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

[Frank Nova]

Winning the chip is all about just not getting injured now so we probably just need to sign as many decent 5-20M players as possible. Dame trade killed us.

Not cashing in Dame at the deadline killed us. It was so obvious

I think cashing in on Brook was a more obvious and bigger miss. Eating 35% of the cap on a player you can’t play or trade kills us now but countless ppl on this board alone knew months ago that Brook was going to be useless in 6 of the possible 8 matchups in the playoffs. Not trading him for a playable wing ended up being the most detrimental thing for the season. Dame was good all season before the blood clots regardless of all the analytics you’re gonna throw at me. He wasn’t the problem.

[bucksfansince88]

whats our best case scenario roster look like next season, assuming GA suits up in a bucks uniform and Doc is still the coach.

[Ron Swanson]

whats our best case scenario roster look like next season, assuming GA suits up in a bucks uniform and Doc is still the coach.

Give KPJ the 1-year BAE or whatever ($5 mil?)
Pray Brook and Sims take vet minimums (Bobby and Trent are as good as gone)
Give Rollins the multi-year, only 1st year guaranteed special
Tyus Jones vet minimum
Thanasis vet minimum

KPJ/Jones
Green/Rollins/Pat
Kuzma/#47
Giannis/Smith/Thanasis
Brook/Sims

Clear the books for next summer when Dame and Kuz are expirings and hope that the Lakers fat shame Luka to the point where he just leaves and signs with us because he wants to be Euro Bros with Gianni. Because that's the only hope if we're still stuck with Doc.

[bucksfansince88]

whats our best case scenario roster look like next season, assuming GA suits up in a bucks uniform and Doc is still the coach.

Give KPJ the 1-year BAE or whatever ($5 mil?)
Pray Brook and Sims take vet minimums (Bobby and Trent are as good as gone)
Give Rollins the multi-year, only 1st year guaranteed special
Tyus Jones vet minimum
Thanasis vet minimum

KPJ/Jones
Green/Rollins/Pat
Kuzma/#47
Giannis/Smith/Thanasis
Brook/Sims

Clear the books for next summer when Dame and Kuz are expirings and hope that the Lakers fat shame Luka to the point where he just leaves and signs with us because he wants to be Euro Bros with Gianni. Because that's the only hope if we're still stuck with Doc.

you wouldnt use the MLE?

[Ron Swanson]

whats our best case scenario roster look like next season, assuming GA suits up in a bucks uniform and Doc is still the coach.

Give KPJ the 1-year BAE or whatever ($5 mil?)
Pray Brook and Sims take vet minimums (Bobby and Trent are as good as gone)
Give Rollins the multi-year, only 1st year guaranteed special
Tyus Jones vet minimum
Thanasis vet minimum

KPJ/Jones
Green/Rollins/Pat
Kuzma/#47
Giannis/Smith/Thanasis
Brook/Sims

Clear the books for next summer when Dame and Kuz are expirings and hope that the Lakers fat shame Luka to the point where he just leaves and signs with us because he wants to be Euro Bros with Gianni. Because that's the only hope if we're still stuck with Doc.

you wouldnt use the MLE?

Not if I wanna maximize 2026 cap space. I'm half-joking about the Luka thing. Not joking at all about there being no hope if Doc is still here.

[fansinceforever]

Unless Tyler Smith really turns it on that's an extremely depressing roster.

[Bernman]

Give KPJ the 1-year BAE or whatever ($5 mil?)
Pray Brook and Sims take vet minimums (Bobby and Trent are as good as gone)
Give Rollins the multi-year, only 1st year guaranteed special
Tyus Jones vet minimum
Thanasis vet minimum

KPJ/Jones
Green/Rollins/Pat
Kuzma/#47
Giannis/Smith/Thanasis
Brook/Sims

Clear the books for next summer when Dame and Kuz are expirings and hope that the Lakers fat shame Luka to the point where he just leaves and signs with us because he wants to be Euro Bros with Gianni. Because that's the only hope if we're still stuck with Doc.

you wouldnt use the MLE?

Not if I wanna maximize 2026 cap space. I'm half-joking about the Luka thing. Not joking at all about there being no hope if Doc is still here.

You could still split the MLE up for 1 yr guys. LeVert may take it over a vet min. LaRavia may take it as a 3&d prove it playing off Giannis.

That's a gross frontcourt & doubling down on a strategy that's proven not to work of jumbo players and mediocre shooting. Also, if we know Doc's here, don't know why he'd be given the chance to make the same mistakes in the playoffs. We shouldn't be trying to lose if we're not rebuilding.

