Bucks News, Transactions and Trade Ideas - 2025 Off-season

[slos]

Before talking about Reaves, Jrue etc you need to have a good evaluation of Bucks’ needs and resources. Starting to do so and given how limited their assets are, they simply can’t afford lose anything with value.

Having said that they absolutely need to resign KPJ, GTJ, Rollins. Along with Green (and a possible Dame playoff return) Bucks are already set at the guards. Bobby is another keeper IMO and along with Giannis you are set at PF too.

Porter/Rollins
Trent/Green
XXX/XXX
Giannis/Portis
XXX/XXX

I like Reaves and obviously Jrue is better than Kuzma, but they don’t address bigger needs. Give me wings with size, let’s talk about possible Brook replacements.

Moving forward I’m all for high quality role players that fit with Giannis. I think I’m done with Big 3s, NBA is quickly shifting into another direction.

[Matches Malone]

Nico isn’t rebuilding lol. If anything he’s the exact type of guy who would trade the Flagg pick.

The flashy new rumor out there is that if Boston goes into a mini-rebuild, Nico could pursue a package around Jaylen Brown for Flagg, which would be annoying as hell. I'm sure Flagg wouldn't mind since he is/was a Celtic fan growing up.

[Ron Swanson]

AJ Johnson's future potential is irrelevant to the point. We've had this myopic view of "getting younger" as this fix-all ever since the championship, and yet what you're seeing now in the playoffs is rather the teams with the best roster constructions/coaching plus health are the ones having the most success regardless of age. OKC has good role players in the usual prime age median (Hartenstein, Caruso, Dort) with their Top-6 rotation.

At the same time, good young players aren't gonna be lining up to sign vet minimums and 1-year BAE deals with us just because they want to play with Giannis. Obviously would have loved to see Doc not be a moron and have a larger playoff sample of the KPJ/Green/Trent/Giannis plus Bobby or Sims lineup in that playoff series, but I'm also not gonna get carried away and say that it would have won us the series. If, just like that dog-days of April 8-game win streak, people wanna believe that starting group is some magic elixir we can build the 2025-26 team around, then have at it. I'm just not convinced. This team needs to look at all avenues regardless of age, and the "distressed asset" route is part of that.

[Matches Malone]

We will need some luck, but we also need time to let the league unfold and let other teams' anxieties become our opportunities

This is such a great point to keep in mind. The new CBA is going to create shorter competing windows for some teams as they can only fight against the 2nd apron for so long and have to make financial decisions. The Bucks could be in an advantageous position if they are patient and as our finances improve, they can look to strike and make a move. It's only a matter of time before some of these upper echelon teams will be dealing with the financial hardships that the Bucks have already gone through with their core.

[ShootingtheJ]

Really hard to keep running with the "we're old and slow" narrative after being eliminated in a game where the oldest guy getting rotation minutes was Giannis. Mentioned it in the Giannis thread, but the trade deadline should have showed everyone what a lot of us have been postulating about for years now, i.e. how you don't need to dump your best assets and players just to get younger rotation dudes.

That's a laughable point. We out-played them on the road in the 1 game we deployed the lineup. Ended up technically losing by 1 in OT because a guy didn't catch a ball right in his hands on account he choked a lead Brook, Prince, & co. never had, since they put us in 20 pt holes; the other group had to dig us out of. And a few of those guys still ended up in the positives in the disqualifying game, series.

It doesn't mean every move is justified, and younger player is better than an older one. There are exceptions to rules. And part of the reason why that Kuz trade was dumb was the youngest player on the roster who had upside went out in addition for a badly performing player this yr.

Agree. We lost the elimination game because when we played the old guys a few minutes, the lead eroded and we were forced to overplay the youngsters, and they got exhausted.

1 more playable player instead of Prince or Brook, and we win.

More so, the old guys aren't assets anymore. Next years roster should be Giannis, Bobby, and 13 dudes 26 or younger. Vets might win you a few regular season games, but they're useless in the playoffs.

[Bucks4005]

Would a potential target maybe be DeAndre Ayton? I mean, Portlands kinda loaded on Cs, they probably would like to give Clingan more minutes, so in terms of a cheaper price to pay for a player he might fit. And if it’s him and Giannis, our identity could revolve around dominating the boards. For all his flaws as a player and concerns about effort, guy has basically been a walking 15-10 player and has been a part of really good teams and defenses, so I think he does get a bit of a bad rap because even though he’s a productive player, your constantly expecting more because he was a #1 pick.

[Ron Swanson]

The ultimate short-sighted/unimaginative move would be Horst just blowing the last of it ('31 1st and '32 swap) on Austin Reaves or some **** so we can cap out as a 6-seed and I hate how likely that seems with him in charge. Giannis' loyalty is an asset. If he's committed to the "let's take this season and reevaluate next summer" pitch, then that's the silver lining that you need to take advantage of. Either clear the cap sheet for next summer or use the cap flexibility you have now on distressed assets and/or picks attached.

