Keep Giannis in MIL (MIL, UTA, WAS)

[SoCalJazzFan]

MIL:
out- Dame, Kuzma, Connaughton 2031 FRP, 2032 FRP Swap
in- Sexton, John Collins, Kris Middleton, Jordan Clarkson (or if prefer to keep Connaughton, then Clarkson to WAS)

UTA:
out- Sexton, Collins, Clarkson, 2 of 3 2nd round picks in 2025 and 2028
in- Dame, MIL 2031 FRP, MIL 2032 FRP swap

WAS:
out- Kris Middleton
in- Kuzma, Connaughton (or Clarkson), two UTA 2nd rd picks

Why Bucks? Reload with starters/role players to convince Giannis to stay this next season and get into the playoffs and possibly make a run (several Eastern Conference playoff teams, including the Celtics, could be worse next season). They are all expiring contracts, so if it doesn't work out, they could trade Giannis (and possibly expiring contracts) at the trade deadline- or Giannis next summer. However, there would be $94M of cap space freed up next summer from just the aforementioned expiring players to pursue other free agents, if that is the preferred approach instead to keep Giannis. Yet another option would be to trade Giannis and use the cap space as a a dumping ground for bad contracts to load up even more on picks/young players to help their rebuild.

Why Jazz? Dame won't play next year and his $58M last year is expensive and uncertain, but Dame not playing next season actually helps the Jazz keep their 2026 pick.

Why Wizards? They get two 2nds for replacing Middleton with Kuzma, and Kuzma would probably be a more likely tradeable contract over the next two years than Middleton this year due to contract size and age. Kind of weird to reverse the recent trade, but it arguably works for both teams in this scenario.

[mhd]

MIL:
out- Dame, Kuzma, Connaughton 2031 FRP, 2032 FRP Swap
in- Sexton, John Collins, Kris Middleton, Jordan Clarkson (or if prefer to keep Connaughton, then Clarkson to WAS)

UTA:
out- Sexton, Collins, Clarkson, 2 of 3 2nd round picks in 2025 and 2028
in- Dame, MIL 2031 FRP, MIL 2032 FRP swap

WAS:
out- Kris Middleton
in- Kuzma, Connaughton (or Clarkson), two UTA 2nd rd picks

Why Bucks? Reload with starters/role players to convince Giannis to stay this next season and get into the playoffs and possibly make a run (several Eastern Conference playoff teams, including the Celtics, could be worse next season). They are all expiring contracts, so if it doesn't work out, they could trade Giannis (and possibly expiring contracts) at the trade deadline- or Giannis next summer. However, there would be $94M of cap space freed up next summer from just the aforementioned expiring players to pursue other free agents, if that is the preferred approach instead to keep Giannis. Yet another option would be to trade Giannis and use the cap space as a a dumping ground for bad contracts to load up even more on picks/young players to help their rebuild.

Why Jazz? Dame won't play next year and his $58M last year is expensive and uncertain, but Dame not playing next season actually helps the Jazz keep their 2026 pick.

Why Wizards? They get two 2nds for replacing Middleton with Kuzma, and Kuzma would probably be a more likely tradeable contract over the next two years than Middleton this year due to contract size and age. Kind of weird to reverse the recent trade, but it arguably works for both teams in this scenario.

This trade is illegal as Kuzma can't be traded back to a team that traded him for one year. Furthermore, even if this trade was legal, why would the Wizards do this trade for two 2nd rounders when Kuzma has a contract that runs for two more years?

[penbeast0]

That would indeed be one of those trades that will go down in history as certifiably insane. It might make sense from a product on the court viewpoint but not from the point of view of a GM trying to keep his job.

[Daddy 801]

I would do the deal if it came with a swap sooner. Too lazy to look which years Utah has multiple swaps….but one of those years is a year I would want the swap because having multiple swaps and picks in the same year is more valuable IMO.

[SoCalJazzFan]

MIL:
out- Dame, Kuzma, Connaughton 2031 FRP, 2032 FRP Swap
in- Sexton, John Collins, Kris Middleton, Jordan Clarkson (or if prefer to keep Connaughton, then Clarkson to WAS)

UTA:
out- Sexton, Collins, Clarkson, 2 of 3 2nd round picks in 2025 and 2028
in- Dame, MIL 2031 FRP, MIL 2032 FRP swap

WAS:
out- Kris Middleton
in- Kuzma, Connaughton (or Clarkson), two UTA 2nd rd picks

Why Bucks? Reload with starters/role players to convince Giannis to stay this next season and get into the playoffs and possibly make a run (several Eastern Conference playoff teams, including the Celtics, could be worse next season). They are all expiring contracts, so if it doesn't work out, they could trade Giannis (and possibly expiring contracts) at the trade deadline- or Giannis next summer. However, there would be $94M of cap space freed up next summer from just the aforementioned expiring players to pursue other free agents, if that is the preferred approach instead to keep Giannis. Yet another option would be to trade Giannis and use the cap space as a a dumping ground for bad contracts to load up even more on picks/young players to help their rebuild.

