Bucks News, Transactions, Trade Ideas

LUKE23 · Post #761 » by **LUKE23** » Sat May 31, 2025 6:34 pm

We have never had to add this many players to what is already under contract to become a good team. That is my main point. We are currently sitting with two net positive guys (GA/Green), $76M in untradeable salary (Dame/Kuzma), no first-round pick, and probably PC as the only tradeable salary. We need to add probably five guys that can play. We just haven't been this bare on the current roster heading into the offseason.

Additionally, the Dame injury all but ensures that we head into next season with by far GA's worst #2 in his prime tenure, another hurdle they will have to overcome.

I'd love to be proven wrong this offseason by Horst. I just don't see it.

Post #762 » by **Prez** » Sat May 31, 2025 6:42 pm

GHOSTofSIKMA wrote:
paulpressey25 wrote:Been reading this thread for a month now. Still haven’t seen any trade ideas or FA signings that are both realistic and move the needle.

we went from a .500ish ballclub..... to the top record in the league in one year.... bud with the likes of lopez, patc, hill and ersan showed up and a lightbulb went on.

thats basically what we need to be focused on imo. a system change with a couple key guys that can implement that system....and then the right addition by subtraction with the rest of the roster.

thats my take anyway. its not like trading for dame did more favors than that offseason did

I actually agree that a legit good coach like 2018 Bud could have us performing above expectations if we were able to retain most if not all of our guys (GTJ, Rollins, KPJ, Sims, Bobby, extending Green beyond his current deal, etc) and they pick up a solid vet or two similar to G Hill or Pat or something. But there isn't going to be a system change. There won't be any sort of intelligent plan/creativity with how we do anything. We're going to have the same moron on the sidelines having us playing stupid offense and lineups that are basically active sabotage. Whatever the ceiling of our roster will be in 2025-26, we will be at minimum two tiers below that because of the guy running the show.

If they fired Doc today and started interviewing smart, well known assistants around the league (keep coming back to Chris Quinn in Miami), my optimism for next year would flip. We still wouldn't be contenders, but it could be a productive gap year ahead of a 2026 offseason where we potentially would have more to work with in terms of picks. But as it stands next season is 100% wasted because Doc will Doc again.

Bernman · Post #763 » by **Bernman** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:02 pm

LUKE23 wrote:We have never had to add this many players to what is already under contract to become a good team. That is my main point. We are currently sitting with two net positive guys (GA/Green), $76M in untradeable salary (Dame/Kuzma), no first-round pick, and probably PC as the only tradeable salary. We need to add probably five guys that can play. We just haven't been this bare on the current roster heading into the offseason.

Additionally, the Dame injury all but ensures that we head into next season with by far GA's worst #2 in his prime tenure, another hurdle they will have to overcome.

I'd love to be proven wrong this offseason by Horst. I just don't see it.

You're being presumptuous Kuz is a dead asset, based off a career low season, for 1 of your points. If he reverts to his norm, that's a discernible improvement for us, even if people still find it unsatisfying. If he accepts he's not a star rather a role player, buys into winning, & staying in the league, that's an asset. For the first few weeks the attitude about him here was different & among nat'l pundits like Timpf. Last year he had suitors.

But for Dame, it's largely a dead asset by definition, up until at least around the playoffs, when it counts. Then I think the best we can realistically hope for is 6th man/closer. Which is arguably better than his prior usage with him and Giannis clashing. So even then you're overstating this point.

Another wild card you're not mentioning is KPJ"s market being artificially suppressed by a combo of off the court issues, being blocked by Dame formerly, & Doc. How does that offset the actual negative $ & dearth of core guys?

Licensed to Il · Post #764 » by **Licensed to Il** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:12 pm

Is there a path to is acquiring KD? I know its not 2018 anymore, but I think he’d pair well with GA, even at his age. I think the two have respect for each other, even though they are not buddies. Just mention it because it seems he could be had cheaper than other difference makers.

