WT: Giannis Antetokounmpo's Future With Bucks 'The Elephant In The Room' In NBA

[anotherhomer]

Potential trade offer from OKC to Bucks.

Bucks get
IH
Alex Caruso
Nikola Topic
2025 FRP (via Mia)
2026 FRP
2027 FRP (via Den)
2029 FRP (via Den)

If they need to, they can swap out for someone else like Cason Wallace or Dieng and Dort etc

I assume Chet, Shai and Jalen are untouchable

[PushDaRock]

It's ridiculous to debate this. If browncat thinks chet won't be extended this summer than fine. It's never gonna happen and it's ludricous to suggest it. But fine.

When he signs the extension we can stop talking about make-believe scenarios that will never happen. What would okc even be holding out for? Signing chet at a discount? Lol

You asked for an example and I showed you Maxey - arguably equivalent to Chet, so why is it ludicrous?

Chet is getting the max. So is Williams. Done deals.

Their current roster will cost more than 200 million after next season. The season after that it will cost more than 250 million.

So they can't "just keep doing what they are doing" unless their owner wants to pay all the associated luxury taxes. And he didn't want to do that under the old rules, when the lux taxes were much less.
[...]
Chet and Williams will both get max extensions. Shae will get the supermax the year after that. They have nowhere to go and no place to hide.

You are making zero sense and not realizing that you're arguing against yourself. You said it yourself - they probably can't afford luxury tax or even close, which means they have very good reasons not to max out Chet & Jalen right now.

The Maxey example is not applicable here, they absolutely would have extended him if waiting till the next off season wasn't going to open up cap space for a Max contract.

Good luck getting those players to take less than market value just because ownership wants to avoid the tax.

[brownbobcat]

The Maxey example is not applicable here, they absolutely would have extended him if waiting till the next off season wasn't going to open up cap space for a Max contract.

Good luck getting those players to take less than market value just because ownership wants to avoid the tax.

Clay Bennett is not independently wealthy like Balmer, a huge portion of his net worth is tied to ownership of the team. No chance he's going to take losses just for a ring.

Whether the players will or won't take less isn't the point. OKC is going to try, and if it doesn't work, they'll probably start trying to move them. At the same time, that doesn't mean they need to move all their assets just for Giannis - they have more than enough not to do that.

[PushDaRock]

I would say the Harden situation happening the way it did is exactly why they won't repeat that with Chet. The backlash would be tremendous.

It's the same owners. They care about money more than backlash, and Chet/Jalen are not going to cause Luka-levels of backlash when the team is still good enough without them to do well.

Clay Bennett is not independently wealthy like Balmer, a huge portion of his net worth is tied to ownership of the team. No chance he's going to take losses just for a ring.

If he wants to cheap out, he can still do that after signing them to Max extensions and then trading them the following year after the Poison Pill provision no longer applies.

[brownbobcat]

I would say the Harden situation happening the way it did is exactly why they won't repeat that with Chet. The backlash would be tremendous.

It's the same owners. They care about money more than backlash, and Chet/Jalen are not going to cause Luka-levels of backlash when the team is still good enough without them to do well.

Clay Bennett is not independently wealthy like Balmer, a huge portion of his net worth is tied to ownership of the team. No chance he's going to take losses just for a ring.

If he wants to cheap out, he can still do that after signing them to Max extensions and then trading them the following year after the Poison Pill provision no longer applies.

There is no reason for OKC to sign max extensions now. The only reason to do that would be if you're trying to keep the player happy because you want them there long term. I'm not convinced they can afford that. Trading them afterwards is a lot harder plus they likely have to take back salary.

*EDIT* Sorry, misunderstood. Yes, they could do what you're suggesting - I tend to think they'll keep their options open, though, because trading them afterwards would likely mean taking back salary. Trading them before makes it harder, as I said, unless they delay the extensions.

Of course it's still early - playoffs still ongoing and the results could change many things. My guess would be that they will max JWill, but maybe closer to training camp after all trade discussions are done. I think they play hardball with Chet and it won't be an unconditional max. He's a lesser player and only played 32 games this year, it's way more justified.

[PushDaRock]

It's the same owners. They care about money more than backlash, and Chet/Jalen are not going to cause Luka-levels of backlash when the team is still good enough without them to do well.

Clay Bennett is not independently wealthy like Balmer, a huge portion of his net worth is tied to ownership of the team. No chance he's going to take losses just for a ring.

If he wants to cheap out, he can still do that after signing them to Max extensions and then trading them the following year after the Poison Pill provision no longer applies.

