Bucks News, Transactions, Trade Ideas - Darvin Returns

[paulpressey25]

If Sacramento plays it cool, Kyle Kuzma makes a lot of sense in my opinion. Relatively cheap contract for a fairly versatile player who fits the timeline.

Kings have been trying to get Kuzma for two years now. He fits the salary structure far better than Lavine. The question though is what the cost would be to get him. If I were ranking them based on talent and contract it would be Middleton >>> Kuzma >> Lavine.

[yb90]

Memphis and Houston are both great Brook trade targets. Getting Smart plus stuff or Eason and salary filler (Landale, Jeff Green, Tate) could be the play.

The question is whether Ime wants Brook or Smart more. If Brook, then they route Smart to Milwaukee. If either team added something to the Bucks, I'd do that deal.

I just don't like having a non-shooter in the lineup. I see trades for Smart and Brown then think about how teams will cheat off them to crowd the lane to stop Giannis from driving.

[MiltownMadness]

Memphis and Houston are both great Brook trade targets. Getting Smart plus stuff or Eason and salary filler (Landale, Jeff Green, Tate) could be the play.

The question is whether Ime wants Brook or Smart more. If Brook, then they route Smart to Milwaukee. If either team added something to the Bucks, I'd do that deal.

I just don't like having a non-shooter in the lineup. I see trades for Smart and Brown then think about how teams will cheat off them to crowd the lane to stop Giannis from driving.

This truly does not matter when you have Dame/Khris/Giannis, thats more offensive creation than any team in the league

[DingleJerry]

The question is whether Ime wants Brook or Smart more. If Brook, then they route Smart to Milwaukee. If either team added something to the Bucks, I'd do that deal.

I just don't like having a non-shooter in the lineup. I see trades for Smart and Brown then think about how teams will cheat off them to crowd the lane to stop Giannis from driving.

This truly does not matter when you have Dame/Khris/Giannis, thats more offensive creation than any team in the league

Smart's also not a complete non-shooter like say a traditional big guy would be considered. Most years he's in the 33% area and some years he's been better. His issues in Boston were that he thought he was better than that and tried to do too much, or I even got the vibe that he was the most competitive/aggressive at crunch time while the two stars kept faltering at crunch time. If Smart is able to kick that and accept he's the last option or 4th guy the way Jrue did in Boston, his %s should go up and the overall team result should be better too.

[BUCKnation]

I just don't like having a non-shooter in the lineup. I see trades for Smart and Brown then think about how teams will cheat off them to crowd the lane to stop Giannis from driving.

This truly does not matter when you have Dame/Khris/Giannis, thats more offensive creation than any team in the league

Smart's also not a complete non-shooter like say a traditional big guy would be considered. Most years he's in the 33% area and some years he's been better. His issues in Boston were that he thought he was better than that and tried to do too much, or I even got the vibe that he was the most competitive/aggressive at crunch time while the two stars kept faltering at crunch time. If Smart is able to kick that and accept he's the last option or 4th guy the way Jrue did in Boston, his %s should go up and the overall team result should be better too.

Yeah, best case scenario is that he takes this year from boston to heart and becomes the current iteration of Jrue in a 'revenge' season. I saw the same things w/ regards to the crunch time thing. You'd think he'd have more respect for the finishing abilities of our trio and would take a step back.

[ShootingtheJ]

Not sure if Givoney is just assuming based on prior interest, but it makes sense how Houston would still be in on Brook:

“The Rockets are clearly in win-now mode and would love to add star power to their roster, with players such as Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram as well as role players including Brook Lopez and Marcus Smart being some that other teams say the Rockets could have interest in targeting (with some names more far-fetched than others)," Givony wrote.

Memphis and Houston are both great Brook trade targets. Getting Smart plus stuff or Eason and salary filler (Landale, Jeff Green, Tate) could be the play.

With new rules for non tax teams, salary fillers shouldn't be needed, and Tate, Green, and Landale are all non guaranteed or team options. No need for those scrubs to muck up our salary sheet.

Getting Eason and draft compensation would be great. If we instead get Marcus Smart, then we're worse off than when we started.

Luckily Memphis has no idea that he's bad, so they're not dealing him.

[buckboy]

Keegan Murray, Ellis, Barnes, and #13 would be far from a terrible return for Middleton at this point. I could be convinced to pull the trigger on that deal even without 13 attached. Boy do some of you guys have a lot of faith in Keon Ellis being really good though.

I'd much rather have Middleton than 3 meh players.

[EasyE31]

You're not making any more "godfather" offers until we get under all the 2nd apron restrictions and let the draft pick clock reset a couple years. So probably wise to give up on any dreams of Mikal Bridges. In the meantime, a Brook/Bobby/Pat trade that nets you some future draft assets might actually be the way to go.

MIL Out: Brook
MIL In: Bruce Brown, 2025 Miami 1st, 2026 OKC 1st

TOR Out: Brown
TOR In: Ousmane Dieng

OKC Out: Dieng, 2X firsts
OKC In: Brook

The only reason to trade Brook for Bruce Brown is to acquire the picks necessary to make a "godfather offer". Otherwise we're just getting worse in the short term when we have a very short term window.

