Bucks News, Transactions, Trade Ideas

[bucksfansince88]

Celtics trade: Holiday/28/2027 1st
Celtics get: Sexton

Why Celtics - Get out of salary cap hell - Move Holiday contract

Bucks trade: Lillard
Bucks get: Holiday/Collins/#43

Why Bucks: Eventhough they take on Holiday contract, this ownership group does whatever to keep Giannis happy.

Jazz Trade: Sexton/Collins/#43
Jazz get: Lillard / 28 /Celtics 2027 1st

Why Jazz - Continue the tank, get Celtics 1st and future 1st

Holiday/Green/Kuzma/Portis/Giannis with KPJ/Collins/Rollins

Jrue teaching KPJ how to defend and approach the game would be nice if we plan on locking him up and giving him the keys. I would start KPJ at the 1 and Jrue at the 3 though.

[paulpressey25]

Sexton and Collins suck ass. Things are well and truly at rock bottom if we’re going that route.

Yep. We’d be like late stage 2009 Cavs. Antawn Jamison and wheelchair Shaq.

[BigO]

Here's an early morning depressing, but entirely realistic, Bucks thought:

1) Horst still thinks Doc is a good coach

2) Horst still thinks Kuzma is a good player

3) Horst still thinks the Bucks problem is they need more athletes (like many here think) rather than basketball players and continues to draft guys like AJJ and AJ Johnson and trade for guys like Kuzma.

There is nothing that Horst has done that tells me that he doesn't think all these were good moves.

And Horst just signed an extension, meaning the owners, with all their money, think the same thing and have no basketball smarts.

Posters here want good players that are athletes. Stop blaming us for Horst drafting players we didn't want.

Horst definitely thought Kuzma was good, but one of the few things Horst should get credit for is quickly moving on from his mistakes. Kuzma, the 2nd highest paid player on the team, was benched for an elimination game, and the results were good, almost great. They've clearly soured on Kuzma.

I do agree though, that if they keep Kuzma, they're even bigger morons than I think they are. I think we can still find another sucker in a Kuzma trade. Wait another year, and the memories NBA execs have of Kuzma being slightly useful will have forever faded.

This is silly. Nowhere did I blame posters for Horst's pick. Why make something up?

Most people on here liked the AJJ pick and AJ Johnson pick and were begging for more athletic talent.

Saying posters wanted athletes and good players is also silly. Everyone wants that (duh), including Horst. The fact is that there is a limited amount and when you draft an athlete you are hoping that the skills will be learned. Not that easy as we have seen. I always go for skills before athleticism.

And saying Horst has learned from his mistake, because Kuzma didn't start in the final game, is obviously giving him more credit than he deserves. They soured on Kuzma for one game.

Kuzma is an ongoing problem. You either play him and suffer the consequences or sit him and he is a cancer on the team. They will play him, because they still like him.

The bigger problem is that Horst will continue his failing attempt to turn athletes into basketball players. The Kuzma move is especially galling since he had 9 years of history to see he wasn't any good.

Give me high IQ players with skills and you can win.

[raferfenix]

Horst definitely thought Kuzma was good, but one of the few things Horst should get credit for is quickly moving on from his mistakes. Kuzma, the 2nd highest paid player on the team, was benched for an elimination game, and the results were good, almost great. They've clearly soured on Kuzma.

The dream of Doc getting fired in part for insisting on Kuzma has probably died.

Where the Bucks are on the spectrum of "sell now" to "see if a serious offseason might improve things after dogging it so long in DC" is a big variable.

[slos]

Moving forward I would like to see Giannis with multiple role players at team friendly contracts that fit with him. I think I'm done with (super)stars. Starting this offseason Horst needs to lock some long term pieces.

5 players to keep

- The full MLE should be more than enough for Trent, anything less than the 4/60 should be a win.
- Keep Porter with the BAE and a promise that he will get his 4/60 extension with Early Bird rights next season.
- Now it's time to lock Green with a decent 4/40. AJ has little leverage at his current contract to ask for more.
- Rollins is another keeper at 4/20. No Dame, fixed shoulder, that contract will become a bargain.
- Bobby is a keeper too, I'm just not comfortable giving him a 4th year. 3/40-45 feels about right.

3 salaries to clear

- Kuzma might be hard to move at summer. Roll with him and try to rehab his value. It is what it is.
- Lillard is impossible to move at summer. Along with Kuz it's better to put them on the table at the deadline.
- Pat should be talked into a Haslem treatment. Get him to opt out and promise him multiple minimum contracts as 15th culture guy.