There is no reason for OKC to sign max extensions now. The only reason to do that would be if you're trying to keep the player happy because you want them there long term. I'm not convinced they can afford that. Trading them afterwards is a lot harder plus they likely have to take back salary.

lol well yes keeping the player happy is pretty damn important these days is it not? I'm sure they want at least one of those guys there long term. You think they get rid of both?

Trading either of them is difficult on no extension when Chet is making 14m and JDub 6.5m. Getting back a bunch of draft capital seems pointless given what they already have and you're not getting back a cheap salary player in return that's an upgrade over either. So, what exactly is the target coming back? If they trade for a Superstar instead, that means the same luxury tax problems as before.

[brownbobcat]

lol well yes keeping the player happy is pretty damn important these days is it not? I'm sure they want at least one of those guys there long term. You think they get rid of both?

Money is more important to Bennett than a player's happiness. It's a business - Morey didn't give Harden what he wanted, and also made Maxey wait in the interests of the team.

I think OKC will keep Jalen, but they have all the reason in the world to count pennies.

[PushDaRock]

lol well yes keeping the player happy is pretty damn important these days is it not? I'm sure they want at least one of those guys there long term. You think they get rid of both?

Money is more important to Bennett than a player's happiness. It's a business - Morey didn't give Harden what he wanted, and also made Maxey wait in the interests of the team.

I think OKC will keep Jalen, but they have all the reason in the world to count pennies.

If they're going to penny pinch, you could make the argument they should cheap on SGA's Super Max too since no other team can offer him that much anyways.

[YogurtProducer]

Giannis would want to play with Scottie AND Ingram, not just Ingram, so even if Scottie outgoing makes the most sense from a deal perspective, it probably doesn't in terms of attracting Giannis and making him want to play here.

Maybe it looks something like Barrett, Poeltl, one of our wing prospects (Walter/Dick/Agbaji), our 2025 FRP, and then multiple future 1sts.

The problem is, it's another situation where we only get him for a short while. 2 years and then the PO comes up.

Our only real hope is if Giannis WANTS to come here for some reason. That is legitimately our only chance.

If he does, you can do Barrett/Poeltl/Dick/picks and probably get away with that being it (other than salary filler I might be missing). If you can somehow negotiate to keep the 2025 pick that makes it an absolute home run.

IQ/Shead
Agabji/Walter
Ingram/Battle
Barnes/Boucher
Giannis/Mogbo

Likely there would be some vets willing to come on nothing deals to fill out the roster.

FWIW - I would still prefer to move Barnes and keep RJ and keep some picks, and then use those picks to upgrade RJ to something else.

[PushDaRock]

Giannis would want to play with Scottie AND Ingram, not just Ingram, so even if Scottie outgoing makes the most sense from a deal perspective, it probably doesn't in terms of attracting Giannis and making him want to play here.

Maybe it looks something like Barrett, Poeltl, one of our wing prospects (Walter/Dick/Agbaji), our 2025 FRP, and then multiple future 1sts.

The problem is, it's another situation where we only get him for a short while. 2 years and then the PO comes up.

Our only real hope is if Giannis WANTS to come here for some reason. That is legitimately our only chance.

If he does, you can do Barrett/Poeltl/Dick/picks and probably get away with that being it (other than salary filler I might be missing). If you can somehow negotiate to keep the 2025 pick that makes it an absolute home run.

IQ/Shead
Agabji/Walter
Ingram/Battle
Barnes/Boucher
Giannis/Mogbo

Likely there would be some vets willing to come on nothing deals to fill out the roster.

FWIW - I would still prefer to move Barnes and keep RJ and keep some picks, and then use those picks to upgrade RJ to something else.

If Scottie isn't included, I think you're looking at every pick and pick swap available going the other way.

[Psubs]

Potential trade offer from OKC to Bucks.

Bucks get
IH
Alex Caruso
Nikola Topic
2025 FRP (via Mia)
2026 FRP
2027 FRP (via Den)
2029 FRP (via Den)

If they need to, they can swap out for someone else like Cason Wallace or Dieng and Dort etc

I assume Chet, Shai and Jalen are untouchable

I'd assume they should rather just keep IH and Caruso. They are already #1. Unless they don't make the WCF...

Topic, Joe, Dieng, Kenrich Williams, Jaylin Williams
2025 FRP (via Mia)
2026 FRP
2027 FRP (via Den)
2028 FRP
2029 FRP (via Den)

PG SGA - Wallace
SG Dort - Caruso - Jones
SF JalenW - Wiggins
PF Chet - IH
C Giannis - IH

[YogurtProducer]

Giannis would want to play with Scottie AND Ingram, not just Ingram, so even if Scottie outgoing makes the most sense from a deal perspective, it probably doesn't in terms of attracting Giannis and making him want to play here.