[slos]

Looking into offseason the toughest issue IMO is how you keep both KPJ and GTJ without a DPE granted for Lillard.
It’s easy to keep one with the 4y/60,5mil MLE. You have though to convince the other take the BAE 2y/10,5ml/PO with a promise that will be taken care of next season with Early Bird rights.

It’s tricky because Porter might be the player with the highest upside, but he is probably the one to take the lowball offer. I mean Trent took the “prove it” minimum last offseason, he delivered and it’s time to get paid. On the other hand Porter was again almost out of the league in the deadline and has a “prove it” starting job in front of him.

My only concern about Porter is that he becomes too good in his new role to resign him next offseason with Early Bird rights and you lose him from a rising team with cap space. I don’t have the same concerns with Trent and that’s why I would be extremely happy if Horst locks Porter with the full MLE and brings back Trent with the BAE.

But the market will decide. I’m optimistic that just one of them nets a good offer to match and not both. Rollins for sure needs to get locked with a 4y/20-30mil deal. I would also be happy if there is room to decline Green’s 2,3 mil contract and sign him instead into a 4y/40mil. He is also a lock to get priced out in a non Dame season.

[buckboy]

Nico isn’t rebuilding lol. If anything he’s the exact type of guy who would trade the Flagg pick.

The flashy new rumor out there is that if Boston goes into a mini-rebuild, Nico could pursue a package around Jaylen Brown for Flagg, which would be annoying as hell. I'm sure Flagg wouldn't mind since he is/was a Celtic fan growing up.

I would say no one would be dumb enough to trade Flagg for Jaylen Brown, but then I realized who Dallas' GM was.

Anyway, I don't think they'll trade Flagg.

[Bernman]

The ultimate short-sighted/unimaginative move would be Horst just blowing the last of it ('31 1st and '32 swap) on Austin Reaves or some **** so we can cap out as a 6-seed and I hate how likely that seems with him in charge. Giannis' loyalty is an asset. If he's committed to the "let's take this season and reevaluate next summer" pitch, then that's the silver lining that you need to take advantage of. Either clear the cap sheet for next summer or use the cap flexibility you have now on distressed assets and/or picks attached.

You want to blow it on Cam Johnson, who's not another creator at the end of the shot clock/game which Giannis needs, & significantly older so wouldn't necessarily still be effective around the years we're giving up the pick(s) (also Brooklyn repeatedly said they wouldn't deal w/ us).

If you reevaluate next summer, Giannis is 1 yr away from FA, in all likelihood coming off a bad season. Hard to justify this approach w/out a verbal commitment of an extension, w/ a mutual agreement from us we'll trade him when he requests.

[neiLz]

as long as doc is the coach i have zero faith in this team. doc is going to have horst go out and get a back to the basket center to replace brook cuz he thinks its 1998. He is going to get a "tough, gritty" pg who can't shoot and isn't athletic likes its 1992 and the bucks will be back as 1st round exit.

[Ron Swanson]

The ultimate short-sighted/unimaginative move would be Horst just blowing the last of it ('31 1st and '32 swap) on Austin Reaves or some **** so we can cap out as a 6-seed and I hate how likely that seems with him in charge. Giannis' loyalty is an asset. If he's committed to the "let's take this season and reevaluate next summer" pitch, then that's the silver lining that you need to take advantage of. Either clear the cap sheet for next summer or use the cap flexibility you have now on distressed assets and/or picks attached.

You want to blow it on Cam Johnson, who's not another creator at the end of the shot clock/game which Giannis needs, & significantly older so wouldn't necessarily still be effective around the years we're giving up the pick(s) (also Brooklyn repeatedly said they wouldn't deal w/ us).

If you reevaluate next summer, Giannis is 1 yr away from FA, in all likelihood coming off a bad season. Hard to justify this approach w/out a verbal commitment of an extension, w/ a mutual agreement from us we'll trade him when he requests.

Probably shouldn't need to be said that throwing out trade ideas =/= specifically endorsing them as the preferred Plan A. Depending on what we might do otherwise and if that pick is lightly protected, yeah, I'd definitely consider Cam Johnson. And I don't care about the "years of contract control" crap with superstar players, because NBA GM's don't seem to either. This becomes a completely different discussion next summer if Giannis doesn't commit to signing another extension. I don't think anyone's debating that.

[paulpressey25]

Nico isn’t rebuilding lol. If anything he’s the exact type of guy who would trade the Flagg pick.

The flashy new rumor out there is that if Boston goes into a mini-rebuild, Nico could pursue a package around Jaylen Brown for Flagg, which would be annoying as hell. I'm sure Flagg wouldn't mind since he is/was a Celtic fan growing up.

Per Tim McMahon on Windy's pod this morning he said Mav's aren't trading the pick per his info. Could be posturing but again my take is the Mav's owners are cheap. They'd love Flagg on a cost-controlled rookie deal.

Was some additional speculation that the Mav's should then trade AD for future assets.

[paulpressey25]

Probably shouldn't need to be said that throwing out trade ideas =/= specifically endorsing them as the preferred Plan A.

