Bucks News, Transactions, Trade Ideas

[ReasonablySober]

It being basically impossible to build/upgrade a team through free agency in the modern NBA is exactly why a team like Orlando just paid so much for a Top-40 guy like Desmond Bane. It's why I don't get why people think "clearing the books" is important anymore. Unless you have a back-channel to Luka's camp saying he wants to team up with Giannis here next summer, there's not a single projected free agent that's gonna be enough of a needle-mover to the point where you need to be prioritizing cap space.

If you can just find a way to acquire another future 1st attached to whatever junk salary the tax teams wanna dump (Jrue? MPJ? Grayson? Conley?) then please do it. We're then in much better position to build a competitive trade offer next offseason for whatever Top-25ish guy becomes available, because you're not finding that dude in free agency.

I want to clear the books in '27 because I want options. Would I bank on a max level free agent ring chasing with Giannis? No. But it's a possibility. You can also obviously take on a high priced unhappy star in the deal, and there's always one of those available. By then the Bucks will have access to more picks and swaps. Clearing the books also protects Milwaukee in case Giannis decides to leave or demands out. You can immediately start taking on bad deals or facilitating multi-team deals with that space.

I'd rather have those options instead of saddling the team with B-/C+ level role players we'll have to overpay to acquire.

[jschligs]

Brook S&T to ORL

Bobby S&T to GSW

Pat for Hauser

Resign GTJ and KPJ

Rebuild Kuz value, trade at deadline

These all seem like easy braindead moves

The bold all require the others teams interest. Which is completely unpredictable.

The bold italics requires Kuz to not suck, which is nearly impossible.

[JonHeist]

It being basically impossible to build/upgrade a team through free agency in the modern NBA is exactly why a team like Orlando just paid so much for a Top-40 guy like Desmond Bane. It's why I don't get why people think "clearing the books" is important anymore. Unless you have a back-channel to Luka's camp saying he wants to team up with Giannis here next summer, there's not a single projected free agent that's gonna be enough of a needle-mover to the point where you need to be prioritizing cap space.

If you can just find a way to acquire another future 1st attached to whatever junk salary the tax teams wanna dump (Jrue? MPJ? Grayson? Conley?) then please do it. We're then in much better position to build a competitive trade offer next offseason for whatever Top-25ish guy becomes available, because you're not finding that dude in free agency.

idk, summer '27 has a chance to be an absolutely loaded FA class

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2027

only looking at unrestricted FAs without any type of option there's:

(youngest to oldest)

GG Jackson

Okoro

RJ Barrett

Cole Anthony

Herro

Neismith

Poole

--- 28 + when they hit FA ---

Dort

Luka (will get extended)

Trae

Herb Jones

SGA (will get extended)

Reaves

Hartenstein

Miles Bridges

De'Andre Hunter

Lonzo

--- 30+ when they hit FA ---

White Donte

Cameron Johnson

Dillon Brooks

LaVine

Andrew Wiggins

--- 34+ when they hit FA ---

KCP

Bogdan

Kawhi

Dame

Draymond

Klay

Butler

Curry

[jakecronus8]

It being basically impossible to build/upgrade a team through free agency in the modern NBA is exactly why a team like Orlando just paid so much for a Top-40 guy like Desmond Bane. It's why I don't get why people think "clearing the books" is important anymore. Unless you have a back-channel to Luka's camp saying he wants to team up with Giannis here next summer, there's not a single projected free agent that's gonna be enough of a needle-mover to the point where you need to be prioritizing cap space.

If you can just find a way to acquire another future 1st attached to whatever junk salary the tax teams wanna dump (Jrue? MPJ? Grayson? Conley?) then please do it. We're then in much better position to build a competitive trade offer next offseason for whatever Top-25ish guy becomes available, because you're not finding that dude in free agency.

idk, summer '27 has a chance to be an absolutely loaded FA class

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2027

After looking at that class the thought of Giannis pulling a later career Duncan and signing for well under market value so the Bucks could compete crossed my mind. Not likely but would be hilarious watching the national queefs and espn melt down over it.

[JonHeist]

It being basically impossible to build/upgrade a team through free agency in the modern NBA is exactly why a team like Orlando just paid so much for a Top-40 guy like Desmond Bane. It's why I don't get why people think "clearing the books" is important anymore. Unless you have a back-channel to Luka's camp saying he wants to team up with Giannis here next summer, there's not a single projected free agent that's gonna be enough of a needle-mover to the point where you need to be prioritizing cap space.

