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

[ReasonablySober]

My interest tailed off in a huge way this season, but I can safely say that if the Bucks keep Giannis there's really no chance I'm tuning in next season. Moving him is literally the only way to garner interest as far as I can tell. If you can't sell wins, you have to at least sell hope. This team with Giannis back won't be able to sell either. But if you can bring back an absolutely massive haul (and that's what Giannis should get back), I think you can sell that to the public.

[DanoMac]

Look at Dirk. Powerhouse Dallas team in 06-07 that lost in the Finals. Then got bounced out of the 1st round 3 out of the next 4 years before winning it all in 2010-11 at 33 years old.

I'm not saying the situations are identical, but you keep the best player in the world and take advantage of the dumb teams.

What do we use to take advantage of dumb teams? Btw, that also assumes we're not one of the dumb teams.

We're out of picks and desirable assets outside of Giannis. How do you take advantage of teams when you have nothing to offer?

This is why I'm in sales and not a GM. 1.5 yrs ago we all said we had nowhere close to the assets to get Dame and we did. Say what you will about Horst but the guy's creative and I appreciate that he takes chances. Going to be a big summer for him.

[German Athens]

As y’all scan the league for trade proposals for Giannis, just remember that Giannis was already a top-10 player by the time he was 22.

So, when you fall in love with a young player who you think is good, keep that piece as a reference.

[ShootingtheJ]

The Bucks have hit the trifecta:

1) No valuable assets, other than Giannis, on the roster.

2) No draft choices

3) No cap space

If they had even one of these, you could devise a scenario out of this dungeon.

We actually do have draft choices, even tradable ones.

We will actually have cap space if we waive and stretch Dame.

The next question is, who do you like that's a FA or RFA?

It's fairly slim pickings, but there a few guys a like, and very few teams will actually have cap space.

The fact that we don't have a single player besides Giannis with trade value speaks volumes to Horsts incompetence. Bobby would have value if he opts in, and I doubt he goes anywhere.

[PaulKellerman]

So sorry to see this, Bucks fans and for Giannis/Dame. Truly wretched course of events

[soxperry]

i know this is the most desperate thought ever.. but i wonder if Philly would take Dame for Embiid just to get out from under that contract. In the low chance Embiid can stay healthy, he's a very rich man's Brook Lopez and i dont think it's outside the realm of possibility to be able to build a winner around them.

[Bernman]

My dream is the Bucks get & keep 2 1st rd picks for the 1st time in 35 yrs. It's the longest streak by far w/out having done that, in spite of having one of the league's smallest markets. Goes to show the short-sighted and incompetent management over that period.

[German Athens]

The Bucks have hit the trifecta:

1) No valuable assets, other than Giannis, on the roster.

2) No draft choices

3) No cap space

If they had even one of these, you could devise a scenario out of this dungeon.

We actually do have draft choices, even tradable ones.

We will actually have cap space if we waive and stretch Dame.

The next question is, who do you like that's a FA or RFA?

It's fairly slim pickings, but there a few guys a like, and very few teams will actually have cap space.

The fact that we don't have a single player besides Giannis with trade value speaks volumes to Horsts incompetence. Bobby would have value if he opts in, and I doubt he goes anywhere.

We could probably make Philly sweat over Grimes.

Did he just have that post-trade Mikal or Salmons bump? Yes.

Would I do it anyway and hope for the best? Yes.

[ShootingtheJ]

The Bucks have hit the trifecta:

1) No valuable assets, other than Giannis, on the roster.

2) No draft choices

3) No cap space

If they had even one of these, you could devise a scenario out of this dungeon.

We actually do have draft choices, even tradable ones.

We will actually have cap space if we waive and stretch Dame.

The next question is, who do you like that's a FA or RFA?

It's fairly slim pickings, but there a few guys a like, and very few teams will actually have cap space.

