Bucks News, Transactions, Trade Ideas: KPJ confirmed ankle sprain after MRI

[MickeyDavis]

I think we can live with Kuzma, he sucks but I’m not attaching value to dump him.

off the bench hes ok. adds something i like and quite frankly we need. overpaid sure. but in a nonstarting role getting yanked if he goes off the reservation i like having him in the quiver

Yes. So far (only 4 games and he missed one) he's embracing his role. He's far better suited to a bench role. Same with Prince, who has been very good in his role as well. Just keep winning and everyone will remain happy.

[BroncoBuck]

Too many of these teams got older/less flexible this offseason, the Bucks zagged the right way copying the Pacers model. They have a roster that top to bottom makes the other team uncomfortable. Size and quickness across the board.

[raferfenix]

Giannis made a point of praising Rondo’s coaching while giving Rollins props on striving to improve:

Read on Twitter

[raferfenix]

Size and quickness across the board.

SF is main position that could be quibbled with here.

But if Rollins/Cole/KPJ keep up their trajectory then Dairy and GTJ will be fighting for a lot more minutes at the 3.

[German Athens]

One thing I’d like to add to the discourse around shot profile is that we should also track restricted area attempts.

Yes, I want to see us get to 40 3pa per game which would have placed us in the top 5 last year. But we were even worse at rim attempts last year.

We were 21st in attempts at 23.9 per game with 28 attempts needed to crack the top 5.

We are currently averaging 29 which is a really important development.

[yb90]

I'm actually 100% fine with the hockey line changes with this specific roster, so while I think sometimes we tend to go too hard with the bench units (whoever said that Doc sticks with those lineups for 3-4 possessions too long absolutely nailed it), I'm not gonna knock the overall philosophy behind it. Don't neuter the Giannis lineups by saddling him with Kuzma/Bobby. Just let those guys run the 2nd unit offense and hope that you can break even in the non-Giannis minutes.

Bobby/Giannis lineups were outstanding last year, much better than Giannis/Brook lineups or Giannis/Dame lineups. Why would this pairing be neutering anything?

Giannis/Bobby has a +28 net rating this year in a small sample that should get bigger.

I like Bobby but you can see his athletic decline and on top of that he is still turning down open 3s to dribble into traffic. Defensively he can still be okay if you hide him in a zone or pair him with another big. The problem I have is this might be his last year of quality ball. Bobby has slow starts but even if he gets on track and raise his value this might be the best time to get value in a trade.

The problem with trading Bobby is finding a big that can stretch the floor. The best guy would be Naz Reid. Other guys are Aldama, Post, Okongwu, and maybe Jaylin Williams.

The most realistic trade I can think of is

Portis/Coffey for Moody/Post.

[ShootingtheJ]

I'm actually 100% fine with the hockey line changes with this specific roster, so while I think sometimes we tend to go too hard with the bench units (whoever said that Doc sticks with those lineups for 3-4 possessions too long absolutely nailed it), I'm not gonna knock the overall philosophy behind it. Don't neuter the Giannis lineups by saddling him with Kuzma/Bobby. Just let those guys run the 2nd unit offense and hope that you can break even in the non-Giannis minutes.

Bobby/Giannis lineups were outstanding last year, much better than Giannis/Brook lineups or Giannis/Dame lineups. Why would this pairing be neutering anything?

Giannis/Bobby has a +28 net rating this year in a small sample that should get bigger.

I like Bobby but you can see his athletic decline and on top of that he is still turning down open 3s to dribble into traffic. Defensively he can still be okay if you hide him in a zone or pair him with another big. The problem I have is this might be his last year of quality ball. Bobby has slow starts but even if he gets on track and raise his value this might be the best time to get value in a trade.

The problem with trading Bobby is finding a big that can stretch the floor. The best guy would be Naz Reid. Other guys are Aldama, Post, Okongwu, and maybe Jaylin Williams.

The most realistic trade I can think of is

Portis/Coffey for Moody/Post.

I wanted to draft Post last yearwhen we still had Brook and were playing a deep drop defense, but now that we've moved on from both, Post doesn't really fit here on the defensive end.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

Size and quickness across the board.

SF is main position that could be quibbled with here.

But if Rollins/Cole/KPJ keep up their trajectory then Dairy and GTJ will be fighting for a lot more minutes at the 3.

i noticed opening night that kpj was announced as the starting SF. not sure if that means anything but if hes the SF defensively and we can match up that way then absolutely its in the best interest of us offensively to NOT fill that SF slot with a traditionally sized SF.