ShootingtheJ · Post #765 » by **ShootingtheJ** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:15 pm

LUKE23 wrote:We have never had to add this many players to what is already under contract to become a good team. That is my main point. We are currently sitting with two net positive guys (GA/Green), $76M in untradeable salary (Dame/Kuzma), no first-round pick, and probably PC as the only tradeable salary. We need to add probably five guys that can play. We just haven't been this bare on the current roster heading into the offseason.

Additionally, the Dame injury all but ensures that we head into next season with by far GA's worst #2 in his prime tenure, another hurdle they will have to overcome.

I'd love to be proven wrong this offseason by Horst. I just don't see it.

Counterpoint: we won 66% of our games with Giannis but without Dame last year.

We need 1 solid addition, not a whole new team.

LUKE23 · Post #766 » by **LUKE23** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:19 pm

ShootingtheJ wrote:
Counterpoint: we won 66% of our games with Giannis but without Dame last year.

We need 1 solid addition, not a whole new team.

The Dame diatribe is old and tired. We are not a better team without him, even with his flaws.

One solid addition? Yeah, it's going to take more than that. They have two starting caliber players on the roster today, and another one making $22M who you want nowhere near the court.

ShootingtheJ · Post #767 » by **ShootingtheJ** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:19 pm

Pelicans reportedly listening on everyone. What's the best package we can put together for Trey Murphy? He's a player i wanted last offseason before he put up 21 ppg, but I'll still be happy to pay full price now to get the lengthy premier shooter.

LUKE23 · Post #768 » by **LUKE23** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:23 pm

ShootingtheJ wrote:Pelicans reportedly listening on everyone. What's the best package we can put together for Trey Murphy? He's a player i wanted last offseason before he put up 21 ppg, but I'm still be happy to pay for price now to get the lengthy premier shooter.

He makes $25M next year. Only salary that would fit is Kuzma or if both Portis/PC opted in. I'm going to go out on a limb that they would get better offers.

ShootingtheJ · Post #769 » by **ShootingtheJ** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:23 pm

LUKE23 wrote:
ShootingtheJ wrote:
Counterpoint: we won 66% of our games with Giannis but without Dame last year.

We need 1 solid addition, not a whole new team.

The Dame diatribe is old and tired. We are not a better team without him, even with his flaws.

One solid addition? Yeah, it's going to take more than that. They have two starting caliber players on the roster today, and another one making $22M who you want nowhere near the court.

Please explain why we suddenly are a good team when he's leaves the court. The Dame is still good diatribe is old and tired.

What if Kuzma was salary slot of the outgoing package to acquire the player we need?

LUKE23 · Post #770 » by **LUKE23** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:24 pm

ShootingtheJ wrote:
What if Kuzma was salary slot of the outgoing package to acquire the player we need?

Who is going to give up anything of value to trade for Kuzma unless we add significant assets (that we don't have)?

ShootingtheJ · Post #771 » by **ShootingtheJ** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:27 pm

LUKE23 wrote:
ShootingtheJ wrote:
What if Kuzma was salary slot of the outgoing package to acquire the player we need?

Who is going to give up anything of value to trade for Kuzma unless we add significant assets (that we don't have)?

Lakers will take him for expirings, that we'd ship to a rebuiling team with assets for someone that's a better fit.

LUKE23 · Post #772 » by **LUKE23** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:35 pm

ShootingtheJ wrote:
Lakers will take him for expirings, that we'd ship to a rebuiling team with assets for someone that's a better fit.

No team in the NBA would give us an expriing for him.

ShootingtheJ · Post #773 » by **ShootingtheJ** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:38 pm

OKC in: Bucks 2026 secondary swap rights
OKC out: #24

Lakers in: Kuzma, Ajax
Lakers out: Vincent, Kleber, Knecht

Pelicans in: Vincent, Kleber, Knecht, #24, Bucks 2031- 1st
Pelicans out: Trey Murphy

Bucks in: Trey Murphy
Bucks out: Kuzma, Ajax, 2026 secondary swap rights, 2031 1st

Lakers reunite with a player they've been calling about since they dealt him, fit the small cost of ayoungster they already traded and has taken out of favor with Redick. OKC pushes for future assets. Pelicans land a young player, expirings, and 2- 1sts. Bucks add another shooter/scorer around Giannis.

