Bucks News, Transactions, Trade Ideas - Horst Given Extension

[Ron Swanson]

Sharpe is an incredibly talented dude but still extremely raw even after 3-seasons in the league, and he's actually regressed as a shooter. KPJ is better than him right now, and this is the problem with any of these trades where we're banking on some super young prospect bucking historical trends and not only becoming a star player, but becoming a star player good enough at like 23-years old to be a legit co-star on a contender.

Sharpe's most likely 3-4 years away at best, if he ever reaches that level. Otherwise you're stuck in a Jalen Green or Keegan Murray situation. I'd definitely prefer a lottery ticket like Sharpe over a lot of these proposed trades and I usually push back against this obsession about "age timelines" with a roster's core, but he ain't becoming a good enough player while Giannis is still in his prime. He's a guy you acquire for the post-Giannis timeline, not the current one.

[emunney]

I've been an Ayton defender in the past but that's some absolute nightmare salary to eat just for Shaedon Sharpe. Gross and no thank you.

Basketball reference has deal expiring next year. To get someone like Sharpe it'd be an easy yes given Ayton's expiring contract. It could help us going out as we might be able to use that giant expiring contract to send out plus our 31 to target a higher salary player.

I'm more concerned about the absolute albatross Jerami Grant contract and Thybulle's dead money player option.

That Grant deal is rough, whew. I still think Thybulle's pretty good, though, so I don't mind paying him next year.

[The Wet Whistle]

The only Blazer I'd be interested in is Deni & I don't really see the incentive for Portland to trade him unless they really like the future Bucks pick.

Out: Kuzma, Dre, 31st
In: Deni, Murray

[JRoy]

Basketball reference has deal expiring next year. To get someone like Sharpe it'd be an easy yes given Ayton's expiring contract. It could help us going out as we might be able to use that giant expiring contract to send out plus our 31 to target a higher salary player.

I'm more concerned about the absolute albatross Jerami Grant contract and Thybulle's dead money player option.

Thybulle is an expiring as well. In the original post he mentions Grant if we throw in Kuz so I'm working on the assumption we aren't going that route. If we exclude Grant, it's a deal I would definitely seriously consider I just don't know why they would

MKE: Ayton, Sharpe, Thybulle
POR: Dame

No thank you, LOL.

[pifhluk23]

Unless we just desperately need to open up cap space, there's no acceptable scenario I can see where Brook isn't back on the roster next season. He's too important as a regular season minutes eater and it's crazy how good he still is at 37. You give him one more 2-year deal and let him retire a Buck.

I'd wait until the playoffs are over before declaring we should resign him. He looks worse every year. Yeah he may be great for the regular season but we can't afford to give 15M+ and minutes to a guy who may not even be playable in May.

[Bucksmaniac]

Unless we just desperately need to open up cap space, there's no acceptable scenario I can see where Brook isn't back on the roster next season. He's too important as a regular season minutes eater and it's crazy how good he still is at 37. You give him one more 2-year deal and let him retire a Buck.

I'd wait until the playoffs are over before declaring we should resign him. He looks worse every year. Yeah he may be great for the regular season but we can't afford to give 15M+ and minutes to a guy who may not even be playable in May.

His offensive numbers this year are actually slightly better than last and he’s always been matchup dependent in terms of being a plus player. I agree that his playoff playability will say a lot.

[ShootingtheJ]

Just for fun, I've been playing with the trade machines. Blazers could likely offer a trade centered around Shaedon Sharp, Matice Thybulle and Deandre Ayton. That package works in the checker with Dame and Kuzma (if the Blazers added Grant), and a minimal filler.

I'm not saying the Bucks should do that type of deal, but in theory, there are several variables that could work.

I'd do that but your fellow Portlander is about to storm in and nix it for including Sharpe. And, frankly, he's got a point. Not sure why you'd do this.

I'm hoping Portland captures the Flagg, then they can include Avdija with Ayton for Dame.

[raferfenix]

Relieved we appear through the woods on “Dame’s trade value is shot due to blood clots” territory.

Gives this team so many options comparably.

And beforehand we get to assess what Dame Time alongside Giannis in the playoffs really looks like.

[German Athens]

Go full heliocentric Giannis, and get the best off-ball movers and shooters around him you can.

Mke: Lauri, Monk
Utah: Derozan, Pat, AJJ, 2 1sts, 2 2nds
Sac: Dame

Mke: Cam Johnson, ‘25 Hou 1st
Bkn: Kuzma, ‘31 1st

KPJ Rollins Min
Green Monk
Cam BAE 27
Lauri Min Smith 47
Giannis Brook Sims

[soxperry]

In his 30 games as a Buck, KPJ has a per 36 line of 21, 7 and 6.7. That is rare, especially so for a guard. How rare?

