Bucks News, Trade Ideas, Transactions - PatBev: AJJ has "bright future"

[ReasonablySober]

It's honestly wild that more of you aren't on this very easy side. The Bucks have two historic scorers. What they lack is defense, depth, and athleticism. To make the Bucks a better, more rounded team come playoffs they could trade a guy who is completely superfluous and fill all three of those needs.

When you consider that Khris is one of the oldest players on the roster and could be a free agent a year from now a trade only makes more sense.

[paulpressey25]

Really don’t like the Spurs players. No one that interests me much coming back for Lopez

But I’m here for the Reasonabiy Sober Middleton discussion because he’s correct. Unless we’re planning on either Giannis or Dame being out for the playoffs next year, it really makes sense to sell high on Middleton if the return is right.

And if Giannis or Dame (or both) are injured for the playoffs next year, we’re screwed anyways. Middleton might as well be 2004 Michael Redd against the Pistons at that point.

[Baddy Chuck]

It's honestly wild that more of you aren't on this very easy side. The Bucks have two historic scorers. What they lack is defense, depth, and athleticism. To make the Bucks a better, more rounded team come playoffs they could trade a guy who is completely superfluous and fill all three of those needs.

When you consider that Khris is one of the oldest players on the roster and could be a free agent a year from now a trade only makes more sense.

We just saw two championship contending teams do exactly the opposite of what you're saying is the wild, very easy side to consider.

[MiltownMadness]

I am not getting worse during the tail of Giannis prime, make us better with a Khris trade and I'm game (doesn't seem like that exists). Khris is just historically a guy that boosts your team when he is on the floor at an impressive level. I've really yet to see a trade from you that doesn't have us cooked for Giannis prime

[ReasonablySober]

Really don’t like the Spurs players. No one that interests me much coming back for Lopez

But I’m here for the Reasonabiy Sober Middleton discussion because he’s correct. Unless we’re planning on either Giannis or Dame being out for the playoffs next year, it really makes sense to sell high on Middleton if the return is right.

And if Giannis or Dame (or both) are injured for the playoffs next year, we’re screwed anyways. Middleton might as well be 2004 Michael Redd against the Pistons at that point.

Yup.

[MiltownMadness]

Yes, sell high on Khris Middleton by trading him for Keldon Johnson level players. All these trades are just big downgrades in talent, he is not correct. He even self admittedly doesn't know anything about the player he is trading for in this case, it isn't some high level discussion

[ReasonablySober]

I spend no time thinking up fake trades. I may have proposed three here in the last calendar year. Someone else can figure that out.

But I'd be shopping Middleton to any team that feels they're one proven scorer away from contending, then ask for their long athletic defenders in return. Bonus points if we can get some youth or picks too.

[midranger]

Mke: Brandon Ingram, Tari Eason, Jock Landale, Jeff Green
NO: Brook Lopez, Cam Whitmore, Jae’sean Tate
Hou: Middleton, Marjon

[htr]

Reeves and Vanderbilt for Lopez and Livingston works in trade checker…. realistic option?

[yb90]

Did teams not watch Dallas struggled to scorer in the Finals when they relied on just two all world scorers. You always need guys that can fill up the bucket and you need facilitators two things Midds still does well. The Celtic survived bad Tatum games because they had players capable of scoring.

[Prez]

I guess I fundamentally disagree with idea that Middleton is a superfluous player. If he is, we sure as hell didn’t see it this past season because the Giannis/Dame pairing was surprisingly pedestrian in terms of on court net rating/differential whenever Middleton was off the court, and they blew the doors off teams when he shared the court with those 2. He has for years and years been one of the most malleable secondary/tertiary stars in the league and his skill set makes things easier for others even if he’s not directly the one initiating all the offense.

I’m on board with the idea that Middleton trades should be considered, especially if younger, defensively talented pieces are gettable. But this idea that he’s unnecessary and that we could just roll with Giannis/Dame as our shot creators and be just fine in the playoffs with a bunch of role players around them isn’t rooted in reality. The league is insanely talented, with a bunch of teams that have several weapons on court at all times, and Giannis/Dame isn’t the offensive cheat code most thought it’d be. You need another high level creator outside of them, at least one.

