Trades and Transactions Thread - 2025 Cont'd

[WargamesX]

I don't think KAT has a lot of value either. He is not a superstar; he is old, and his contract is huge.

If the team is already a contender, it's tough to acquire KAT without trading away their core due to the Apron rules.

If the team is far away from contending, it doesn't make sense to build around KAT, considering his age and the gaps in his game.

Moreover, I can not see us trading a star such as KAT for inferior players. It would be marketing suicide.

He’s in his prime, just had back to back conference finals runs, and was 3rd team all NBA. He absolutely has positive value and might even be worth more since we now know last season wasn’t a fluke.

Great. Keep him then.

His defense alongside Brunson is the issue. Not every teams best player is a PG who due to height can’t defend.

[spree2kawhi]

This is why i said KAT and Giannis would be a better fit than Giannis and Jalen.

Jalen to Giannis in pick and rolls isn't going to work because the defender is just going to drop and force Giannis to shoot mid-range jumpers from the free throw line, and they will welcome that since he isn't a threat as a shooter.

KAT and Giannis works because teams have to worry about KAT being a theat from the 3 point line. Do you give Giannis the dunk/layup or KAT the 3 pointer?

So Brunson can’t hit a three?

You plan on turning Brunson into a spot up 3 point shooter, because Giannis needs the ball to be effective because he can't shoot..

The only way Giannis and Jalen can work together is by Giannis playing the role of Shaq.

I was disappointed by the Towns-Brunson pick and roll. I’d rather give this team an offseason to fix that than keep dreaming up all the extreme moves. If he doesn’t specifically ask to be traded here, we’re not getting Giannis anyway. He’s one of my favorite players, but it’s not happening and we’re still in a great position.

If Brunson and Towns can’t play a deadly pick and roll, you may need a new coach.

[spree8]

I'll keep saying it

If you go after Giannis, you should keep KAT.

This is really important…and despite what folks say, the assets are there to do it. Try to sort a deal with a core of Giannis and Pat Connaughton for Mikal, Hart, Mitch and someone like Dadiet.

I’m not going to pretend I know how we’d deal with the lost depth, but if there’s a way to put Giannis with Brunson, OG, KAT and Deuce, that’s a conversation worth having right away.

I don't think that trade works without a lot of draft capital, which we no longer have.

I'm pessimistic that we have the gas for him. On the bright side, OKC's probably out.

I think there’s a multitude of ways to get Giannis. FO just has to be creative. It’ll certainly take multiple teams to pull it off, but we have guys that other teams would love that could send rebuilding packages (players and/or picks) to the Bucks.

[knicksstuff]

The Bucks dont control any of their draft capital until 2031... it doesnt make sense for them to bottom out they wont be getting those picks back.

If they trade Giannis they are going to want to players they can build around but also need to retool to be a playoffish team

[ophdog]

We mortgaged our future for mikal and KAT.
We found out that mikal is not a reliable difference maker in the offense and KAT cannot play defense at all.

We lost to the same team we took to 7 games with a hurt roster. We were fully healthy after making g all in trades and only took them 6 that is not progress.

We need to sell on mikal and get just whatever you can. Can we recoup 1-2 picks?
Kat for anything really. Keeping KAT will destroy our chances as long as he is here.

As 1-2 pairing we never got any chemistry or any of the offensive upside to make it worth the defensive liabilities. Hopefully Leon is aware of these issues and takes the necessary steps even if they are backwards to give us the chance to build a team that can go all the way

[ophdog]

Sometimes the worst thing that happens to a team is overachieving

[WargamesX]

The Bucks dont control any of their draft capital until 2031... it doesnt make sense for them to bottom out they wont be getting those picks back.

If they trade Giannis they are going to want to players they can build around but also need to retool to be a playoffish team

Low-key that is why I think the raptors can pull that trade off better than most. They can send Barnes, Gradey, and RJ and a few draft picks and the Raptors would go into the season with Giannis, Ingram, IQ, Iqbagi, Poetl.

IQ
iqbagi
Ingram
Giannis
Poetl

Is a top 4 seed in the east.

If the Bucks get Barnes, RJ, and Gradey…. They can wait for dame because low-key they won’t be bottomed out.

[spree2kawhi]

Bring in Horford and Divo, and run it back. That’s all we really need.

Mitch/Horford
Towns/OG
OG/Hart
Bridges/Divo
Brunson/?/Wright

I liked Wright as a backup, but we may even land someone better and make him a third-stringer, i.e. Seth Curry, Paul, Exum, Tyus Jones or Burks. Maybe even someone like Schroeder, Tre Jones or Davion Mitchell, but those guys seem too expensive after a Horford signing.