This needs to be a footnote for all our posts on this topic. We're all going to spitball a lot of stuff the next six weeks.

[Bernman]

Probably shouldn't need to be said that throwing out trade ideas =/= specifically endorsing them as the preferred Plan A. Depending on what we might do otherwise and if that pick is lightly protected, yeah, I'd definitely consider Cam Johnson. And I don't care about the "years of contract control" crap with superstar players, because NBA GM's don't seem to either. This becomes a completely different discussion next summer if Giannis doesn't commit to signing another extension. I don't think anyone's debating that.

I know people make that mistake, but you've not once but repeatedly made the suggestion to deal '31 for Cam Johnson. Odd to do if that's not an endorsement. This would also be a 2-way street.

The Cam suggestion should be mocked more in our position now cuz he doesn't have Reaves' creativity (+ he's older). Cam made more sense when Dame was around to create at end of clocks/games. Now Reaves would be providing that service. So you have a better shot when it counts.

That's a truism less years of control = less value. He'd have to sign a pre-extension. And we're in the dark about that now, like if he'd extend w/ us.

[Ron Swanson]

Probably shouldn't need to be said that throwing out trade ideas =/= specifically endorsing them as the preferred Plan A. Depending on what we might do otherwise and if that pick is lightly protected, yeah, I'd definitely consider Cam Johnson. And I don't care about the "years of contract control" crap with superstar players, because NBA GM's don't seem to either. This becomes a completely different discussion next summer if Giannis doesn't commit to signing another extension. I don't think anyone's debating that.

I know people make that mistake, but you've not once but repeatedly made the suggestion to deal '31 for Cam Johnson. Odd to do if that's not an endorsement. This would also be a 2-way street.

The Cam suggestion should be mocked more in our position now cuz he doesn't have Reaves' creativity (+ he's older). Cam made more sense when Dame was around to create at end of clocks/games. Now Reaves would be providing that service. So you have a better shot when it counts.

That's a truism less years of control = less value. He'd have to sign a pre-extension. And we're in the dark about that now, like if he'd extend w/ us.

Or how about we all don't "mock" people's trade proposals because we're basically all just throwing loose ideas out here in a pretty hopeless situation with no clear answers? Like, a lot of people here think that Austin Reaves has some still hidden potential as a lead floor general/perimeter shot-creator on a good NBA team. Cool, I don't see it at all. I don't really see it with KPJ either, but I'd much rather just re-sign him with what cap resources we already have instead of paying a premium for Austin Reaves coming off a playoff series where he got absolutely stuffed in a locker.

[Bernman]

Or how about we all don't "mock" people's trade proposals because we're basically all just throwing loose ideas out here in a pretty hopeless situation with no clear answers?

Remember that for later now.

Like, a lot of people here think that Austin Reaves has some still hidden potential as a lead floor general/perimeter shot-creator on a good NBA team. Cool, I don't see it at all. I don't really see it with KPJ either, but I'd much rather just re-sign him with what cap resources we already have instead of paying a premium for Austin Reaves coming off a playoff series where he got absolutely stuffed in a locker.

Well you're indicating why that's a good shout given our situation w/ limited resources (if we don't trade Gianni) cuz the explanation for the series you're deriding him for may be he was injured. Normally he's a much better creator/shooter & not as much of a punk on d.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/austin-reaves-reportedly-played-injury-012902468.html

[landoc88]

We all know Connington is opting in and if Lopez opts in for the season can the Bucks trade them together along with the 2031 first round pick?

[Profound23]

We all know Connington is opting in and if Lopez opts in for the season can the Bucks trade them together along with the 2031 first round pick?

Lopez does not have an option, he is a UFA. If we sign him to anything less than the vet minimum Horst should be fired. Well Horst should be fired anyways, but maybe banned from the NBA if that happens.

[pifhluk23]

Before talking about Reaves, Jrue etc you need to have a good evaluation of Bucks’ needs and resources. Starting to do so and given how limited their assets are, they simply can’t afford lose anything with value.

Having said that they absolutely need to resign KPJ, GTJ, Rollins. Along with Green (and a possible Dame playoff return) Bucks are already set at the guards. Bobby is another keeper IMO and along with Giannis you are set at PF too.

Porter/Rollins
Trent/Green
XXX/XXX
Giannis/Portis
XXX/XXX

I like Reaves and obviously Jrue is better than Kuzma, but they don’t address bigger needs. Give me wings with size, let’s talk about possible Brook replacements.

Moving forward I’m all for high quality role players that fit with Giannis. I think I’m done with Big 3s, NBA is quickly shifting into another direction.

The Jrue idea is were getting a solid dude who can help out in the regular season next year and a pick for Kuzma and Pat, it's not really much of a risk and maybe it makes Giannis happy. The upside hope is that he slots in perfectly next to Dame when he comes back but I do see how it could be a major problem having 2 or even 3 guys who can't shoot 3s in the playoffs. Either way it's a low risk move for a guy who can help you out during the regular season and is a solid teammate. His salary is only 1 more season than Kuz and thats assuming he takes his po and doesn't retire.