The fact that we don't have a single player besides Giannis with trade value speaks volumes to Horsts incompetence. Bobby would have value if he opts in, and I doubt he goes anywhere.

We could probably make Philly sweat over Grimes.


Did he just have that post-trade Mikal or Salmons bump? Yes.

Would I do it anyway and hope for the best? Yes.

Yeah, he's no sure thing, but he's only 24. Even if he doesn't prove to be a 21 ppg scorer, he'd easily be our best wing, and probably the 2nd best wing of the Giannis era.

We can make an offer to him that would put Philly well in to the 2nd apron, and they won't be very keen on that, nor has their ownership been very keen on huge luxury tax bills.

[German Athens]

Do a backwards sign and trade with Myles Turner. Indy has never paid the luxury tax, and they’re about 20m under it with Turner as a FA.

Sign him and trade him back for some of their dudes. Indy would love the excuse of being hard capped.

No, this isn’t a serious proposal.

[paulpressey25]

Moving this one over from the Giannis thread:

I'm in for a Houston deal. 3-4 picks (below) and three players (below)

Draft Capital
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

-In 2025 they have Phoenix's first (which can be dealt post draft)

-They have a 2027 Nets swap and also Phoenix 2027 first unprotected outright. II'd take both of those items if we could or the best one.

-In 2029 they have the right to the best pick between Phoenix and Dallas

Players:

Amen Thompson turned 22 in January. Stats here - > https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompam01.html

Sengun turns 23 in July -> https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sengual01.html

Reed Shepherd turns 21 in June -> https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sheppre01.html

The salary should work post July 1 when Sengun's deal kicks in, but correct me if I'm wrong.

[kevin44]

Dame will collect his 120 million and you are stuck with him. Even if Dame can play again his best years are behind him. This team will have to wait and see if Giannis does ask for a trade this summer and then start the rebuild. He should come back and retire as a Buck. Giannis deserves a chance at winning a ring and that's not going to happen unless he moves on.

[pifhluk23]

Moving this one over from the Giannis thread:

I'm in for a Houston deal. 3-4 picks (below) and three players (below)

Draft Capital
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

-In 2025 they have Phoenix's first (which can be dealt post draft)

-They have a 2027 Nets swap and also Phoenix 2027 first unprotected outright. II'd take both of those items if we could or the best one.

-In 2029 they have the right to the best pick between Phoenix and Dallas

Players:

Amen Thompson turned 22 in January. Stats here - > https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompam01.html

Sengun turns 23 in July -> https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sengual01.html

Reed Shepherd turns 21 in June -> https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sheppre01.html

The salary should work post July 1 when Sengun's deal kicks in, but correct me if I'm wrong.

I think Amen might be the only untouchable on their roster.

Sengun big fat no ty. Are we trying to be the Kohl era Bucks?

Shepherd I'd take

The picks are decent but Ishbia will spend whatever he can to win so there is a good chance those are not lottery picks.

Philly is the best trade partner. McCain could be a stud and we get a top 6 pick this year plus a bunch of future picks.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

My interest tailed off in a huge way this season, but I can safely say that if the Bucks keep Giannis there's really no chance I'm tuning in next season. Moving him is literally the only way to garner interest as far as I can tell. If you can't sell wins, you have to at least sell hope. This team with Giannis back won't be able to sell either. But if you can bring back an absolutely massive haul (and that's what Giannis should get back), I think you can sell that to the public.

even last night Giannis was a wonder to watch. he had like three incredible plays. I would still tune in and watch him every time he dresses up. agree about the casuals not caring. they definitely won't care with a lesser star

[BroncoBuck]

Bucks/Grizzlies

Bucks Receive:

JJJ
Desmond Bane
Scottie Pippen Jr.
27 1st unprotected
28 1st swap
29 1st unprotected
30 1st swap
31 1st unprotected

Grizzlies Receive:

Giannis
Pat Connaughton

[ReasonablySober]

