Hypothetical: The Bucks decide to shake it up

[JonHeist]

Over on the Bucks board we have had pages of discussion of whether or not we should be shopping Khris Middleton and Dame Lillard. Personally, I don't think we should, but many do.

So let's say the Bucks put both on the trade block, are your teams interested? What would they be willing to give up.

Khris will be 33 at the start of next season, he makes 31.7M and has a 34M player option next summer. He just averaged 25/9/5 in a playoff series.

Dame will be 34 at the start of next season, he makes 49M next year, 54M the year after that, and then has a 59M player option. He just averaged 31/3/5 in a playoff series.

We have picks 23/33 in this draft and a tradable future first.

Consider anyone but Giannis also available.

[wegotthabeet]

Pretty difficult to remake this roster. Those two guys don’t have a ton of value or aren’t bringing back better players at least. The window might be closed.

[Texas Chuck]

To give but one Mavs perspective, I don't think so. Dame obviously not a need with Luka/Kyrie and while Middleton would make some sense as a 3rd scorer, there is just no good way to match salary in a deal that makes sense for both the Bucks and Mavs. IT would have to be THJ/Powell/one of Kleber/Green. And it cost Dallas Derrick Jones Jr as they can't get under the apron to use the big boy MLE. So Dallas sacrifices two quality defenders plus obviously assets to get the Bucks to bite.

I do think there should be teams interested in both, especially Dame still. I mean I know he's old and some like their whole team to be one age, but if I'm Orlando and I can trade stuff for Dame or sign Malik Monk? Easy call. Basically any team rumored on Garland should want Dame if they can swing the salary.

[penbeast0]

Lillard was easily better than Garland this year. He might give you 2 more years at or above the Garland level or he might be aged out and constantly injured as we have seen with so many modern NBA players. 3 or more years from now, Garland will certainly have more value. So, when you talk about trading for Lillard or Garland, it depends on your window. With a younger team, I would think Garland would be the choice.

[psman2]

I think Milwaukee is already the team most likely to value both of these guys the most thus making a trade unlikely.

Miami going all in on Butler's last years is your best bet for either if you really wanted to trade them but it would be mostly lesser players and future picks. LAL too would be in with they last chance to get Lebron another chip, but the return is not going to be better than just keeping them both if they goal is to win soon. Basically teams that at the end of their window and want to give it one more push and offering future picks/filler.

Middleton would have a wider market due to contract and position, but the return will still be very limited. Filler and a couple non premium picks is what you would be looking at most likely. Even bringing in a 3rd team for win now talent is not likely going to leave Milw with better odds of winning it than just keeping him. For example maybe GS offers something Wiggins/Moody/future 1st for Midds.

I don't have Memphis interested in either.

[jayjaysee]

I just don’t see who you get in return for these guys they makes you feel better off then just having them.. similar to Brolo..

I can’t see any Dame trade really making sense, but I think you can build three team deals around Middleton for guys that might not be as good as Middleton on his great nights, but offer a lot more consistency (Grant?)

Milwaukee has 23rd and 33rd so you can add some value with Midds ending up in GS or LAL.

[Karmaloop]

I do think there should be teams interested in both, especially Dame still. I mean I know he's old and some like their whole team to be one age, but if I'm Orlando and I can trade stuff for Dame or sign Malik Monk? Easy call. Basically any team rumored on Garland should want Dame if they can swing the salary.

The biggest question for a team acquiring Damian Lillard is he going to be a malcontent if they trade for him? Dame took forever to ask out of Portland, and it ended up being the Scoot selection that seemed to push things forward.

[OGSactownballer]

Realistically, at this particular stage both guys make the most sense right where they are.

If Giannis had been healthy, the Bucks were the best challenge to Boston as contenders. And they likely will be with this team for the next year or two.

But for other teams, the depth and vet presence and Superstar just aren’t there to justify taking on those salaries.

And also as those two age out and expire, the Bucks can reload around a still fully effective Giannis for a last run of his tenure.

[jayjaysee]

So I liked the Grant/Midds swap..stealing Chuck’s little salary cutting base..

Hunter, Landale, Griffin, Sac first to Portland
Adams, Middleton to Atlanta
Capela to Houston
Grant to Milwaukee

Atlanta trims the money they need to duck the tax while getting a starting wing for the next two years. Whatever they do with the two guards, Middleton is a nice fit and mentor.

[Godaddycurse]

So I liked the Grant/Midds swap..stealing Chuck’s little salary cutting base..

Hunter, Landale, Griffin, Sac first to Portland
Adams, Middleton to Atlanta
Capela to Houston
Grant to Milwaukee

Atlanta trims the money they need to duck the tax while getting a starting wing for the next two years. Whatever they do with the two guards, Middleton is a nice fit and mentor.

I feel like atlanta would prefer grant over middleton though.

[Buckfan76]

I feel like a possible market for Dame if he wanted out of MKE or Bucks want to get younger are LAL, Heat, maybe the LAC if they would trade for example PG13 to heat, Dame to LAC, Herro and Scary Terry to MKE.

For Middleton it's tough, maybe ORL if they miss out on Klay? Maybe Kings? Maybe Lakers for like Hacimura, and Russell?

For BroLo I think maybe GSW, OKC, maybe MEM?

[jayjaysee]

So I liked the Grant/Midds swap..stealing Chuck’s little salary cutting base..

Hunter, Landale, Griffin, Sac first to Portland
Adams, Middleton to Atlanta
Capela to Houston
Grant to Milwaukee

Atlanta trims the money they need to duck the tax while getting a starting wing for the next two years. Whatever they do with the two guards, Middleton is a nice fit and mentor.