Maybe it looks something like Barrett, Poeltl, one of our wing prospects (Walter/Dick/Agbaji), our 2025 FRP, and then multiple future 1sts.

The problem is, it's another situation where we only get him for a short while. 2 years and then the PO comes up.

Our only real hope is if Giannis WANTS to come here for some reason. That is legitimately our only chance.

If he does, you can do Barrett/Poeltl/Dick/picks and probably get away with that being it (other than salary filler I might be missing). If you can somehow negotiate to keep the 2025 pick that makes it an absolute home run.

IQ/Shead
Agabji/Walter
Ingram/Battle
Barnes/Boucher
Giannis/Mogbo

Likely there would be some vets willing to come on nothing deals to fill out the roster.

FWIW - I would still prefer to move Barnes and keep RJ and keep some picks, and then use those picks to upgrade RJ to something else.

If Scottie isn't included, I think you're looking at every pick and pick swap available going the other way.

Yeah probably. The question is RJ + picks or Scottie + no picks the route you wanna go with Giannis.

I think it is easier to move Scottie for Giannis and then move RJ/picks to get a better fit.

But then again, Barnes/Giannis would be a beasting 4/5 defensive combo.

[Psubs]

Our only real hope is if Giannis WANTS to come here for some reason. That is legitimately our only chance.

If he does, you can do Barrett/Poeltl/Dick/picks and probably get away with that being it (other than salary filler I might be missing). If you can somehow negotiate to keep the 2025 pick that makes it an absolute home run.

IQ/Shead
Agabji/Walter
Ingram/Battle
Barnes/Boucher
Giannis/Mogbo

Likely there would be some vets willing to come on nothing deals to fill out the roster.

FWIW - I would still prefer to move Barnes and keep RJ and keep some picks, and then use those picks to upgrade RJ to something else.

If Scottie isn't included, I think you're looking at every pick and pick swap available going the other way.

Yeah probably. The question is RJ + picks or Scottie + no picks the route you wanna go with Giannis.

I think it is easier to move Scottie for Giannis and then move RJ/picks to get a better fit.

But then again, Barnes/Giannis would be a beasting 4/5 defensive combo.

Keep Scottie. Have shooters like Battle. Just get more. UDFA.

Scouting killed it last draft, so rebuilt the depth. Even with Lawson and Rhoden maybe.

Just need to find a big UDFA. Do all of Tomislav, Wolf, Kalkbrenner, Raynaud, Michael Ruzic, Hansen Yang, Johan Grunloh, Goldin get drafted?

I think that Goldin would be better than Orlando Robinson or Colin Castleton.

Goldin is 7'1 Luka Garza? At worst he's 7'1 Hoffa.

Goldin shot 73% FT last season and has good solid form on his 3pt shot. It's just he hasn't shot a lot, but still 11 for 33 equals 33%. He could develop that like Brook Lopez.

I forgot which video it was that said that Queen sometimes pivots the wrong way on PnR; Goldin seem to do it A LOT. Seems weird for a 5th year senior that no one has told him about it.

Watch on YouTube

[TorontoBarneys]

I don't think Scottie's value is so high that including him in the deal negates the need to include 1sts as well.

[brownbobcat]

No patience for a rebuild. When a possible opportunity is mentioned, people jump immediately, regardless of how likely it might be.

You dont need to rebuild if you have a chance to get Giannis and be a contender. Rebuilding is a waste of time if you can just... go get a superstar.

I don't think this team with Giannis is a title contender, but it could easily get within reach of 50 wins and that's good enough for me.

[Psubs]

PG IQ - Shead
SG Jakobe - IQ - Lawson
SF Ingram - Battle - Rhoden
PF Scottie - Mogbo - Chomche
C Giannis - Goldin - Chomche

[YogurtProducer]

I don't think Scottie's value is so high that including him in the deal negates the need to include 1sts as well.

I was saying it negates the need to include every pick we have

[Raps in 4]

I wonder if Jokic faces another early exit, if he might ask out as well. Granted, the Nuggets won their title more recently than the Bucks, but Jokic is also 30. He doesn't have time to wait around on the Nuggets FO to figure their **** out.

[JB7]

I wonder if Jokic faces another early exit, if he might ask out as well. Granted, the Nuggets won their title more recently than the Bucks, but Jokic is also 30. He doesn't have time to wait around on the Nuggets FO to figure their **** out.

Could you imagine, Jokic to LA and Giannis to GSW

[Raps in 4]

I wonder if Jokic faces another early exit, if he might ask out as well. Granted, the Nuggets won their title more recently than the Bucks, but Jokic is also 30. He doesn't have time to wait around on the Nuggets FO to figure their **** out.

Could you imagine, Jokic to LA and Giannis to GSW

Yes. This is the WWE NBA.