[tedbrogen]

Any scenario with Kuz and Brook still around and Doc coaching is first round loss as the absolute ceiling. Hilariously worse if Giannis sustains an injury, which he might trying to carry those bums.

If we really want to try to have a fun team in 26, gotta let Brook walk and use the full MLE on Aldama or Reid, if they would take that. Then play three guards with Giannis and a big (MLE guy and Sims).

Have to strip the big man rotation down to MLE guy, Giannis, Sims, and Tyler Smith to Doc proof the roster and force him to feed minutes to Smith hoping he becomes a rotational piece.

Also gotta find a way to ditch Kuz.

Forget cap space in 26 offseason, just hang into picks and you’ll have Dame’s max contract and future picks to trade.

[Bernman]

Best case win now offseason:

Reid/Sims/L. Nance
Giannis/Kuzma/P. Nance
LaRavia/LeVert/Thanasis
Reaves/Green/Sion James
KPJ/Rollins/(Dame)

HC - Joe Prunty

- Sell owners on firing Doc and replacing him w/ a guy Giannis already has a relationship, + saves them $
- Sell Giannis on staying because of his double-digit net ratings w/ guys like KPJ & Green. Thanasis returning. Also this Reaves move...
- Reaves in 3-way deal where we give up '31 1st, Pat expiring, Smith, Ajax
- Reid on MLE
- LeVert on BAE or vet min
- KPJ opt in handshake or BAE
- LaRavia sold on a prove it starting next to Giannis
- a 2nd set of brothers in the Nance's
- Sion James 47th pick
- Kuz used as 6th-7th man, 4 w/ Giannis at the 5 at times, get him back to career norms at least, then still likely sell at the deadline
- Dame comes back by the playoffs to be a spark off the bench

[jschligs]

Best case win now offseason:

Reid/Sims/L. Nance
Giannis/Kuzma/P. Nance
LaRavia/LeVert/Thanasis
Reaves/Green/Sion James
KPJ/Rollins/(Dame)

HC - Joe Prunty

- Sell Giannis on staying because of his double-digit net ratings w/ guys like KPJ & Green. Thanasis returning. Also this Reaves move...
- Reaves in 3-way deal where we give up '31 1st, Pat expiring, Smith, Ajax
- Reid on MLE
- LeVert on BAE or vet min
- KPJ opt in handshake or BAE
- LaRavia sold on a prove it starting next to Giannis
- a 2nd set of brothers in the Nance's
- Sion James 47th pick
- Kuz used as 6th-7th man, 4 w/ Giannis at the 5 at times, get him back to career norms at least, then still likely sell at the deadline

If Reid wants to get paid, he's going to get paid. I would absolutely love him on the Bucks for the MLE but he's about to get a payday and we're not going to be that team. I could see him getting something like a 4/110 type of deal from someone, if not a little more.

[Bernman]

Best case win now offseason:

Reid/Sims/L. Nance
Giannis/Kuzma/P. Nance
LaRavia/LeVert/Thanasis
Reaves/Green/Sion James
KPJ/Rollins/(Dame)

HC - Joe Prunty

- Sell Giannis on staying because of his double-digit net ratings w/ guys like KPJ & Green. Thanasis returning. Also this Reaves move...
- Reaves in 3-way deal where we give up '31 1st, Pat expiring, Smith, Ajax
- Reid on MLE
- LeVert on BAE or vet min
- KPJ opt in handshake or BAE
- LaRavia sold on a prove it starting next to Giannis
- a 2nd set of brothers in the Nance's
- Sion James 47th pick
- Kuz used as 6th-7th man, 4 w/ Giannis at the 5 at times, get him back to career norms at least, then still likely sell at the deadline

If Reid wants to get paid, he's going to get paid. I would absolutely love him on the Bucks for the MLE but he's about to get a payday and we're not going to be that team.

I said best case (win now) off-season.

In my next best case offseason, I'm going w/ Aldama there. Just don't if he's added enough weight yet to body up centers. But reportedly was up to 235 before this season, and can keep adding weight. You might still have to use Sims more than you'd want.

[jschligs]

Best case win now offseason:

Reid/Sims/L. Nance
Giannis/Kuzma/P. Nance
LaRavia/LeVert/Thanasis
Reaves/Green/Sion James
KPJ/Rollins/(Dame)

HC - Joe Prunty

- Sell Giannis on staying because of his double-digit net ratings w/ guys like KPJ & Green. Thanasis returning. Also this Reaves move...
- Reaves in 3-way deal where we give up '31 1st, Pat expiring, Smith, Ajax
- Reid on MLE
- LeVert on BAE or vet min
- KPJ opt in handshake or BAE
- LaRavia sold on a prove it starting next to Giannis
- a 2nd set of brothers in the Nance's
- Sion James 47th pick
- Kuz used as 6th-7th man, 4 w/ Giannis at the 5 at times, get him back to career norms at least, then still likely sell at the deadline

If Reid wants to get paid, he's going to get paid. I would absolutely love him on the Bucks for the MLE but he's about to get a payday and we're not going to be that team.