I feel like atlanta would prefer grant over middleton though.

I don’t really think so.

I’m not an Atlanta fan, and would definitely side with them if they go that way. I used to post Grant to Atlanta before they won the lottery.. But with Sarr (or Zacc) joining OO/Jalen, I’d prefer a real wing over Grant.

And Middleton is the better player short term and Atlanta might prefer that over locking up Grant’s future years..

Or you could say Milwaukee adds 23rd and/or 33rd to make it work if I’m still too high on Midds..

[Myth]

The unpopular option. Dame is sent back home:

Lillard
Portis

Grant
Brogdon
Murray
14
2028 and 2030 swaps returned

Lillard returns to Portland. Blazers try getting back into the play-in with a slightly different look with a potentially better defensive team than previously (hopefully with a Simons follow up trade). They keep that 2029 Bucks pick given the future Dame cost looking a bit worse.

Bucks worry a bit less about their future being hurt by Lillard’s contract, use Grant to spread the floor for Giannis, Brogdon returns and if healthy is a decent PG, and Bucks use 14, Murray, and swaps as trade chips to find veteran depth.

[Colbinii]

The unpopular option. Dame is sent back home:

Lillard
Portis

Grant
Brogdon
Murray
14
2028 and 2030 swaps returned

Lillard returns to Portland. Blazers try getting back into the play-in with a slightly different look with a potentially better defensive team than previously (hopefully with a Simons follow up trade). They keep that 2029 Bucks pick given the future Dame cost looking a bit worse.

Bucks worry a bit less about their future being hurt by Lillard’s contract, use Grant to spread the floor for Giannis, Brogdon returns and if healthy is a decent PG, and Bucks use 14, Murray, and swaps as trade chips to find veteran depth.

Illegal, Bucks can't aggregate salary.

[Myth]

The unpopular option. Dame is sent back home:

Lillard
Portis

Grant
Brogdon
Murray
14
2028 and 2030 swaps returned

Lillard returns to Portland. Blazers try getting back into the play-in with a slightly different look with a potentially better defensive team than previously (hopefully with a Simons follow up trade). They keep that 2029 Bucks pick given the future Dame cost looking a bit worse.

Bucks worry a bit less about their future being hurt by Lillard’s contract, use Grant to spread the floor for Giannis, Brogdon returns and if healthy is a decent PG, and Bucks use 14, Murray, and swaps as trade chips to find veteran depth.

Illegal, Bucks can't aggregate salary.

My bad. Ran it through Spotrac trade machine and it told me it worked, but I’m not familiar with its limitations.

[Colbinii]

The unpopular option. Dame is sent back home:

Lillard
Portis

Grant
Brogdon
Murray
14
2028 and 2030 swaps returned

Lillard returns to Portland. Blazers try getting back into the play-in with a slightly different look with a potentially better defensive team than previously (hopefully with a Simons follow up trade). They keep that 2029 Bucks pick given the future Dame cost looking a bit worse.

Bucks worry a bit less about their future being hurt by Lillard’s contract, use Grant to spread the floor for Giannis, Brogdon returns and if healthy is a decent PG, and Bucks use 14, Murray, and swaps as trade chips to find veteran depth.

Illegal, Bucks can't aggregate salary.

My bad. Ran it through Spotrac trade machine and it told me it worked, but I’m not familiar with its limitations.

I'm assuming the bucks are in the 2nd Apron. I'm unsure what Spotrac has and I'm not 100% sure, but some people here have said that before.

[Myth]

Illegal, Bucks can't aggregate salary.

My bad. Ran it through Spotrac trade machine and it told me it worked, but I’m not familiar with its limitations.

I'm assuming the bucks are in the 2nd Apron. I'm unsure what Spotrac has and I'm not 100% sure, but some people here have said that before.

I was just reading a Reddit thread that backs up your claim.

[Texas Chuck]

So this 2nd apron sucks, but just because I have a terrible handle on it so far. But I like that the league is putting some serious teeth into making it harder for the teams with huge payrolls some teams can't replicate to upgrade their roster.

Just as I like the increased ability to make deals for those teams under the tax--the increased matching and being able to take a player via trade into the MLE.

I just need to get my Scoot on and learn it....

[Myth]

The unpopular option. Dame is sent back home:

Lillard
Portis

Grant
Brogdon
Murray
14
2028 and 2030 swaps returned

Lillard returns to Portland. Blazers try getting back into the play-in with a slightly different look with a potentially better defensive team than previously (hopefully with a Simons follow up trade). They keep that 2029 Bucks pick given the future Dame cost looking a bit worse.

Bucks worry a bit less about their future being hurt by Lillard’s contract, use Grant to spread the floor for Giannis, Brogdon returns and if healthy is a decent PG, and Bucks use 14, Murray, and swaps as trade chips to find veteran depth.

Illegal, Bucks can't aggregate salary.

I guess Lillard for Grant and RWIII and those picks it is.

Works less than the proposal I made before for both teams, but not like it matters anyway since it isn’t happening.

[Colbinii]

So this 2nd apron sucks, but just because I have a terrible handle on it so far. But I like that the league is putting some serious teeth into making it harder for the teams with huge payrolls some teams can't replicate to upgrade their roster.

Just as I like the increased ability to make deals for those teams under the tax--the increased matching and being able to take a player via trade into the MLE.

I just need to get my Scoot on and learn it....

I just wish they had it from 2017-2019