4 young players to decide

- Jackson has gone from a starter to DNP too soon. I'm not convinced he can't become a usefull 9-10th player.
- Livingston has shown flashes in preseason and G league games. Wouldn't be mad giving him some burn at year 3.
- Smith can shoot. Get him in the gym and give him some real opportunity next season too.
- #47 is probably a Herd player next season and a cheap contract for garbage minutes. You just hope to get lucky.

2 spots to fill

- I'm not interested in retaining Prince, Brook, Sims. Horst needs to find the next GTJ/KPJ having just minutes to offer.
- Stop giving away picks. Find a way not to pay the tax. Maybe buy another SRP with cash.

1. Giannis......... 54,126
2. Lillard.......... 54,126
3. Kuzma.......... 22,410
4. Portis........... 13,445 (opt in and extend)
5. Trent............ 11,800 (MLE, 4/50)
6. Green........... 8,800 (resign 4/40)
7. Porter........... 5,134 (BAE)
8. Rollins.......... 4,500 (resign 4/20)
9. Connaughton.. 2,296 (more min to come)
10. Vet............ 2,296
11. Jackson....... 2,221
12. Livingston.... 2,221
13. Smith......... 1,955
14. #47............ 1,272
15. SRP............ 1,272
total.............. 187,874
tax................ 187,895

Porter.......Rollins......Lillard (inj)
Trent........Green......#47
Kuzma......Jackson....Connaughton
Giannis.....Smith.......Livingston
Portis.......Vet..........SRP

That's still a playoff team in the East even with Doc as a head coach. Re-evaluate stuff in the deadline.

[fansinceforever]

Am I completely in the wrong for thinking getting Sexton and Collins for a fully cooked Dame Lillard is probably better than we can expect to do?

That seems like the win now move that you might be able to actually sell to Giannis. Especially with only a year left on their deals (provided Collins opts in). If they're willing to do that then the answer is a loud "yes".

[bucksfansince88]

Moving forward I would like to see Giannis with multiple role players at team friendly contracts that fit with him. I think I'm done with (super)stars. Starting this offseason Horst needs to lock some long term pieces.

5 players to keep

- The full MLE should be more than enough for Trent, anything less than the 4/60 should be a win.
- Keep Porter with the BAE and a promise that he will get his 4/60 extension with Early Bird rights next season.
- Now it's time to lock Green with a decent 4/40. AJ has little leverage at his current contract to ask for more.
- Rollins is another keeper at 4/20. No Dame, fixed shoulder, that contract will become a bargain.
- Bobby is a keeper too, I'm just not comfortable giving him a 4th year. 3/40-45 feels about right.

3 salaries to clear

- Kuzma might be hard to move at summer. Roll with him and try to rehab his value. It is what it is.
- Lillard is impossible to move at summer. Along with Kuz it's better to put them on the table at the deadline.
- Pat should be talked into a Haslem treatment. Get him to opt out and promise him multiple minimum contracts as 15th culture guy.

4 young players to decide

- Jackson has gone from a starter to DNP too soon. I'm not convinced he can't become a usefull 9-10th player.
- Livingston has shown flashes in preseason and G league games. Wouldn't be mad giving him some burn at year 3.
- Smith can shoot. Get him in the gym and give him some real opportunity next season too.
- #47 is probably a Herd player next season and a cheap contract for garbage minutes. You just hope to get lucky.

2 spots to fill

- I'm not interested in retaining Prince, Brook, Sims. Horst needs to find the next GTJ/KPJ having just minutes to offer.
- Stop giving away picks. Find a way not to pay the tax. Maybe buy another SRP with cash.

1. Giannis......... 54,126
2. Lillard.......... 54,126
3. Kuzma.......... 22,410
4. Portis........... 13,445 (opt in and extend)
5. Trent............ 11,800 (MLE, 4/50)
6. Green........... 8,800 (resign 4/40)
7. Porter........... 5,134 (BAE)
8. Rollins.......... 4,500 (resign 4/20)
9. Connaughton.. 2,296 (more min to come)
10. Vet............ 2,296
11. Jackson....... 2,221
12. Livingston.... 2,221
13. Smith......... 1,955
14. #47............ 1,272
15. SRP............ 1,272
total.............. 187,874
tax................ 187,895

Porter.......Rollins......Lillard (inj)
Trent........Green......#47
Kuzma......Jackson....Connaughton
Giannis.....Smith.......Livingston
Portis.......Vet..........SRP

That's still a playoff team in the East even with Doc as a head coach. Re-evaluate stuff in the deadline.

Sims deserves a bigger opportunity here with us. we need better player development on Docs staff

[raferfenix]

Am I completely in the wrong for thinking getting Sexton and Collins for a fully cooked Dame Lillard is probably better than we can expect to do?