I said best case offseason.

In my next best case offseason, I'm going w/ Aldama there. Just don't if he's added enough weight yet to body up centers. But reportedly was up to 235 before this season, and will keep adding weight.

I hear you but that's more of a dream case offseason

Aldama would be interesting though.

[Profound23]

whats our best case scenario roster look like next season, assuming GA suits up in a bucks uniform and Doc is still the coach.

Give KPJ the 1-year BAE or whatever ($5 mil?)
Pray Brook and Sims take vet minimums (Bobby and Trent are as good as gone)
Give Rollins the multi-year, only 1st year guaranteed special
Tyus Jones vet minimum
Thanasis vet minimum

KPJ/Jones
Green/Rollins/Pat
Kuzma/#47
Giannis/Smith/Thanasis
Brook/Sims

Clear the books for next summer when Dame and Kuz are expirings and hope that the Lakers fat shame Luka to the point where he just leaves and signs with us because he wants to be Euro Bros with Gianni. Because that's the only hope if we're still stuck with Doc.

I realize the Luka thing is probably tongue on cheek, but could you imagine Laker fans if that actually happened.

[jakecronus8]

Who are some potentially buy low young guys that could break out? I would love to see us take a chance on someone like Scoot, just not sure how highly portland value's him. If they're holding on to Simons I'd have to think he may be available with Shae taking up the other guard spot.

[ShootingtheJ]

whats our best case scenario roster look like next season, assuming GA suits up in a bucks uniform and Doc is still the coach.

Give KPJ the 1-year BAE or whatever ($5 mil?)
Pray Brook and Sims take vet minimums (Bobby and Trent are as good as gone)
Give Rollins the multi-year, only 1st year guaranteed special
Tyus Jones vet minimum
Thanasis vet minimum

KPJ/Jones
Green/Rollins/Pat
Kuzma/#47
Giannis/Smith/Thanasis
Brook/Sims

Clear the books for next summer when Dame and Kuz are expirings and hope that the Lakers fat shame Luka to the point where he just leaves and signs with us because he wants to be Euro Bros with Gianni. Because that's the only hope if we're still stuck with Doc.

Losing Bobby and Trent but keeping Brook and Kuzma is the absolute worst case scenario.

Also, no to Jones. He's not switchable and isn't a playoff player. Let Rollins develop at PG.

Find some forwards.

[ShootingtheJ]

Santi Aldama is intriguing, but him being a RFA ruins that idea. While we're waiting 7 days for Memphis to make a decision, all the other free agents, including Bobby, will have signed with other teams. If they match the offer, we're completely screwed.

It's just not when the risk for the marginal upgrade, when we're desperate for wings and forwards.

[ShootingtheJ]

Who are some potentially buy low young guys that could break out? I would love to see us take a chance on someone like Scoot, just not sure how highly portland value's him. If they're holding on to Simons I'd have to think he may be available with Shae taking up the other guard spot.

Isaac Okoro was heading in the right direction until he spent this year under Atkinson. He's still just 23, he's a high level defender, and shot 39% and 37% from 3 the last 2 years.

[MickeyDavis]

Santi Aldama is intriguing, but him being a RFA ruins that idea. While we're waiting 7 days for Memphis to make a decision, all the other free agents, including Bobby, will have signed with other teams. If they match the offer, we're completely screwed.

It's just not when the risk for the marginal upgrade, when we're desperate for wings and forwards.

2 days

[ShootingtheJ]

Santi Aldama is intriguing, but him being a RFA ruins that idea. While we're waiting 7 days for Memphis to make a decision, all the other free agents, including Bobby, will have signed with other teams. If they match the offer, we're completely screwed.

It's just not when the risk for the marginal upgrade, when we're desperate for wings and forwards.

2 days

Still too long. Everyone is gone in about 30 hours.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

you guys are overthinking things imo.

we need a couple shooters that can defend(aj and gtj)...a couple guards that can get to the paint and compete maybe shoot some(kpj and rollins)...... bigs that can move and switch(sims...portis and kuz are marginal)

and thats it. thats all.

we already have guys like this. its mostly done.

we need to move the guys that dont check these boxes. bring a couple more in that fit this mold.

do it within budget. maybe dump dame...maybe move him later.

that needs to be the offseason if giannis stays.