I actually think that’s what will happen and we’ll make the Finals next year.

[HopelessKnick]

If Giannis requests to be sent here, I think Milwaukee will do right by him.

So what does the framework of a deal for Giannis look like to where both sides walk away happy?

Two things:

-I think we need a ball handling guard next to Brunson that can defend.

-Mitch and Mikal are expiring contracts which probably look attractive to Milwaukee.

I wonder if NY, MIL, PHX, and MIN can construct a 4 team deal to get what everyone wants?

given our lack of picks and lack of very young studs I would be very surprised if they could work a deal with Milwaukee without OG in it. From what I heard Milwaukee actually does not have any interest in KAT either which would complicate a deal as well. I think you would have to look at a third team taking KAT and sending picks and a young prospect to Milwaukee.....OG + young prospect + 2-3 picks may be a deal Milwaukee could warm up to. If you want to keep OG around I think Giannis would have to really force his way here---like putting word out he isn't going to extend anywhere else etc.....I think knowing Giannis we can exclude that possibility altogether.

We truly went all-in one season early.

[HopelessKnick]

I'll keep saying it

If you go after Giannis, you should keep KAT.

Absolutely not. Having KAT as a third option behind JB and Giannis would be destructive. Those games where he takes only 11 shots and looks passive would be the absolute norm and not exception. On top of it you would still face the same defensive problems between him and Brunson.

[ophdog]

I'll keep saying it

If you go after Giannis, you should keep KAT.

Absolutely not. Having KAT as a third option behind JB and Giannis would be destructive. Those games where he takes only 11 shots and looks passive would be the absolute norm and not exception. On top of it you would still face the same defensive problems between him and Brunson.

If you have KAT on the floor he will be exploited for wide open threes

[ctorres]

Read on Twitter

what could this mean?!?!

[ctorres]

Read on Twitter

that's a Luka type of trade, I doubt it's enough

[kNicksGmen]

Read on Twitter

what could this mean?!?!

prob something lame like we're keeping Thibs and not looking to trade anyone

[Polk377]

The 2 teams it makes the most sense trading with if we are trying to get off Towns are Memphis and New Orleans. Both have young, defensive caliber 2 ways we could get back that fit our team and can withstand the KAT contract.

[HopelessKnick]

Read on Twitter

that's a Luka type of trade, I doubt it's enough

Doubt it as well. I do however think that NY could be potentially super high on Giannis' list. From every source you ca nread on the internet everyone is suggesting he would want to stay east which would eliminate Houston and the Spurs. Just keep in mind that Giannis shares the same fate and feelings about Indy that we do. I could see him envisioning joining NY and going after Indy next season.

The two teams owning the Bucks first round picks are New Orleans and Portland basically. I think one could potentially work around that....like you send something to Portland or New Orleans and get a couple of those picks back. Like if you make KAT and Brides (or OG) available, I could see the possibility of sending Milwaukee a good player + some of their picks back and maybe a young prospect.

The big problem to me seems to be that Milwaukee is not interested in KAT....that will be difficult to work around.

[spree2kawhi]

Read on Twitter

that's a Luka type of trade, I doubt it's enough

I’m KAT‘s biggest supporter, but I’d do it. Milwaukee would likely receive better offers from OKC, Houston or Toronto though. They don’t need Towns with an injured Lillard. You lose Giannis, you rebuild.

[HopelessKnick]

Read on Twitter

that's a Luka type of trade, I doubt it's enough

I’m KAT‘s biggest supporter, but I’d do it. Milwaukee would likely receive better offers from OKC, Houston or Toronto though. They don’t need Towns with an injured Lillard. You lose Giannis, you rebuild.

They don't have their picks until 2030....that's their big problem right now. That's why they need to remain somewhat competitive or they'll be giving up high lottery picks every year. Maybe there is a way of putting together a 3-team trade where Milwaukee gets back part of their picks and some young prospects....

[ophdog]

How many positive assets do we have right now? I think we have:

Brunson
McBride
Bridges is still worth something due to contract


Hart Mitch and OG due to contracts grade sorta neutral to me as assets

I think if we are smart and get it down we could rebuild and build assets better suited. If the cost is 1 year of the window to get back on the right path we need to bite the bullet

Brunson

[shtolky]

I think Giannis is one of the few players in the league that could very well dictate where he goes given the cred he's established within that city and organization. Is he the type of person to go to the front office, as AD did, and demand to be traded to one team, I doubt it. However, there is clearly a universe where a Giannis trade to the Knicks is possible if he says he's only re-signing with the Knicks. After a Giannis trade, the team would be even thinner than it was this year, but it's clearly something the team will clearly look into this offseason. To not would be malpractice.