Lillard comes home [UTA - MIL]

[babyjax13]

UTA trades: John Collins, Collin Sexton, Svi Mykhailiuk, 2025 MIN 1st (21)
MIL trades: Damian Lillard, 2031 pick swap (UTA receives the two highest of UTA/PHX/UTA, MIL receives the lowest)
The Bucks get players that can play now, but who are also expiring so that they can pivot in the offseason around Giannis. Utah creates some extremely high upside variance and brings home a fan favorite who won't hurt the tank this year, but who will be a great mentor to the young guards and can help us push in for the 2026-27 year.

Probably not happening since Milwaukee wasn't willing to discuss 2031 (and they shouldn't, especially if they trade Giannis) ... but, I thought it was a potentially fun idea?

[ReggiesKnicks]

If this is the best Milwaukee can do then they need to be trading Giannis.

[BlazersBroncos]

If MIL keeps Giannis then this is a trade they must make. They wont get better for Dame with his age and injury.

Attach #22 to Kuzma and see what they can get.

[babyjax13]

If this is the best Milwaukee can do then they need to be trading Giannis.

Frankly, they need to be trading Giannis. I'm just a fan of unhinged ideas that are maybe the "best option" if teams don't realize these sorts of things. e.g., I loved that three pick trade for the Phoenix first. If we can recreate that in any way with a team that has leveraged its future, I'm in.

[HornetJail]

yeah i like this a lot if Giannis is going the Dirk route and both sides want him to be a Bucks lifer


Maybe Collins to a 3rd team for some wings

[JustBuzzin]

Dame is from Oakland btw

[RiotPunch]

Dame is from Oakland btw

College home, Weber State. I'm sure he would prefer Oakland.

[babyjax13]

Dame is from Oakland btw

College home, Weber State. I'm sure he would prefer Oakland.

And ironically John Collins was born in Utah

[tester551]

UTA trades: John Collins, Collin Sexton, Svi Mykhailiuk, 2025 MIN 1st (21)
MIL trades: Damian Lillard, 2031 pick swap (UTA receives the two highest of UTA/PHX/UTA, MIL receives the lowest)
The Bucks get players that can play now, but who are also expiring so that they can pivot in the offseason around Giannis. Utah creates some extremely high upside variance and brings home a fan favorite who won't hurt the tank this year, but who will be a great mentor to the young guards and can help us push in for the 2026-27 year.

Probably not happening since Milwaukee wasn't willing to discuss 2031 (and they shouldn't, especially if they trade Giannis) ... but, I thought it was a potentially fun idea?

If I'm the Bucks, I take this and run...

[RiotPunch]

The more I think about it, the more I like it if we're keeping Giannis.

Sexton / Rollins
Trent / KPJ
Green / Kuzma
Giannis / Collins
Portis / Sims

What could Kuzma + 21 fetch?

[babyjax13]

The more I think about it, the more I like it if we're keeping Giannis.

Sexton / Rollins
Trent / KPJ
Green / Kuzma
Giannis / Collins
Portis / Sims

What could Kuzma + 21 fetch?

Im glad I came up woth something fun, then! I think 21 maybe let's you break Kuzma up? E.g. Grant Williams and Josh Green? Maybe? I dont hate that, though.

[Astaluego]

I had thought of something "similar".. What about Lillard for PG + Oubre..? The 76ers with Embiid out for next year, they accumulate next year, get rid of PG before and they have a trade asset when Lillard recovers (it will be expiring)... The Bucks are fooling themselves and delaying the inevitable Giannis trade for another year, trading Kuzma/Portis ++ for some guard, McCollum?? and try again.

[Astaluego]

The more I think about it, the more I like it if we're keeping Giannis.

Sexton / Rollins
Trent / KPJ
Green / Kuzma
Giannis / Collins
Portis / Sims

What could Kuzma + 21 fetch?

Im glad I came up woth something fun, then! I think 21 maybe let's you break Kuzma up? E.g. Grant Williams and Josh Green? Maybe? I dont hate that, though.

Kuzma+Patt +21 for Mccollum..?
Lillard for PG/Oubre

Mccollum/Trent/PG/Giannis/Portis
Rollins/KPJ/Green/Oubre/Sims

[babyjax13]

I had thought of something "similar".. What about Lillard for PG + Oubre..? The 76ers with Embiid out for next year, they accumulate next year, get rid of PG before and they have a trade asset when Lillard recovers (it will be expiring)... The Bucks are fooling themselves and delaying the inevitable Giannis trade for another year, trading Kuzma/Portis ++ for some guard, McCollum?? and try again.