[Ron Swanson]

You're not making any more "godfather" offers until we get under all the 2nd apron restrictions and let the draft pick clock reset a couple years. So probably wise to give up on any dreams of Mikal Bridges. In the meantime, a Brook/Bobby/Pat trade that nets you some future draft assets might actually be the way to go.

MIL Out: Brook
MIL In: Bruce Brown, 2025 Miami 1st, 2026 OKC 1st

TOR Out: Brown
TOR In: Ousmane Dieng

OKC Out: Dieng, 2X firsts
OKC In: Brook

The only reason to trade Brook for Bruce Brown is to acquire the picks necessary to make a "godfather offer". Otherwise we're just getting worse in the short term when we have a very short term window.

You use those picks to get another good starter. Everything doesn't need to happen all in one trade.

[Sactown33]

What’s the thought process here? Kings are “desperate” to make moves to extend Fox for a contract extension that starts 2026-27, so they trade their young players and picks for a guy that’s 34 years old and will be 36 by the time Fox’s contract extension kicks in. How does that make any sense?

We spam Kings trades every offseason because we think your org is dumb. I agree we make no sense as trade partners

Lmao fair enough. Vivek doesn’t have the best track record as an owner. He has mellowed out and stopped meddling since Monte McNair took over for Vlade, but he still makes me nervous.

[Sactown33]

MIL - Out - Lopez
MIL - In - Barnes, #21(N.O.), and #45(Sac)

SAC - Out - Barnes, Huerter, # 13, and # 45
SAC - In - Ingram

N.O. - Out - Ingram and # 21
N.O. - In - Lopez, Huerter, and #13

In a perfect Bucks world they try to get Mitchell or Dyson from one of the teams but that maybe a stretch. Is Lopez worth more than a 1st and starting level player? Who knows.

Instead of trying to go the twin towers route Sac stays small and moves Murray down to 4 defensively. I'd take Ingram over Kuzma offensively and defensively how much better is Kuzma than Murray?

N.O. now has a big that spaces the floor and the # 13 pick which they may want to pkg with Huerter to get another player. Trade Huerter back to ATL with #13, Dyson, and a future 1st for Murray. If that did happen maybe the Bucks jump back in sending Barnes and picks to ATL for Hunter.

I think the Kings probably do that deal. Ingram fits the timeline for Fox and Sabonis and they keep Murray and Ellis, but it would come down to what kind of contract he wants and whether Vivek is willing to pay the luxury tax. Fox and Murray will have contract extensions coming up.

[fansinceforever]

Does Pat & 33 to Detroit for 54 get us under the apron or does the signing of our frp push us back into that territory?

[Frank Nova]

Does Pat & 33 to Detroit for 54 get us under the apron or does the signing of our frp push us back into that territory?

I think we just have to shed a little under 5m off the books to get under that 2nd apron. A Pat salary dump should get us there with a little room to spare but I’m no cap person so I could be wrong.

[LUKE23]

Does Pat & 33 to Detroit for 54 get us under the apron or does the signing of our frp push us back into that territory?

I'm not doing that trade even if it does.

[emunney]

Kostas is so damn physically similar to Giannis. It's hard not to wonder if he could be that situational vertical spacer to sneak behind the wall and go get anything you throw anywhere near the rim.

[German Athens]

Kostas is so damn physically similar to Giannis. It's hard not to wonder if he could be that situational vertical spacer to sneak behind the wall and go get anything you throw anywhere near the rim.

I’ve thought about this plenty over the years, and I still am surprised he isn’t on the bucks. At the very least he can be the vertical spacer, and high motor defender with good size and athleticism.

He has an actually viable role and pathway to see the court, and I’m sure Giannis would love feeding him the ball.

[fansinceforever]

Ehhh I dont think a salary dump of Pat to get under the apron and moving back to later in the 2nd is unrealistic or even a bad move.

[machu46]

Ehhh I dont think a salary dump of Pat to get under the apron and moving back to later in the 2nd is unrealistic or even a bad move.

Depends on what the follow up move is that you make with the newfound flexibility but might be worth it just to open up those opportunities.

The other trick is someone we like may slide to 33 but yeah…definitely worth considering.


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[rilamann]

With the Kings shopping #13, I wonder if there's some sort of framework that has us sending Bobby to Sac and then sending #13 and #23 somewhere (or keeping them altogether).

Still believe that Vivek is once again one of the weak sisters, and want Horst to do his version of the Marques Johnson and friends for Terry Cummings and friends re-load deal.

Make all four of these guys available (Bobby, Khris, Brook, Pat) and both picks. See if we can get a haul back.

I also get that vibe from the Kings.

They seem like a team that would overvalue Championship experience and could be swindled.

We used to always be on the wrong side that. Now it's our chance to be on the right side.

[rilamann]

Keegan Murray, Ellis, Barnes, and #13 would be far from a terrible return for Middleton at this point. I could be convinced to pull the trigger on that deal even without 13 attached. Boy do some of you guys have a lot of faith in Keon Ellis being really good though.

I'd much rather have Middleton than 3 meh players.

I would rather have 3 meh players that can actually be counted on to suit up on a regular basis, not miss 4 weeks every time they fall down and physically capable of playing B2Bs.

Than the 2025 version of Khris Middleton.