RealGM

I was thinking the Wiz might be willing to send CJ and Marcus Smart to Milwaukee for Lilliard and draft capital (2031 or 2032 1st round draft pick). Wiz take on an extra year of huge salary for the picks but free up playing time for all their young guards; Bucks get win now players with McCollum giving them shooting to stretch the court for Giannis and Smart (if recovered) being a POA defender for them.

If we can't adjust the New Orleans/Wiz deal, then it can't happen for a long time so not as helpful.

As long as it hasn't been submitted to, and approved by, the league office yet nothing is "official"

I don't see Milwaukee sacrificing a pick for such little return. It's not like Smart and CJ are valuable contractors

daoneandonly wrote:I don't see Milwaukee sacrificing a pick for such little return. It's not like Smart and CJ are valuable contractors

They're both expiring. I think it might have legs.

daoneandonly wrote:I don't see Milwaukee sacrificing a pick for such little return. It's not like Smart and CJ are valuable contractors

Totally depends on the protections IMO

For a 2031 1st and taking on that contract with Giannis's short window, probably not much protection, max 1-4. Wiz can throw in a some 2nds to bring in young bodies during this window if Milwaukee wants.

penbeast0 wrote:For a 2031 1st and taking on that contract with Giannis's short window, probably not much protection, max 1-4. Wiz can throw in a some 2nds to bring in young bodies during this window if Milwaukee wants.

Milwaukee can (and should) aim higher than CJ and Smart if they're giving up a post-Giannis' prime pick with minimal protection on it.

Now that Washington can finally see the light from out of the Poole/Beal money, idk how willing they’d be to go back under by eating Dame contract. For all that, they might as well have gone and got Beal back.

gswhoops wrote:

penbeast0 wrote:For a 2031 1st and taking on that contract with Giannis's short window, probably not much protection, max 1-4. Wiz can throw in a some 2nds to bring in young bodies during this window if Milwaukee wants.

Milwaukee can (and should) aim higher than CJ and Smart if they're giving up a post-Giannis' prime pick with minimal protection on it.

Not with giving up two years of huge Dame money one which he will play zero games and the other his recovery year.

vxmike wrote:

gswhoops wrote:

penbeast0 wrote:For a 2031 1st and taking on that contract with Giannis's short window, probably not much protection, max 1-4. Wiz can throw in a some 2nds to bring in young bodies during this window if Milwaukee wants.

Milwaukee can (and should) aim higher than CJ and Smart if they're giving up a post-Giannis' prime pick with minimal protection on it.

Not with giving up two years of huge Dame money one which he will play zero games and the other his recovery year.

I'm actually in favor of the Bucks using the '31 pick (and whatever other assets they can scrape together) to turn Dame into win-now guys. But they need to get guys who will actually move the needle rather than prioritizing expiring contracts to try and pull off a hail mary in 2026 free agency.

IF you can find an actual needle mover with a 31 draft choice and a massive bad contract, sure. I don't think you can. Healthy CJ and a healthy Smart fit what Milwaukee needs (outside shooter and POA defender) and are solid if not outstanding players plus good locker room guys as you want Giannis to be happy. He's the one Bucks can't afford to lose.

penbeast0 wrote:IF you can find an actual needle mover with a 31 draft choice and a massive bad contract, sure. I don't think you can. Healthy CJ and a healthy Smart fit what Milwaukee needs (outside shooter and POA defender) and are solid if not outstanding players plus good locker room guys as you want Giannis to be happy. He's the one Bucks can't afford to lose.

I think it’s more likely you can find that guy than that guys like McCollum and Smart are enough to convince Giannis to stay

I don't see MIL as actually motivated to go "all in" right now. I think time is on their side. I think they want to keep doing the bare minimum to appease Giannis to stay one more year at a time. Passage of time works best for them because it gives them more and more to trade.

Kuzma is ass but next year he's just expiring filler. If they can save the pick until then that's probably returning a better piece than attached to Dame on a huge 2 year deal that he can't play one of them right now. And next year Dame will be back on the court and, if they do trade, more functional to include in deals as an expiring.

This year I think all they can do is put lipstick on the pig. Next year, I think they start opening up flexibility to actually make moves that make it worth Giannis' while to stay. So don't go all in now, just scratch and claw to give yourselves next offseason to prove yourself to him.

gswhoops wrote:

vxmike wrote:

gswhoops wrote:Milwaukee can (and should) aim higher than CJ and Smart if they're giving up a post-Giannis' prime pick with minimal protection on it.

Not with giving up two years of huge Dame money one which he will play zero games and the other his recovery year.

I'm actually in favor of the Bucks using the '31 pick (and whatever other assets they can scrape together) to turn Dame into win-now guys. But they need to get guys who will actually move the needle rather than prioritizing expiring contracts to try and pull off a hail mary in 2026 free agency.

Agree if they aren’t going to trade Giannis they gotta make the move. Thing is the ‘31 pick plus $120m of dead Dame money isn’t going to return much.

vxmike wrote:

gswhoops wrote:

vxmike wrote:
Not with giving up two years of huge Dame money one which he will play zero games and the other his recovery year.

I'm actually in favor of the Bucks using the '31 pick (and whatever other assets they can scrape together) to turn Dame into win-now guys. But they need to get guys who will actually move the needle rather than prioritizing expiring contracts to try and pull off a hail mary in 2026 free agency.

Agree if they aren’t going to trade Giannis they gotta make the move. Thing is the ‘31 pick plus $120m of dead Dame money isn’t going to return much.

Yeah agreed. I'd probably be targeting guys like Lauri and Brandon Ingram - guys in the top 50-75 range on big contracts whose teams might have buyer's remorse. Failing that, I'd look at guys like LaVine, DeRozan, Jerami Grant, etc.

Admittedly none of these are great options, but better than spending the pick on a couple has-beens and hoping you can pull off the 0.00001% chance of signing Luka next offseason

gswhoops wrote:

vxmike wrote:

gswhoops wrote:Milwaukee can (and should) aim higher than CJ and Smart if they're giving up a post-Giannis' prime pick with minimal protection on it.

Not with giving up two years of huge Dame money one which he will play zero games and the other his recovery year.

I'm actually in favor of the Bucks using the '31 pick (and whatever other assets they can scrape together) to turn Dame into win-now guys. But they need to get guys who will actually move the needle rather than prioritizing expiring contracts to try and pull off a hail mary in 2026 free agency.

I think the point is that pick doesn't have enough value to dump Dame and bring back those types of players on attractive contracts.

jbk1234 wrote:

gswhoops wrote:

vxmike wrote:
Not with giving up two years of huge Dame money one which he will play zero games and the other his recovery year.

I'm actually in favor of the Bucks using the '31 pick (and whatever other assets they can scrape together) to turn Dame into win-now guys. But they need to get guys who will actually move the needle rather than prioritizing expiring contracts to try and pull off a hail mary in 2026 free agency.

I think the point is that pick doesn't have enough value to dump Dame and bring back those types of players on attractive contracts.

I agree, but I don't think you limit your search to guys with attractive contracts.

gswhoops wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:

gswhoops wrote:I'm actually in favor of the Bucks using the '31 pick (and whatever other assets they can scrape together) to turn Dame into win-now guys. But they need to get guys who will actually move the needle rather than prioritizing expiring contracts to try and pull off a hail mary in 2026 free agency.

I think the point is that pick doesn't have enough value to dump Dame and bring back those types of players on attractive contracts.

I agree, but I don't think you limit your search to guys with attractive contracts.

I think Smart and CJ will help more than you do. I also don't think 2026 will be Luka or bust.

Well this turned out to be much ado about nothing.