[BroncoBuck]

Reeves and Vanderbilt for Lopez and Livingston works in trade checker…. realistic option?

Reeves won’t be in the deal. He has more trade value than Brook.

[paulpressey25]

Teams that *might* overpay for Middleton taking into account last two days of signings

-Kings (Keegan and other assets)
-Magic (Suggs)
-Cleveland (something around Jarrett Allen)
-Pelicans (Picks we move elsewhere or Ingram)
-Rockets (Jabari Smith)
-Warriors (pry out Kuminga and/or Podz)

[Frank Nova]

Reeves and Vanderbilt for Lopez and Livingston works in trade checker…. realistic option?

Dlo, Rui, Vanderbilt seem to be the 3 names the Lakers are pimping out to strike a deal. Reaves isn’t gonna be cheap.

[Licensed to Il]

Mke: Brandon Ingram, Tari Eason, Jock Landale, Jeff Green
NO: Brook Lopez, Cam Whitmore, Jae’sean Tate
Hou: Middleton, Marjon

Id love Ingram on our roster if Mids was getting dealt.

[htr]

Reeves and Vanderbilt for Lopez and Livingston works in trade checker…. realistic option?

Dlo, Rui, Vanderbilt seem to be the 3 names the Lakers are pimping out to strike a deal. Reaves isn’t gonna be cheap.

Add Knecht to that offer with minimal moving parts and I’d be ecstatic.

[paulpressey25]

I guess I fundamentally disagree with idea that Middleton is a superfluous player.

He’s not superfluous. The issue is that he’s up there in years and injury issues AND this team’s depth after our big three is horrific. There are other factors on the table in the analysis.

You mention the Dame/Giannis pairing not working well in year one. If Dame were to bring back a haul, have no issue moving him and keeping Midds.

[yb90]

Mke: Brandon Ingram, Tari Eason, Jock Landale, Jeff Green
NO: Brook Lopez, Cam Whitmore, Jae’sean Tate
Hou: Middleton, Marjon

Ingram is an all around offensive weapon like Khris but he is not durable and is not as good of 3pt shooter.

In this scenario, I'd would give up the '31 if it meant keeping Whitmore. Also, if I'm Hou, I'd just trade for Ingram.

[ReasonablySober]

I guess I fundamentally disagree with idea that Middleton is a superfluous player. If he is, we sure as hell didn’t see it this past season because the Giannis/Dame pairing was surprisingly pedestrian in terms of on court net rating/differential whenever Middleton was off the court, and they blew the doors off teams when he shared the court with those 2.

The Bucks most used lineup included Dame, Giannis, and Middleton. It had a net rating of +15.1.

However, the Bucks second most used lineup had Dame and Giannis, but no Middleton. It had a net rating of +15.6.

The third most used lineup also had Dame and Giannis, but no Middleton. It had a net rating of +21.7.

It gets really wild when you scroll down to the next highest used Middleton lineups (10th, 11th, and 12th). Their net ratings:

-11.9
-30.9
-2.4

B̶u̶t̶ t̶h̶e̶ 8̶t̶h̶ a̶n̶d̶ 9̶t̶h̶ u̶s̶e̶d̶ l̶i̶n̶e̶u̶p̶s̶ w̶e̶r̶e̶ w̶i̶t̶h̶ D̶a̶m̶e̶/G̶i̶a̶n̶n̶i̶s̶ a̶n̶d̶ n̶o̶ M̶i̶d̶d̶l̶e̶t̶o̶n̶. T̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ n̶e̶t̶ r̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶s̶:̶ +̶6̶1̶.0̶ +̶5̶3̶.8̶

Here's the source.

eta: bottom stuff was wrong, looked in the wrong column.

[ReasonablySober]

Six of Middleton's seven most used lineups had negative net ratings this season.

Should put an end to that weird narrative, right?