First of all, there is not a guard in the league who has a per 36 of at least 20/7/6. If you relax the requirements to 20/6/6, you get:

Cade Cunningham
Desmond Bane

To get some more names involved, i relaxed it to 20/5/5. Then you get:

SGA
Steph
D Mitch
Cade
Herro
Jalen Williams
Harden
Bane

Those are all well established names. Granted, most of those players score a lot more points than KPJ. But it's very clear that he provides a rare package of talents as I've said here many times. Here's the kicker: He's also doing it with efficiency at a .494/.408/.871 clip and he is not a liability on defense. Obviously, there is a difference between a 30 game stretch and doing it over a full season. But KPJ has only improved as he has gotten more comfortable with his new team and as his minutes have increased. His last 7 games, per 36, are 22.7/7.5/6.9 with 2.7 steals and only 1.7 TO on 27 min per game. Here's the second kicker: he's still only 24.

So who is his closest comp here for salary projection purposes? That is most definitely Desmond Bane. The numbers are strikingly similar in almost every category and Bane is 26. What does Bane make? He is in the first year of a 5 year 197M deal, and made 34M this year.

[German Athens]

Yeah, it’s hard to find guys, historically or today, with KPJ’s tools/skills who aren’t perennial all-nba candidates.

The concerns are elsewhere.

[Rstuedes24]

Really hopeful that KPJ goes down a similar path to what Bobby had in the sense that he realizes he found a good fit here and sticks with us knowing the money will come soon and that he will be in a good situation around guys that can help mentor him

[soxperry]

Yeah, it’s hard to find guys, historically or today, with KPJ’s tools/skills who aren’t perennial all-nba candidates.

The concerns are elsewhere.

lately, my only concern is retaining him.

[Bernman]

Those other players didn't have an atrocious first half of the season, after being out of the NBA, for a series of off the court issues. Then cook in the dog days of the season.

To potentially get beyond what we could pay, he at least needs to kill it in the playoffs in a serious role and sample, not just as a microwave guy off the bench. Dame's impending return reduces that chance further.

[soxperry]

Those other players didn't have an atrocious first half of the season, after being out of the NBA, for a series of off the court issues. Then cook in the dog days of the season.

To potentially get beyond what we could pay, he at least needs to kill it in the playoffs in a serious role and sample, not just as a microwave guy off the bench. Dame's impending return reduces that chance further.

that wasn't the point of my post. i was just pointing out how rare he is.

as far as how much he can get on the open market, any of us would be lying if we expressed any level of certainty about it.

[ShootingtheJ]

Those other players didn't have an atrocious first half of the season, after being out of the NBA, for a series of off the court issues. Then cook in the dog days of the season.

To potentially get beyond what we could pay, he at least needs to kill it in the playoffs in a serious role and sample, not just as a microwave guy off the bench. Dame's impending return reduces that chance further.

that wasn't the point of my post. i was just pointing out how rare he is.

as far as how much he can get on the open market, any of us would be lying if we expressed any level of certainty about it.

Even with the Bucks, he's averaging 11.7 ppg. He's exciting, but there's no concerns of losing him

[German Athens]

Hypothetical scenario:

Keep Doc, keep KPJ

Fire Doc, lose KPJ

What are you choosing?

[Bucksmaniac]

Hypothetical scenario:

Keep Doc, keep KPJ

Fire Doc, lose KPJ

What are you choosing?

Keep Doc and KPJ as of now, presuming his recent play continues into the playoffs on more minutes, no guarantee you get a much better coach than Doc even though I think he’s mediocre.

[ShootingtheJ]

I'm more concerned about the absolute albatross Jerami Grant contract and Thybulle's dead money player option.

Thybulle is an expiring as well. In the original post he mentions Grant if we throw in Kuz so I'm working on the assumption we aren't going that route. If we exclude Grant, it's a deal I would definitely seriously consider I just don't know why they would

MKE: Ayton, Sharpe, Thybulle
POR: Dame

No thank you, LOL.

You'd be crazy not to take that deal, and then reroute Dame for more.

[JRoy]

Thybulle is an expiring as well. In the original post he mentions Grant if we throw in Kuz so I'm working on the assumption we aren't going that route. If we exclude Grant, it's a deal I would definitely seriously consider I just don't know why they would

MKE: Ayton, Sharpe, Thybulle
POR: Dame

No thank you, LOL.

You'd be crazy not to take that deal, and then reroute Dame for more.

Nah, MIL can cut us out and get that “more” for yourselves.