Why Jazz? Dame won't play next year and his $58M last year is expensive and uncertain, but Dame not playing next season actually helps the Jazz keep their 2026 pick.

Why Wizards? They get two 2nds for replacing Middleton with Kuzma, and Kuzma would probably be a more likely tradeable contract over the next two years than Middleton this year due to contract size and age. Kind of weird to reverse the recent trade, but it arguably works for both teams in this scenario.

This trade is illegal as Kuzma can't be traded back to a team that traded him for one year. Furthermore, even if this trade was legal, why would the Wizards do this trade for two 2nd rounders when Kuzma has a contract that runs for two more years?

A player can't be traded back to their old team within the same season that he was traded. It is not a full year.

Wizards do this as a $22M contract is more easily tradeable, especially if it is Kuzma's last year as an expiring contract, than Middleton's $34M contract just this next year. Potentially two seasons to see if they can trade him for assets at a price point that might be easier to make a trade. Also, the Wizards must meet a team minimum salary, so they're not overly concerned about a $22M contract on their books as it actually helps them achieve that. They get these benefits along with two second round picks. Admittedly, it's wonky and atypical, but it does make sense on several levels for them.

[SoCalJazzFan]

That would indeed be one of those trades that will go down in history as certifiably insane. It might make sense from a product on the court viewpoint but not from the point of view of a GM trying to keep his job.

Why? The Wizards GM will have received a FRP swap and two second round picks, and possibly more assets in the future for Kyle freakin Kuzma. Moreover, the Wizards are rebuilding, so it is all about acquiring assets at the moment.

[SoCalJazzFan]

I would do the deal if it came with a swap sooner. Too lazy to look which years Utah has multiple swaps….but one of those years is a year I would want the swap because having multiple swaps and picks in the same year is more valuable IMO.

The Bucks have leveraged their future all the way out to 2031 with traded FRPs and swaps. I don't blame them, its not often a small market team has a top 4 player in the NBA to build around and chase rings and who wants to be there.

[penbeast0]

That would indeed be one of those trades that will go down in history as certifiably insane. It might make sense from a product on the court viewpoint but not from the point of view of a GM trying to keep his job.

Why? The Wizards GM will have received a FRP swap and two second round picks, and possibly more assets in the future for Kyle freakin Kuzma. Moreover, the Wizards are rebuilding, so it is all about acquiring assets at the moment.

The Wiz could survive it; Milwaukee's GM would not.

[giannis and 1]

MIL:
out- Dame, Kuzma, Connaughton 2031 FRP, 2032 FRP Swap
in- Sexton, John Collins, Kris Middleton, Jordan Clarkson (or if prefer to keep Connaughton, then Clarkson to WAS)

UTA:
out- Sexton, Collins, Clarkson, 2 of 3 2nd round picks in 2025 and 2028
in- Dame, MIL 2031 FRP, MIL 2032 FRP swap

WAS:
out- Kris Middleton
in- Kuzma, Connaughton (or Clarkson), two UTA 2nd rd picks

Why Bucks? Reload with starters/role players to convince Giannis to stay this next season and get into the playoffs and possibly make a run (several Eastern Conference playoff teams, including the Celtics, could be worse next season). They are all expiring contracts, so if it doesn't work out, they could trade Giannis (and possibly expiring contracts) at the trade deadline- or Giannis next summer. However, there would be $94M of cap space freed up next summer from just the aforementioned expiring players to pursue other free agents, if that is the preferred approach instead to keep Giannis. Yet another option would be to trade Giannis and use the cap space as a a dumping ground for bad contracts to load up even more on picks/young players to help their rebuild.

Why Jazz? Dame won't play next year and his $58M last year is expensive and uncertain, but Dame not playing next season actually helps the Jazz keep their 2026 pick.

Why Wizards? They get two 2nds for replacing Middleton with Kuzma, and Kuzma would probably be a more likely tradeable contract over the next two years than Middleton this year due to contract size and age. Kind of weird to reverse the recent trade, but it arguably works for both teams in this scenario.

Bucks decline.

[JayMKE]

Bucks can't trade any more future picks like this