RealGM

John Collins and Collin Sexton for Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, Chris Livingston and 2031 Unprotected Milwaukee Bucks First Round Draft Pick

Jazz use both Collins and Sexton to land a singular asset with a lot of value in that 2031 Unprotected Bucks first rounder. They could try flipping the rest for worse contracts and other small assets as well maybe?

Bucks hold out for Lillard, but try going for it this year as well in a weak East. Collins and Sexton could both be nice fits alongside Giannis as boosts to a surprise 2025-26 season.

I think it is too good for Utah. Route Portis to a third team for value that returns to Milwaukee?

This is tough because you have Milwaukee in kind of a desperate spot, so you can squint and seem them making a move like this to shore up the roster for the upcoming season. And these are solid additions. But a desperate party may not make the best decisions, and I'm not sure this would be. Those two are not guaranteed to bolster this team's fortunes during their Lillardless year ahead, and that pick is the last, best asset Milwaukee has to add just the right piece.

No matter, though. As good as that 2031 pick may be, Utah can't possibly justify the investment of Kuzma's extra year, can they? What are the total amounts of the contracts swapped here? Maybe it's not as expensive as it looks.

Tim Lehrbach wrote:This is tough because you have Milwaukee in kind of a desperate spot, so you can squint and seem them making a move like this to shore up the roster for the upcoming season. And these are solid additions. But a desperate party may not make the best decisions, and I'm not sure this would be. Those two are not guaranteed to bolster this team's fortunes during their Lillardless year ahead, and that pick is the last, best asset Milwaukee has to add just the right piece.

No matter, though. As good as that 2031 pick may be, Utah can't possibly justify the investment of Kuzma's extra year, can they? What are the total amounts of the contracts swapped here? Maybe it's not as expensive as it looks.

What better deal are you looking at for a pick that far down the line?

Oh you take on one year of Kuzma for an unprotected pick with that much variance all day every day.

I just don't think you can offer it as the Bucks. Is Collins really much of an upgrade over Portis? So now its an unprotected first for one year of Colin Sexton and maybe a small upgrade in the frontcourt. They shouldn't do that.

NYG wrote:

Tim Lehrbach wrote:This is tough because you have Milwaukee in kind of a desperate spot, so you can squint and seem them making a move like this to shore up the roster for the upcoming season. And these are solid additions. But a desperate party may not make the best decisions, and I'm not sure this would be. Those two are not guaranteed to bolster this team's fortunes during their Lillardless year ahead, and that pick is the last, best asset Milwaukee has to add just the right piece.

No matter, though. As good as that 2031 pick may be, Utah can't possibly justify the investment of Kuzma's extra year, can they? What are the total amounts of the contracts swapped here? Maybe it's not as expensive as it looks.

What better deal are you looking at for a pick that far down the line?

Tbh, I don't really know. I'm not so good as this trade generation thing. It's entirely possible there is no silver bullet out there and the Bucks should be looking to do whatever they can to surround Giannis with credible teammates, as you've done here. Has there been other discussions around that pick and what teams might give up for it? Maybe somebody else has an idea that isn't coming to me.

I did some (too lazy to use a calculator) mental math and it looks like the difference in remaining money owed is about $21 millionish? Where are we with the cost of draft picks these days? I guess it's not like Kuzma is dead salary, either, so the Jazz would be getting a rotation player (albeit not a very good one) for rotation player money for that one year.

Texas Chuck wrote:Oh you take on one year of Kuzma for an unprotected pick with that much variance all day every day.

I just don't think you can offer it as the Bucks. Is Collins really much of an upgrade over Portis? So now its an unprotected first for one year of Colin Sexton and maybe a small upgrade in the frontcourt. They shouldn't do that.

$19.4MM to buy an unprotected pick six years from now. I don't think that you're wrong—the Jazz have to take the deal—but man... getting used to the new economics of the league is definitely a trip.

Texas Chuck wrote:Oh you take on one year of Kuzma for an unprotected pick with that much variance all day every day.