If you can just find a way to acquire another future 1st attached to whatever junk salary the tax teams wanna dump (Jrue? MPJ? Grayson? Conley?) then please do it. We're then in much better position to build a competitive trade offer next offseason for whatever Top-25ish guy becomes available, because you're not finding that dude in free agency.

idk, summer '27 has a chance to be an absolutely loaded FA class

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2027

After looking at that class the thought of Giannis pulling a later career Duncan and signing for well under market value so the Bucks could compete crossed my mind. Not likely but would be hilarious watching the national queefs and espn melt down over it.

he deserves at least one more supermax extension

but yeah that would be funny

[mlloyd10]

Might have missed it, but can someone confirm the rumor that KPJ wants $17 mil

[German Athens]

Okay, so if Philly is taking VJ, and they already have Maxey, McCain, and probably re-sign Grimes.

Could we trade for one of those guys?

[pifhluk23]

Okay, so if Philly is taking VJ, and they already have Maxey, McCain, and probably re-sign Grimes.

Could we trade for one of those guys?

McCain would be incredible to pair up with Giannis but I think it's another one of those situations where if he's available were getting outbid. Unless we take on PG for Dame.

[JonHeist]

Spoiler:

It being basically impossible to build/upgrade a team through free agency in the modern NBA is exactly why a team like Orlando just paid so much for a Top-40 guy like Desmond Bane. It's why I don't get why people think "clearing the books" is important anymore. Unless you have a back-channel to Luka's camp saying he wants to team up with Giannis here next summer, there's not a single projected free agent that's gonna be enough of a needle-mover to the point where you need to be prioritizing cap space.

If you can just find a way to acquire another future 1st attached to whatever junk salary the tax teams wanna dump (Jrue? MPJ? Grayson? Conley?) then please do it. We're then in much better position to build a competitive trade offer next offseason for whatever Top-25ish guy becomes available, because you're not finding that dude in free agency.

idk, summer '27 has a chance to be an absolutely loaded FA class

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2027

only looking at unrestricted FAs without any type of option there's:

Spoiler:

(youngest to oldest)

GG Jackson

Okoro

RJ Barrett

Cole Anthony

Herro

Neismith

Poole

--- 28 + when they hit FA ---

Dort

Luka (will get extended)

Trae

Herb Jones

SGA (will get extended)

Reaves

Hartenstein

Miles Bridges

De'Andre Hunter

Lonzo

--- 30+ when they hit FA ---

White Donte

Cameron Johnson

Dillon Brooks

LaVine

Andrew Wiggins

--- 34+ when they hit FA ---

KCP

Bogdan

Kawhi

Dame

Draymond

Klay

Butler

Curry

Add in players who have player options and it gets insane:

Jalen Green

Brandon Ingram

Dejounte Murray

Donovan Mitchell

KAT

Jokic

Giannis

AD

Gobert

Only potentially interesting team option that might not get picked up is Josh Hart

Most interesting restricted FA is MPJ, but there's also basically everyone from the Wemby draft, which is looking like a pretty loaded class

[Bernman]

It being basically impossible to build/upgrade a team through free agency in the modern NBA is exactly why a team like Orlando just paid so much for a Top-40 guy like Desmond Bane. It's why I don't get why people think "clearing the books" is important anymore. Unless you have a back-channel to Luka's camp saying he wants to team up with Giannis here next summer, there's not a single projected free agent that's gonna be enough of a needle-mover to the point where you need to be prioritizing cap space.

If you can just find a way to acquire another future 1st attached to whatever junk salary the tax teams wanna dump (Jrue? MPJ? Grayson? Conley?) then please do it. We're then in much better position to build a competitive trade offer next offseason for whatever Top-25ish guy becomes available, because you're not finding that dude in free agency.

I thought you wanted to clear the books for 2 years from now, not even attempt to do it 1 earlier.

I'm open to different avenues to turn this ship around. One of those would be to move Dame's huge expiring asset contract for good players before the deadline after next, so we only have 1 playoffs where we're long shots going in. Then Giannis can see that before he hits FA.

Another would be to just have that space in 2 years to see what we can do. Giannis has proven a draw & he ideally wants to stay here. At least that's true as of now. Even better if we could take a run at a 2nd banana next yr when Giannis is extension eligible. That would require rehabbing Kuz' value to flip him at this deadline & re-structuring w/ Dame.

There's a lot of different ways to try and do this starting next offseason. This season we can just roll the dice w/ KPJ, elite shooting, solid d.

[midranger]

Might have missed it, but can someone confirm the rumor that KPJ wants $17 mil

I also want a $17 million dollar nba contract.

[ReasonablySober]

More Hollinger:

6. Kevin Porter, Jr., Bucks, $18,683,958 (PO)

There are many, many issues with Porter that don’t involve the basketball court, but BORD$ just sees the basketball court, plus his age (25) and his huge production as a bench catalyst for the Bucks at the end of last season.

Porter is a tricky case for Milwaukee because the Bucks have no Bird rights on him; if he opts out the Bucks will need to use exception money to bring him back. Milwaukee might have the $14.1 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception depending on whether Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. are back, but it’s also possible the Bucks are limited to the $5.7 million taxpayer exception.