That seems like the win now move that you might be able to actually sell to Giannis. Especially with only a year left on their deals (provided Collins opts in). If they're willing to do that then the answer is a loud "yes".

Big variable is what else we'd need to trade in addition to Dame whether that be picks / prospects / taking on other bad longer term salary like Jrue.

[theFireBlanket]

Khris opts out & comes back home.

[mlloyd10]

Celtics trade: Holiday/28/2027 1st
Celtics get: Sexton

Why Celtics - Get out of salary cap hell - Move Holiday contract

Bucks trade: Lillard
Bucks get: Holiday/Collins/#43

Why Bucks: Eventhough they take on Holiday contract, this ownership group does whatever to keep Giannis happy.

Jazz Trade: Sexton/Collins/#43
Jazz get: Lillard / 28 /Celtics 2027 1st

Why Jazz - Continue the tank, get Celtics 1st and future 1st

Holiday/Green/Kuzma/Portis/Giannis with KPJ/Collins/Rollins

Follow up trade would be Kuzma/2031 1st for Cam Johnson

Holiday/Green/Johnson/Giannis/Sims with Portis/KPJ/Collins off bench.

[LUKE23]

Collins, Sexton, and Kuzma on the same team? Are we trying to pick up all the kings of horrible advanced stats?

[mlloyd10]

Where does this team finish next season?

Holiday/Green/Johnson/Giannis/Sims with Portis/KPJ/Collins/Rollins off bench.

[SupremeHustle]

In the "Are they having too much fun?" category, I was listening to miles and points podcast talking about a pre-launch event at Universal Studios and Brook had a special invite with a bunch of bloggers and influencers. Dude really needs to get focused if he wants another ring.

(It is pretty cool how likeable the 2001 team was with Jrue, Kris, Giannis and BroLo all being extremely boring high-quality guys off the court)

I wish the 2001 team had those guys. Could you imagine what a team with Ray, Sam, Big Dog, Jrue, Khris and Giannis would do?

I might have to play NBA 2K just to make that happen.

[SupremeHustle]

Next season let Giannis run the point on offense (get him some cutters and shooters) and let him play free safety on defense (put him on the weakest offensive threat so he can help). I'm not saying that'll get us a title but it would be fun to watch.

[Rstuedes24]

If Giannis thinks doc is the guy then it’s done anyways.

This is all that needs to be said

[yb90]

Collins, Sexton, and Kuzma on the same team? Are we trying to pick up all the kings of horrible advanced stats?

What advance stats are you using to qualify Collins as a horrible stats guy? He has flaws in his game but he is an upgrade to Kuzma in probably every area except passing.

[pifhluk23]

We should probably just hang onto Kuzma since Doc is staying. He'll give him regular season minutes for sure and maybe we can rehab his value enough that with his decent looking contract he's actually worth something at the deadline. And if Giannis asks out then we have our tank commander. If we trade him now were selling low but if the Cs want to give us 2 1sts to take on Jrue I'd pack Kuz's bags.

[BigO]

We should probably just hang onto Kuzma since Doc is staying. He'll give him regular season minutes for sure and maybe we can rehab his value enough that with his decent looking contract he's actually worth something at the deadline. And if Giannis asks out then we have our tank commander. If we trade him now were selling low but if the Cs want to give us 2 1sts to take on Jrue I'd pack Kuz's bags.

Out of principle, I will not agree to any proposal that says we should hold Kuzma for even one more day. I think rehabilitating all of KM's maladies would be an easier chore.

[Gant]

Celtics trade: Holiday/28/2027 1st
Celtics get: Sexton

Why Celtics - Get out of salary cap hell - Move Holiday contract

Bucks trade: Lillard
Bucks get: Holiday/Collins/#43

Why Bucks: Eventhough they take on Holiday contract, this ownership group does whatever to keep Giannis happy.

Jazz Trade: Sexton/Collins/#43
Jazz get: Lillard / 28 /Celtics 2027 1st

Why Jazz - Continue the tank, get Celtics 1st and future 1st

Holiday/Green/Kuzma/Portis/Giannis with KPJ/Collins/Rollins

I don't think Jrue Holiday has anything like this sort of negative value. The Mavs, Kings, Bucks, and surely others will be looking into acquiring him. When you get that many teams wanting a player, it creates some bidding, even if it's just bidding up to neutral. It's not like Boston will be getting a lot for him, it's just that they won't have to spend much to move him.

[Bernman]

There's no way Jrue doesn't have negative value when he was a great role player at his peak, now is on the decline + getting paid 100m over 3 yrs until he's 38. And Boston needs a full or very significant clearance. That's hard to do when only a couple teams have cap. They have poor leverage.