I just don't think you can offer it as the Bucks. Is Collins really much of an upgrade over Portis? So now its an unprotected first for one year of Colin Sexton and maybe a small upgrade in the frontcourt. They shouldn't do that.

I get it, but... I'm looking at their options and it's tough to get creative.

Tim Lehrbach wrote:I did some (too lazy to use a calculator) mental math and it looks like the difference in remaining money owed is about $21 millionish? Where are we with the cost of draft picks these days? I guess it's not like Kuzma is dead salary, either, so the Jazz would be getting a rotation player (albeit not a very good one) for rotation player money for that one year.

I think he is dead salary to any team that wants to win or have a good on-court fit to teach good habits. But that's worth it to me.

NYG wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:Oh you take on one year of Kuzma for an unprotected pick with that much variance all day every day.

I just don't think you can offer it as the Bucks. Is Collins really much of an upgrade over Portis? So now its an unprotected first for one year of Colin Sexton and maybe a small upgrade in the frontcourt. They shouldn't do that.

I get it, but... I'm looking at their options and it's tough to get creative.

Oh its very difficult. I'm not criticizing your effort, its just a really difficult nut to crack. The Kuzma gamble was just such a backfire. It's so much easier with Middleton than him, even if a team thinks Middleton is washed. He's expiring and he's a terrific veteran player you don't at all mind around your team even if he can't contribute much. Kuzma is maybe an even bigger problem off the court as he is on with his selfish attitude and you'd be potentially stuck with that issue for a couple of years.

But Utah in a deal like this maybe just buys him out. They don't care about a bit of dead money in 26-27.

Texas Chuck wrote:

NYG wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:Oh you take on one year of Kuzma for an unprotected pick with that much variance all day every day.

I just don't think you can offer it as the Bucks. Is Collins really much of an upgrade over Portis? So now its an unprotected first for one year of Colin Sexton and maybe a small upgrade in the frontcourt. They shouldn't do that.

I get it, but... I'm looking at their options and it's tough to get creative.

Oh its very difficult. I'm not criticizing your effort, its just a really difficult nut to crack. The Kuzma gamble was just such a backfire. It's so much easier with Middleton than him, even if a team thinks Middleton is washed. He's expiring and he's a terrific veteran player you don't at all mind around your team even if he can't contribute much. Kuzma is maybe an even bigger problem off the court as he is on with his selfish attitude and you'd be potentially stuck with that issue for a couple of years.

But Utah in a deal like this maybe just buys him out. They don't care about a bit of dead money in 26-27.

There were a few local reports a while back that indicated that Utah didn't want to take on money beyond next season. Obviously for the right incentive they should.

Texas Chuck wrote:

NYG wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:Oh you take on one year of Kuzma for an unprotected pick with that much variance all day every day.

I just don't think you can offer it as the Bucks. Is Collins really much of an upgrade over Portis? So now its an unprotected first for one year of Colin Sexton and maybe a small upgrade in the frontcourt. They shouldn't do that.

I get it, but... I'm looking at their options and it's tough to get creative.

Oh its very difficult. I'm not criticizing your effort, its just a really difficult nut to crack. The Kuzma gamble was just such a backfire. It's so much easier with Middleton than him, even if a team thinks Middleton is washed. He's expiring and he's a terrific veteran player you don't at all mind around your team even if he can't contribute much. Kuzma is maybe an even bigger problem off the court as he is on with his selfish attitude and you'd be potentially stuck with that issue for a couple of years.

But Utah in a deal like this maybe just buys him out. They don't care about a bit of dead money in 26-27.

Is there any chance they throw a hail mary at a similar deal just Lauri and Clarkson instead of Collins and Sexton?

NYG wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:

NYG wrote:
I get it, but... I'm looking at their options and it's tough to get creative.

