RealGM

While obviously trade Giannis/don't trade Giannis is the big offseason decision for the Bucks, I see four main paths for the team to take going forward:

1) Keep Giannis. Acknowledge that with Lillard out for the year next season isn't going to be that good. Try to patch together something that works for 2026-7 and 2027-8 hoping Lillard can fully return to form.

2) Keep Giannis. Throw everything into winning now as much as possible.

3) Trade Giannis. Get control of at least your next two 1sts (or ideally more) and do a classic tank (and hopefully rebuild around the lotto pics and some extra youth/prospects received in the Giannis deal).

4) Trade Giannis. Figure the lost picks are a sunk cost and don't lose major assets getting them back. Instead look to get enough of an immediate haul of youth/prospects/depth to be at least somewhat competitive (play-in competitive not title competitive) then improve with extra picks going forward.

doesn't matter what it should be. It's going to be keep Giannis. Try and work around the edges as best you can for a year and then see where you are with Dame next off-season.

He has to demand out to move him. You don't preemptively trade him.

Not much they can do tbh

Maybe trying to trade that Dame contract for a Paul George or Bradley Beal?

Keep Giannis, use exceptions under 1st apron, get new coach

0) Replace Doc with Thibs
1) resign Portis
2) use MLE partially on GTJ ($9m)
3) use BAE and rest of MLE on 2 $5m players
4) fill vet min until 14 players
5) play the season and wait for Lillard to return by playoffs

They are more or less stuck,unless they decide to to pull a Nico Harrison and decide to trade Giannis without letting him know(hopefully they actually get equal value unlike that other trade). They simply don't have the assets or cap space to improve the roster around Giannis.

People talk out their ass about the Bucks situation for own their ends. Bucks keep Giannis no matter what, if there is a good deal this year then do it but not if the only guys available are old replacement level players making the max like Brad Beal and Paul George.

Bucks are a way better team if they just fire Doc

Can Giannis convince Bradley Beal to come to Milwaukee?

Bradley Beal for Damian Lillard would be a nice pairing.

They have no path forward competitively, and have already overleveraged thier future.

They have a get out jail free card right now, and a decent hand they could play, to get ahead in the next era of Bucks ball, but there is a shelf life on that.

If they aren't careful and hold on too long, or worse, leverage even more of the future, there is a serious threat of an extended period of not just irrelevance, but downright hopelessness.

If it were me, I would tear it down in a strategic rebuild.

2 options
1. I'd capitalize on NOP sucking amd tank this year
2. What the Bucks expert in thread considers talking out of our asses and target a bad contract who's healthy.

i think they should take on overpaid but productive 2 yr contracts to hard reset in FA when dame/kuzma both expires

Bucks should start building around Harper

esvl wrote:Bucks should start building around Harper

Not that kind of prospect

Do the gap year thing. Try to trade Connaughton (maybe Bobby if he opts in) for a 2 year bad money deal. Line all your non Giannis deals to come off with Dame and reevaluate at that time when you’ll also have more picks/swaps available.

JayMKE wrote:

esvl wrote:Bucks should start building around Harper

Not that kind of prospect

Next year could be worse

zimpy27 wrote:Keep Giannis, use exceptions under 1st apron, get new coach

0) Replace Doc with Thibs
1) resign Portis
2) use MLE partially on GTJ ($9m)
3) use BAE and rest of MLE on 2 $5m players
4) fill vet min until 14 players
5) play the season and wait for Lillard to return by playoffs

Food for thought but if they get a disabled player exception for Dame, would it be better to throw a large one year offer at a Naz Reid, FVV, etc. or go your route?

It could be helpful to use the $9mil for Trent for a more offensive creating wing like THJ, Kennard, LeVert, and so on too.

Mamba4Goat wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Keep Giannis, use exceptions under 1st apron, get new coach

0) Replace Doc with Thibs
1) resign Portis
2) use MLE partially on GTJ ($9m)
3) use BAE and rest of MLE on 2 $5m players
4) fill vet min until 14 players
5) play the season and wait for Lillard to return by playoffs

Food for thought but if they get a disabled player exception for Dame, would it be better to throw a large one year offer at a Naz Reid, FVV, etc. or go your route?

It could be helpful to use the $9mil for Trent for a more offensive creating wing like THJ, Kennard, LeVert, and so on too.

DPE is maxed at MLE isn't it?

zimpy27 wrote:

Mamba4Goat wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Keep Giannis, use exceptions under 1st apron, get new coach

0) Replace Doc with Thibs
1) resign Portis
2) use MLE partially on GTJ ($9m)
3) use BAE and rest of MLE on 2 $5m players
4) fill vet min until 14 players
5) play the season and wait for Lillard to return by playoffs

Food for thought but if they get a disabled player exception for Dame, would it be better to throw a large one year offer at a Naz Reid, FVV, etc. or go your route?

It could be helpful to use the $9mil for Trent for a more offensive creating wing like THJ, Kennard, LeVert, and so on too.

DPE is maxed at MLE isn't it?

He cant come back for playoffs if they use dpe right?

Godaddycurse wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:

Mamba4Goat wrote:
Food for thought but if they get a disabled player exception for Dame, would it be better to throw a large one year offer at a Naz Reid, FVV, etc. or go your route?

It could be helpful to use the $9mil for Trent for a more offensive creating wing like THJ, Kennard, LeVert, and so on too.

DPE is maxed at MLE isn't it?

He cant come back for playoffs if they use dpe right?

He can, they just have to prove it's unlikely for him to come back. If he comes back early he can play.

Giannis has not asked for a trade and they aren’t going to send him packing unless that happens. I get why some disagree with that approach but I don’t and it doesn’t matter.

Seems foolish to over invest in short term moves that only help next year. Do whatever you can to be in the best possible position to compete in 2026.

Is that particularly appealing? No. But it’s better than tanking without control of your own picks. Anything is better than that.