The starting lineup plays 5-out, spreading the floor exceptionally, with Giannis handling the ball with all the space he needs.

Trade 2

Milwaukee trades:

Matthew Dellavedova
Pat Connaughton

Orlando trades:

Nikola Vucevic

Orlando picks up a decent point guard in Delly who plays good D and facilitates well enough to help the Magic out a bit as they continue their PG search while moving away from Vucevic, whose time in Orlando is clearly over in order to make room for Bamba/Issac/Gordon in the frontcourt. They also pick up Connaughton as a decent depth piece at SG, where all they have is Fournier. Low risk, high reward move.

Milwaukee has way too many ball handlers as it is; they give up Delly and Connaughton what with Hill, Giannis, and Brogdon handling the ball, and pickup Vucevic as a nice backup big to have. Scores, shoots FTs, rebounds, and limits TOs very well. Low risk, high reward move.

Depth chart:

C: Brook Lopez/Nikola Vucevic
PF: Kevin Love/Ersan Ilyasova
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo/Sterling Brown
SG: Khris Middleton/Shabazz Muhammad
PG: Malcolm Brogdon/George Hill

Alright, so it looks like entries are slowing down so voting will begin in 24 hours. Feel free to submit any last second entries!

Mamba4Goat wrote:Alright, so it looks like entries are slowing down so voting will begin in 24 hours. Feel free to submit any last second entries!

Bump! Last chance!

Alright, voting is now open you guys! Feel free to give commentary on every entry, but to vote you're going to put (preferably at the end and in bold)...

Vote: Mamba4Goat (No other names will be accepted)

Voting will close Sunday evening.

There are ssome good entries with some common dance partners here

I think I will go with babyjax's proposal. I think the first trade is really interesting; the second one I'm not so crazy about just because Meeks is going to miss so much time, it's not really that helpful as other choices would have been.

This proposal seemed the most plausible to me, but I liked seeing what everyone came up with.