My interest tailed off in a huge way this season, but I can safely say that if the Bucks keep Giannis there's really no chance I'm tuning in next season. Moving him is literally the only way to garner interest as far as I can tell. If you can't sell wins, you have to at least sell hope. This team with Giannis back won't be able to sell either. But if you can bring back an absolutely massive haul (and that's what Giannis should get back), I think you can sell that to the public.

even last night Giannis was a wonder to watch. he had like three incredible plays. I would still tune in and watch him every time he dresses up. agree about the casuals not caring. they definitely won't care with a lesser star

I can only speak for myself and the people I know, but I would guess there are a lot of folks out there like me who simply didn't think this was an enjoyable team to watch the last two or three years. It's been a slog and a grind. Dame and Giannis not clicking in a way most believed was really big problem. Middleton being on the shelf and then being traded for one of the worst rotational players in the league. Almost no exciting young talent. For christ sake we're sitting here having to talk ourselves into one of the most toxic guys in the league. The Doc Rivers of it all, which is just Jason Kidd Part 2. Knowing that however the team looks right now is as good as they'll look going forward because you don't have any young talent or assets.

That last one has been the big one for me. Had the Dame, Giannis, and Khris trio come out and light the league on fire the way we all believed, the level of excitement would have been through the roof. But it became apparent early on that the top teams in the East had overtaken the Bucks, and there was no avenue for improvement. I couldn't get up to watch this team when I knew the ceiling was a second round exit.

We're obviously going to hugely miss Giannis when he isn't here. He'll always been an all-time favorite. But if you're a fan of the team I think you need to be realistic about where the Bucks are and the moves that realistically need to be made for the good of the franchise.

[BigO]

We actually do have draft choices, even tradable ones.

We will actually have cap space if we waive and stretch Dame.

The next question is, who do you like that's a FA or RFA?

It's fairly slim pickings, but there a few guys a like, and very few teams will actually have cap space.

The fact that we don't have a single player besides Giannis with trade value speaks volumes to Horsts incompetence. Bobby would have value if he opts in, and I doubt he goes anywhere.

We could probably make Philly sweat over Grimes.


Did he just have that post-trade Mikal or Salmons bump? Yes.

Would I do it anyway and hope for the best? Yes.

Yeah, he's no sure thing, but he's only 24. Even if he doesn't prove to be a 21 ppg scorer, he'd easily be our best wing, and probably the 2nd best wing of the Giannis era.

We can make an offer to him that would put Philly well in to the 2nd apron, and they won't be very keen on that, nor has their ownership been very keen on huge luxury tax bills.

Calling the Bucks 2031 pick as an asset just shows how bad a shape the Bucks are in. And the space they have to sign someone that's significant is nil.

[BigO]

All these trades with the Rockets or others will get you is Chicago Bulls mediocrity, not a championship team.

The best strategy if you trade Giannis is to get a potential superstar. The only one that has that potential that might be available is Flagg. Not interested in any of the others.

The Bucks got a haul for Kareem and there was some exciting basketball, but at no point did I think the Bucks would win a championship.

[pifhluk23]

Bucks/Grizzlies

Bucks Receive:

JJJ
Desmond Bane
Scottie Pippen Jr.
27 1st unprotected
28 1st swap
29 1st unprotected
30 1st swap
31 1st unprotected

Grizzlies Receive:

Giannis
Pat Connaughton

These types of trades make 0 sense, wherever Giannis goes the team has to compete.

[Baddy Chuck]

The best strategy if you trade Giannis is to get a potential superstar. The only one that has that potential that might be available is Flagg. Not interested in any of the others.

I agree with this in theory but also you have to have the team with that potential superstar in a position to deal him for Giannis on top of how long does Giannis stay before that potential guy comes into play. If Flagg isn't on the table are you just sitting on Giannis (and in your mind no avenue to extend the window) while his contract dwindles and control is lessened?