Oh its very difficult. I'm not criticizing your effort, its just a really difficult nut to crack. The Kuzma gamble was just such a backfire. It's so much easier with Middleton than him, even if a team thinks Middleton is washed. He's expiring and he's a terrific veteran player you don't at all mind around your team even if he can't contribute much. Kuzma is maybe an even bigger problem off the court as he is on with his selfish attitude and you'd be potentially stuck with that issue for a couple of years.

But Utah in a deal like this maybe just buys him out. They don't care about a bit of dead money in 26-27.

Is there any chance they throw a hail mary at a similar deal just Lauri and Clarkson instead of Collins and Sexton?

I don't think that the Bucks have the right mix of assets to pry Lauri away from Utah. (Nor am I saying that any team should offer more than where they value him, it's just a wide gap.)

Texas Chuck wrote:Oh you take on one year of Kuzma for an unprotected pick with that much variance all day every day.

I just don't think you can offer it as the Bucks. Is Collins really much of an upgrade over Portis? So now its an unprotected first for one year of Colin Sexton and maybe a small upgrade in the frontcourt. They shouldn't do that.

All I know is Collins advanced stats were pretty dam good this year and he is the prime age for completing. I don’t know how Portis played this year so it’s either an apples to apples or not. I’ll let you be the judge.

As a Jazz fan it seems to me Collins got overpayed years ago and people dogged on him relative to his pay versus production at the time, and now he produces at or IMO above his payroll. I’m not just trying to be a homer or whatever, I just think it’s crazy teams on the cusp like the Bucks wouldn’t go hard after Collins and Sexton. Let’s be honest….if the Jazz played them a ton more they would have won a lot more games. Those guys deserve to go compete.

But this deal doesn’t seem to make sense to me from an outside perspective. Wouldn’t the Bucks want to trade Dame and keep more of their guys for depth? You know Dame isn’t going to be competing next year and he was already being singled out as a defensive liability. It seems from an outside perspective people are hoping he returns to form…but that’s a really really low probability IMO. He’s old with a bad injury. I love Dame. Hell I don’t think anyone doesn’t love him as he is just a cool guy who was a ride or die for his team. But if you are the Bucks GM you have to do what’s in the teams best interest and praying he return to form seems crazy to me.

If, and that’s a big if, the Bucks are keeping Giannis I just don’t see a better more logical offer than the Jazz taking Dame for Collins and Sexton. I love Dame and he is amazing but Sexton probably replaces what Dame was and you get Collins whose advanced stats are good. If Sexton and Collins were on the Bucks this playoffs they easily could be in the conference finals IMO. That’s not me hyping them as much as it is the east is easier and Giannis is that guy. Pit adequate and efficient payers around Giannis and you’re giving yourself a true chance at a top four team. And IMO that’s all you can do as a GM. You get a star and give them the help they need and hope the stars align.

I’m not dealing with Ainge if he thinks he can get a FRP for these expiring players. Bucks are not moving 31 1st for them. Sexton would be useful but Collins is replacement level and not better than Portis.

I think the Collins/Portis swap is adding value to Utah not Milwaukee

JayMKE wrote:I’m not dealing with Ainge if he thinks he can get a FRP for these expiring players. Bucks are not moving 31 1st for them. Sexton would be useful but Collins is replacement level and not better than Portis.

Who would you target with the '31 1st?

Portis > Collins
2031 1st > Sexton

NYG wrote:

JayMKE wrote:I’m not dealing with Ainge if he thinks he can get a FRP for these expiring players. Bucks are not moving 31 1st for them. Sexton would be useful but Collins is replacement level and not better than Portis.

Who would you target with the '31 1st?

I do not have a target but it has to be more than expiring roleplayers especially for an unprotected pick. That is simply a non-starter. I’m not desperate to find a replacement for Dame for the regular season next year, I don’t think there is a move that moves the needle so it would be better to just hold onto the asset. Next offseason Dame and Kuzma will be expiring contracts, can use that + the pick + other assets then for a running mate who isn’t simply a bad player/contract/old & far past prime.