Or an even more unhinged alternative?

Dame to Philly
George to Phoenix
Beal to Milwaukee

[jbk1234]

Is Giannis extension eligible? If not, the Bucks need to think long and hard about attaching future draft capital in treadmill now moves. Even if he retires a Buck, he'll be 36 when that pick conveys.

[RiotPunch]

The more I think about it, the more I like it if we're keeping Giannis.

Sexton / Rollins
Trent / KPJ
Green / Kuzma
Giannis / Collins
Portis / Sims

What could Kuzma + 21 fetch?

Im glad I came up woth something fun, then! I think 21 maybe let's you break Kuzma up? E.g. Grant Williams and Josh Green? Maybe? I dont hate that, though.

I think Giannis is looking for any reason to stay. Sexton is a competitor that I think Giannis would love, albeit not an amazing fit. Both he and Collins are flawed players, but they are live bodies that have real skillsets. And like you said, both are expiring so it potentially cleans our cap sheet in a timely manner as well.

Bucks almost moved Portis in a Williams deal, so that isn't far fetched, our Aussie contingent would love adding Green. That would at least be a competitive roster with a puncher's chance.

Logic, in many ways, says to trade Giannis. But he wants to retire a Buck, I think.

[Daddy 801]

Utah needs more for Dames contract. That’s a horrendously large amount of money to pay for the next two seasons for a swap in 2031 and Utah giving up a ick this year. Easy, easy pass.

[babyjax13]

Utah needs more for Dames contract. That’s a horrendously large amount of money to pay for the next two seasons for a swap in 2031 and Utah giving up a ick this year. Easy, easy pass.

It's really hard to triangulate what fair value is vs. what Milwaukee can/would/should offer vs. what other deals are available. But I'll say this, Milwaukee is leveraging the last of their assets to improve their team here. They won't own their own pick for 7 years, they'll have very few firsts in the interim years, they will have almost no young players, and by the time that pick comes around Giannis will be 36. If he asks for a trade they'll have to rebuild and it might be without their own picks, too, which means a long process. I really value high upside plays, and this is that. The downside, really, is the extra year of Dame. But if he comes back in 26-27 and looks good he will be tradable for value, so I would actually bank on being able to recoup the lost value of the 21st pick pretty easily. Personally, I see the debate hinging on the inclusion of the first from our end, but I also think to convince Milwaukee to burn their semi-distant future to ashes, it has to be there. YMMV.

[Daddy 801]

Utah needs more for Dames contract. That’s a horrendously large amount of money to pay for the next two seasons for a swap in 2031 and Utah giving up a ick this year. Easy, easy pass.

It's really hard to triangulate what fair value is vs. what Milwaukee can/would/should offer vs. what other deals are available. But I'll say this, Milwaukee is leveraging the last of their assets to improve their team here. They won't own their own pick for 7 years, they'll have very few firsts in the interim years, they will have almost no young players, and by the time that pick comes around Giannis will be 36. If he asks for a trade they'll have to rebuild and it might be without their own picks, too, which means a long process. I really value high upside plays, and this is that. The downside, really, is the extra year of Dame. But if he comes back in 26-27 and looks good he will be tradable for value, so I would actually bank on being able to recoup the lost value of the 21st pick pretty easily. Personally, I see the debate hinging on the inclusion of the first from our end, but I also think to convince Milwaukee to burn their semi-distant future to ashes, it has to be there. YMMV.

To take on terrible salary you need more than a swap. And you 100% need a lot more than a swap if you are sending out a pick now. I’m not taking on Dames contract until they can trade Giannis and get a bajillion picks and send back 1-2 unprotected picks (depending on year, team, etc). Or like 3-4 swaps. His contract is hot garbage. He isn’t playing next year and there is almost no chance he comes back the season after and proves he is worth anywhere close to his contract.

Honestly and politely…this would be one of the worst trades the Jazz have ever made in its current form. Quite possibly the worst.

You make a lot of trade offers and I get it…it’s fun and part of why this site exists. And you seem to look at both sides and try to make a reasonable offer usually. But this one isn’t it. If I was the Bucks GM I would make this trade and be trashing Ainge for days. 100+ million for a swap AND I get a pick this year?

[jazzfan1971]

I feel like this has as much chance as Jimmer starting for us next year.