RealGM

Three team trade

Bucks in Butler, Kessler
Bucks out Middleton, Portis, Connaughton, Beauchamp, 2031 FRP and SRP

Miami in Middleton, Portis, Connaughton, MIL 2031 SRP
Miami out Butler, Richardson, Burks

Utah in Beauchamp (TPE), Richardson (waive), Burks (waive), MIL 2031 FRP
Utah out Kessler

Why Milwaukee? They go all in using the rest of their amo. They replace Midds with Jimmy adding health and D, while replacing Bobby with younger and bigger Kessler. Bucks keep 473K under the 2nd apron to convert Rollins into a standard contract and reach the 14 player limit.

Lillard......Wright.....Johnson
Jackson....Green......Rollins
Butler.......Trent
Giannis.....Prince.....Livingston
Lopez.......Kessler....Smith

Why Miami? They settle with proven NBA vets on 2 year deals to keep competing until their owed picks convey, while keeping all the 2026 cap space. FWIW Heat keep 512K under the 2nd apron to convert Smith into a standard contract and complete their roster as well.

Rozier.........Robinson.....Smith
Herro.........Jaquez........Larsson
Middleton....Highsmith....Connaughton
Portis.........Jovic..........Johnson
Adebayo......Ware..........Love

Why Utah? They cash in Kessler with another juicy FRP, while getting a look at a fromer FRP with Beauchamp.

I think Miami requires some draft capital in the deal.. but if the goal is just stay as decent as possible for 18 months, this does that.

Milwaukee should do it but their future is looking really scary. I get it’s worth it if you win another title, but you’re leaving no way to build around Giannis in 2-3 years when Dame/Butler decline.. Utah should take it because Milwaukee of that.

I think this is reasonable value for Kessler and I'd at least think about doing it. I wonder if BroLo could be sent somewhere to better balance Milwaukee after the trade? Kessler and Lopez is a great rotation at center, but it feels a bit wasted when they also have Giannis and will need more shooting in the backcourt.

A pick 6 years from now for a 23 year old averaging a double-double? Yeah, I don't think so.......

babyjax13 wrote:I think this is reasonable value for Kessler and I'd at least think about doing it. I wonder if BroLo could be sent somewhere to better balance Milwaukee after the trade? Kessler and Lopez is a great rotation at center, but it feels a bit wasted when they also have Giannis and will need more shooting in the backcourt.

I don't feel that Bucks have to trade Brook after the trade. Neither Lopez or Kessler are reliable 30ish minutes playoff Cs at this stage of their careers. I have them playing equal minutes and give Milwaukee different looks according to matchups. Giannis will also benefit having someone to cover him at all times. He has to try too hard in these Portis lineups or when Lopez becomes an easy target.

I wouldn't also mind about shooting after the trade. Bucks already have three minimum guys shooting at 42-45% (Trent, Green, Prince). With Jimmy on board Bucks can just start Green instead of Jackson and you still have enough shooting with Dame and Brook around Giannis.

Lillard (36)/Trent (12)
Green (24)/Trent (12)/Jackson (12)
Buttler (36)/Jackson (6)/Prince (6)
Giannis (36)/Prince (12)
Lopez (24)/Kessler (24)

That's pretty much the 9 men rotation I had in mind.

red4hf wrote:A pick 6 years from now for a 23 year old averaging a double-double? Yeah, I don't think so.......

Agreed. Utah would be foolish to move Kessler if this is the return.

slos wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:I think this is reasonable value for Kessler and I'd at least think about doing it. I wonder if BroLo could be sent somewhere to better balance Milwaukee after the trade? Kessler and Lopez is a great rotation at center, but it feels a bit wasted when they also have Giannis and will need more shooting in the backcourt.

I don't feel that Bucks have to trade Brook after the trade. Neither Lopez or Kessler are reliable 30ish minutes playoff Cs at this stage of their careers. I have them playing equal minutes and give Milwaukee different looks according to matchups. Giannis will also benefit having someone to cover him at all times. He has to try too hard in these Portis lineups or when Lopez becomes an easy target.

I wouldn't also mind about shooting after the trade. Bucks already have three minimum guys shooting at 42-45% (Trent, Green, Prince). With Jimmy on board Bucks can just start Green instead of Jackson and you still have enough shooting with Dame and Brook around Giannis.

Lillard (36)/Trent (12)
Green (24)/Trent (12)/Jackson (12)
Buttler (36)/Jackson (6)/Prince (6)
Giannis (36)/Prince (12)
Lopez (24)/Kessler (24)

That's pretty much the 9 men rotation I had in mind.

I think Kessler definitely is of that caliber. Utah has four good players: Lauri, Collins, Sexton, Kessler - and I think all of them can start on a playoff team (though Collins and Sexton are ideally backups). In terms of their contributions this season I'd rank them: (1) Lauri, (2) Kessler, (3) Collins, (4) Sexton.

babyjax13 wrote:

slos wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:I think this is reasonable value for Kessler and I'd at least think about doing it. I wonder if BroLo could be sent somewhere to better balance Milwaukee after the trade? Kessler and Lopez is a great rotation at center, but it feels a bit wasted when they also have Giannis and will need more shooting in the backcourt.

I don't feel that Bucks have to trade Brook after the trade. Neither Lopez or Kessler are reliable 30ish minutes playoff Cs at this stage of their careers. I have them playing equal minutes and give Milwaukee different looks according to matchups. Giannis will also benefit having someone to cover him at all times. He has to try too hard in these Portis lineups or when Lopez becomes an easy target.

I wouldn't also mind about shooting after the trade. Bucks already have three minimum guys shooting at 42-45% (Trent, Green, Prince). With Jimmy on board Bucks can just start Green instead of Jackson and you still have enough shooting with Dame and Brook around Giannis.

Lillard (36)/Trent (12)
Green (24)/Trent (12)/Jackson (12)
Buttler (36)/Jackson (6)/Prince (6)
Giannis (36)/Prince (12)
Lopez (24)/Kessler (24)

That's pretty much the 9 men rotation I had in mind.

I think Kessler definitely is of that caliber. Utah has four good players: Lauri, Collins, Sexton, Kessler - and I think all of them can start on a playoff team (though Collins and Sexton are ideally backups). In terms of their contributions this season I'd rank them: (1) Lauri, (2) Kessler, (3) Collins, (4) Sexton.

Obviously I value Kessler since I'm sending a nice future FRP for him, but my point is that he hasn't played a single playoff game and is also doing well on a bad team. I would feel much better taking it slower with him and keep Brook's secure presence in the starting linuep. If Kessler proves himself things can change quickly with Brook only getting older.

I'm not feeling this without some draft capital. Yeesh, this is just meh. Portis is the only one I remotely like and he's not that good and I don't want any part of Pat

Easy pass for me as a Jazz fan.

Utah was asking for two first round picks prior to the season. Now that Kessler has basically confirmed he is legit I don’t see Utah making a deal for anything less than two unprotected picks that materialize relatively soon. No GM can just accumulate assets forever and Lauri/Kessler are the first two pieces of making Utah a good team in 2-3 years (plus hopefully this years draft).

I just don’t think Ainge would consider trading Kessler for one pick in 5-6 years. Not enough value.