I think longterm the starting lineup needs to be

on offense
kpj
rollins
green or gtj
giannis
turner

defensively it looks like
rollins
green or gtj
kpj
giannis
turner

if kpj at his size and length can defend sf's then the only real reason to get a traditional sf is what exactly?

with prince and kuzma sitting there already then why go get a starting upgrade unless defensively theres an issue with the backcourt. but im not sure i see that except in certain matchups. i like being small offensively and prince/kuzma defensively off the bench is actually pretty good if we can get away with keeping them there. whoever this mystery sf is seems really low priority to me at the moment

[ReddRum]

Grok says Ryan Rollins ceiling is... Jrue Holiday! And KPJ's is Fred Van Vleet! LOL

[soxperry]

Grok says Ryan Rollins ceiling is... Jrue Holiday! And KPJ's is Fred Van Vleet! LOL

There just aren't many comps for KPJ. I honestly cant think of one.

[SupremeHustle]

I thought Rollins would be a great third guard, but I think he should take Dairy's spot in the starting lineup. Dairy can be our bench microwave guy and still get a bunch of minutes. He's getting targeted on defense and that has to be wearing him out, even though he's doing a decent job.

[soxperry]

I thought Rollins would be a great third guard, but I think he should take Dairy's spot in the starting lineup. Dairy can be our bench microwave guy and still get a bunch of minutes. He's getting targeted on defense and that has to be wearing him out, even though he's doing a decent job.

Good point

[crowhead76]

How much do you think Houston wants for Tari Eason, could the Bucks 2031 1st be enough?


Maybe something like this

Bucks in: Eason
Pelicans in: Holiday, AJJ, Houston 2026 2nd
Houston in: Alvarado, Bucks 2031 1st

[ReddRum]

I thought Rollins would be a great third guard, but I think he should take Dairy's spot in the starting lineup. Dairy can be our bench microwave guy and still get a bunch of minutes. He's getting targeted on defense and that has to be wearing him out, even though he's doing a decent job.

The awesome thing is we actually have the depth to deploy our best 5 players in the starting lineup (once everyone is healthy) and we can trust Cole to run the offense of the 2nd unit. Got the shooting in AJ, the defense in Prince, athleticism in Kuz, and the rebounding, microwave scoring, and toughness in Bobby. It will be really interesting how things pan out this year at the deadline but as contructed I think this team is deeper than most of us expected just b/c of the early brilliance of our 3 PG's.

[ShootingtheJ]

I thought Rollins would be a great third guard, but I think he should take Dairy's spot in the starting lineup. Dairy can be our bench microwave guy and still get a bunch of minutes. He's getting targeted on defense and that has to be wearing him out, even though he's doing a decent job.

The awesome thing is we actually have the depth to deploy our best 5 players in the starting lineup (once everyone is healthy) and we can trust Cole to run the offense of the 2nd unit. Got the shooting in AJ, the defense in Prince, athleticism in Kuz, and the rebounding, microwave scoring, and toughness in Bobby. It will be really interesting how things pan out this year at the deadline but as contructed I think this team is deeper than most of us expected just b/c of the early brilliance of our 3 PG's.

Green isn't a volume scorer. Trent would be the microwave scorer for the bench.

Entering last night's game, Green was holding his man to 35% shooting, while defending top players. He's a far better defender than Trent.

[yb90]

Grok says Ryan Rollins ceiling is... Jrue Holiday! And KPJ's is Fred Van Vleet! LOL

There just aren't many comps for KPJ. I honestly cant think of one.

In a weird way I think the Bucks can recreate the Big 3 line with KPJ and Rollins working in the Midds and Holiday role. It's not going to be exact matches because of the physical limitations in strength but the length and athleticism might make up for what they lack.

Also, this version of Giannis paired with the other role players maybe enough for it to work.

[Frank Nova]

Grok says Ryan Rollins ceiling is... Jrue Holiday! And KPJ's is Fred Van Vleet! LOL

There just aren't many comps for KPJ. I honestly cant think of one.

Rich man’s Brandon Jennings is what I think of most. I just figure if Jennings was 6’4” 200lbs he’s probably KPJ right? Van Vleet seems weird only because I don’t see any similarities at all, style or stature. Bigger Nick Van Exel maybe if we stick with lefties? Idk it’s tough, you’re 100% correct. That’s the best I got lol.

[emunney]

Find the midpoint between James Harden and Ricky Davis.

[raferfenix]

i noticed opening night that kpj was announced as the starting SF.

That’s interesting if KPJ is being billed by the team as a SF.

Anyone else catch this? Is it in any other materials?

[Ron Swanson]

Find the midpoint between James Harden and Ricky Davis.

Oh, so he's Isaiah Rider.