ShootingtheJ · Post #774 » by **ShootingtheJ** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:39 pm

LUKE23 wrote:
ShootingtheJ wrote:
Lakers will take him for expirings, that we'd ship to a rebuiling team with assets for someone that's a better fit.

No team in the NBA would give us an expriing for him.

Then what what were the Lakers going to offer when they called about him last year?

raferfenix · Post #775 » by **raferfenix** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:42 pm

AJ Green breaking out taking advantage of the offensive void here would change some of the doom and gloom.

Some combo of KPJ / GTJ / Rollins / Ajax staying and developing certainly could happen too.

LUKE23 · Post #776 » by **LUKE23** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:43 pm

ShootingtheJ wrote:
Then what what were the Lakers going to offer when they called about him last year?

Every GM in the NBA watched the playoffs and has an advanced scouting department. Even the Bucks likely didn't want him, he was literally the only option they had to get under the 2nd apron using Middleton.

Nobody is clearing Kuzma's salary for us. Please just stop with the nonsense.

ShootingtheJ · Post #777 » by **ShootingtheJ** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:55 pm

LUKE23 wrote:
ShootingtheJ wrote:
Then what what were the Lakers going to offer when they called about him last year?

Every GM in the NBA watched the playoffs and has an advanced scouting department. Even the Bucks likely didn't want him, he was literally the only option they had to get under the 2nd apron using Middleton.

Nobody is clearing Kuzma's salary for us. Please just stop with the nonsense.

Horst couldn't have been more proud of the Kuzma addition, repeatedly admonishing Eric Nehm for suggesting avoiding the 2nd apron was even slightly a factor in the deal.

If the goal was just to avoid the 2nd apron, we could have just sent out Pat and the 2nd swap.

LUKE23 · Post #778 » by **LUKE23** » Sat May 31, 2025 7:57 pm

ShootingtheJ wrote:
Horst couldn't have been more proud of the Kuzma addition, repeatedly admonishing Eric Nehm for suggesting avoiding the 2nd apron was even slightly a factor in the deal.

If the goal was just to avoid the 2nd apron, we could have just sent out Pat and the 2nd swap.

ShootingtheJ · Post #779 » by **ShootingtheJ** » Sat May 31, 2025 8:01 pm

LUKE23 wrote:
ShootingtheJ wrote:
Horst couldn't have been more proud of the Kuzma addition, repeatedly admonishing Eric Nehm for suggesting avoiding the 2nd apron was even slightly a factor in the deal.

If the goal was just to avoid the 2nd apron, we could have just sent out Pat and the 2nd swap.

Did you read the interview? Horst repeatedly chose to be a complete dick to Nehm, who has carried water for Horst on numerous occasions.

BigO · Post #780 » by **BigO** » Sat May 31, 2025 8:05 pm

LUKE23 wrote:
ShootingtheJ wrote:
Then what what were the Lakers going to offer when they called about him last year?

Every GM in the NBA watched the playoffs and has an advanced scouting department. Even the Bucks likely didn't want him, he was literally the only option they had to get under the 2nd apron using Middleton.

Nobody is clearing Kuzma's salary for us. Please just stop with the nonsense.

Stop ruining my day. My dream scenario is that GMs still think of Kuzma as something he never was- a good player.

While I do think getting under the second apron was the motivation for the move, Horsts' hype of Kuzma as the needed athlete the Bucks need and Doc's insistence on playing him so much, tells me that they really liked him.

All we need is one GM to bite. Don't kill my dream. The Bucks will be almost unwatchable with Kuzma on the court and Doc playing checkers for another season.