If that’s the case, the Bucks will likely be holding their breath hoping they can bring Porter back at that price, with a one-year deal with a second-year player option seeming the most plausible scenario. However, the stories about Porter from Cleveland and Houston may scare enough other teams that Milwaukee can keep him at that price.

[Ron Swanson]

It being basically impossible to build/upgrade a team through free agency in the modern NBA is exactly why a team like Orlando just paid so much for a Top-40 guy like Desmond Bane. It's why I don't get why people think "clearing the books" is important anymore. Unless you have a back-channel to Luka's camp saying he wants to team up with Giannis here next summer, there's not a single projected free agent that's gonna be enough of a needle-mover to the point where you need to be prioritizing cap space.

If you can just find a way to acquire another future 1st attached to whatever junk salary the tax teams wanna dump (Jrue? MPJ? Grayson? Conley?) then please do it. We're then in much better position to build a competitive trade offer next offseason for whatever Top-25ish guy becomes available, because you're not finding that dude in free agency.

I want to clear the books in '27 because I want options. Would I bank on a max level free agent ring chasing with Giannis? No. But it's a possibility. You can also obviously take on a high priced unhappy star in the deal, and there's always one of those available. By then the Bucks will have access to more picks and swaps. Clearing the books also protects Milwaukee in case Giannis decides to leave or demands out. You can immediately start taking on bad deals or facilitating multi-team deals with that space.

I'd rather have those options instead of saddling the team with B-/C+ level role players we'll have to overpay to acquire.

Yes, this is pretty much the only way I see this franchise being able to pair another great player with Giannis unless you draft them. It's how we've done it every time in this era (Bledsoe, Jrue, Dame) and that's just how the league is shifting. Who really cares what the cap situation looks like when Giannis is gone unless you're getting those Portland picks/swaps back though? Like, obviously you don't want to sign guys to "bad money" extensions regardless, but I'm not gonna fret about potential Trent and Bobby extensions taking $20-30 million in cap space based on some prayer that a max FA will sign in Milwaukee for the first time ever (sorry Greg, you don't count).

[jakecronus8]

Okay, so if Philly is taking VJ, and they already have Maxey, McCain, and probably re-sign Grimes.

Could we trade for one of those guys?

McCain would be incredible to pair up with Giannis but I think it's another one of those situations where if he's available were getting outbid. Unless we take on PG for Dame.

I'd do it for Edgecombe but Phil wouldn't.

[emunney]

Might have missed it, but can someone confirm the rumor that KPJ wants $17 mil

Who doesn't?

[Bernman]

Trent wanted 20 million, then signed here for 2.6.

[trwi7]

Might have missed it, but can someone confirm the rumor that KPJ wants $17 mil

Who doesn't?

I don't. I want $40 million.

[BigO]

for a minimum? nope!

with pick 47? probably not.

A guy like Kalkenbrenner or Nembhard may be available and they fit the bill I mention.Kalkenbrenner isn't a three point threat yet, but is highly skilled,as is Nembhard. So yes, they are available.

Nembhard can't rebound and probably won't be able to defend in the NBA, decent chance he's there at 47 and I like him too fwiw

Kalk won't be there at 47, and if he somehow is, it's because he's scared everyone off by having the same level of lateral agility as 37y/o lopez

You're right about Nembhard's rebounding, but he does check the marks on shooting, passing and BBIQ. Kalkbrenner has risen up the charts, because he is skilled in so many ways. Hes much faster than Lopez, but as I said several days ago, kalkbrenner is limited to the drop defense, but that's ok. Still plenty of value.

[rayallenscalves]

More Hollinger:

6. Kevin Porter, Jr., Bucks, $18,683,958 (PO)

There are many, many issues with Porter that don’t involve the basketball court, but BORD$ just sees the basketball court, plus his age (25) and his huge production as a bench catalyst for the Bucks at the end of last season.

Porter is a tricky case for Milwaukee because the Bucks have no Bird rights on him; if he opts out the Bucks will need to use exception money to bring him back. Milwaukee might have the $14.1 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception depending on whether Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. are back, but it’s also possible the Bucks are limited to the $5.7 million taxpayer exception.

If that’s the case, the Bucks will likely be holding their breath hoping they can bring Porter back at that price, with a one-year deal with a second-year player option seeming the most plausible scenario. However, the stories about Porter from Cleveland and Houston may scare enough other teams that Milwaukee can keep him at that price.

I wouldn't put any credence into that Hollinger article. He uses his algorithm to determine what players are worth, but rarely does it align with what they'll realistically get paid. If memory serves, he once predicted Donte would get a $25 million/year contract.

[German Athens]

Yeah, so it looks like Shams reported that Bane deal wrong.

It’s actually 4 1sts and 2 swaps!

For 2026, Orlando traded their own 1st and the rights to swap with the lesser pick between Phoenix and Washington.