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It's literally negligent of the Bucks to not field offers.

There's no way around it, and I think this should be a separate post from the Giannis trade request. The Bucks are in deep, deep trouble.

2025 – 2nd Round (own): from Detroit via Pistons/Clippers/Portland/Washington chain
2026 – 1st round pick that New Orleans Pelican can swap, 2nd Round (own): top‑55 protected via Utah, but still directly theirs
2028 – 2nd Round (own): retained, no outgoing conditions noted
2031 – 2nd Round (own): part of long-term retained assets
2030 – 1st Round (own with swap rights): Portland holds swap rights but Bucks keep the pick
2031 – 1st Round (own): Bucks retain this unless traded

For their cap space:

2025–26:
Total salary: ~$164.8M
Still over the cap
No cap space (above 1st apron, possibly under 2nd apron

2026–27:
Total salary: ~$144.4M
Salary cap (projected): ~$152–155M
Slightly below cap possible, but likely still over due to hold/cap mechanics
Best-case space with cuts: ~$5–10M (still not "true" cap space for big moves)

2027–28 (Major Opportunity Year)
Total salary (projected): ~$65.3M
Giannis player option: $62.8M
Cap projection for 2027–28: ~$160–170M
Estimated cap space: ~$95–105M
Even with Giannis on the roster at ~$63M, they could:
Sign another max free agent
Fill out roster with high-level role players

So in the grand scheme of things, the only time that the Bucks will be able to field a decent competitive roster is in 2027-28 off season. They don't have their own first round pick until 2031, and 2027 /29 are swap right protected. If they bank on fielding a good team, there is a chance that Giannis might not opt in to his player option. In that case he'll walk away completely free to choose where he wants to play. Although I think Bucks are able to offer him the most salary

The Bucks best case scenario is if New Orleans gets in the lottery next year and so are the Bucks. New Orleans getting like a top 3, and the Bucks are drafting after that. Better yet they find a way to get out of Lillards contract. Then in 2027 they somehow sign free agents and a star max guy. They'll have to do some efficient cap spending though. Oh, and Giannis re-signs.

That's a tremendous amount of If's.

If I was a GM or a manager, I'd be working with GIannis to see the best option for the team, Giannis, and how to turn around the franchise. Cause let's be honest, this is a horrible horrible situation right now. You can roll the dice to try to get cap space in two years, but Giannis might simply have enough and want to compete again at his age. On the other hand, would your team be marketable to sign a free agent? Could you have the ability to without overpaying guys?

What the Bucks are doing now, "Business as usual" is a really, really bad choice of managing the team. And the onus is on the GM and management that got the team there.

They should trade him to Indiana for Siakam/Nembhard.

They can attach draft capital to Dame and/or Kuzma next summer, when there will be a lot of cap space league wide, and remake the roster around him. Of course, there's no guarantee that will work, and eating additional seed corn is risky even if they do get other players to commit, but there's a path to being competitive in 26-27.

jbk1234 wrote:They can attach draft capital to Dame and/or Kuzma next summer, when there will be a lot of cap space league wide, and remake the roster around him. Of course, there's no guarantee that will work, and eating additional seed corn is risky even if they do get other players to commit, but there's a path to being competitive in 26-27.

What draft Capital though? They're not allowed to trade their 27 and 29 picks. The first one they have is 31. There is a path I agree, but jeez.

Well it's not the Bucks fault that Gianna wants to make the finals with the Bucks again. Good luck doing that with Kyle Kuzma and Gary Trent as your second and third option. Let's see if he keeps that same energy 20 games into the season.

TheAlchemist wrote:There's no way around it, and I think this should be a separate post from the Giannis trade request. The Bucks are in deep, deep trouble.

Cause let's be honest, this is a horrible horrible situation right now.

This is misguided. Treadmill team with a top 3 player who the fans love is a pretty damn good situation for a franchise like Milwaukee. It will be a long time before they get a player of his caliber again. If he's happy to stay then they are absolutely right to keep him.

jbk1234 wrote:They can attach draft capital to Dame and/or Kuzma next summer, when there will be a lot of cap space league wide, and remake the roster around him. Of course, there's no guarantee that will work, and eating additional seed corn is risky even if they do get other players to commit, but there's a path to being competitive in 26-27.

They don't have the assets to pull off both in the same year

Getting picks and some young talent wont make you better in future.
You cant say it will.
You have at worst top5 player in NBA. Denver and Bucks will never trade Giannis and Joker if they dont ask for it.

NyKnicks1714 wrote:

TheAlchemist wrote:There's no way around it, and I think this should be a separate post from the Giannis trade request. The Bucks are in deep, deep trouble.

Cause let's be honest, this is a horrible horrible situation right now.

This is misguided. Treadmill team with a top 3 player who the fans love is a pretty damn good situation for a franchise like Milwaukee. It will be a long time before they get a player of his caliber again. If he's happy to stay then they are absolutely right to keep him.

It's not misguided at all. I don't think it's as cut and dry as just having a top 3 player and calling it a day. Sure, having Giannis is a huge asset, and I agree it’s rare to have a player of his caliber, especially in a small market city like Milwaukee but it doesn't make it a "pretty damn good situation". It’s also about what you have and how you surround him with the right pieces to truly compete for championships. The Bucks might have a narrow window, but there’s a real risk of becoming stagnant or losing Giannis when he realizes it’s not going anywhere and it's just a matter of time if that continues before his loyalty is tested. Without Giannis they might give the Wizards and Jazz a run for their money at the lottery and that's not a good situation at all. Yes, the fanbase loves him, but loyalty only goes so far when you're stuck on the treadmill of mediocrity. They can't just sit back and hope it works out.

Next season for sure they do not have a chance.

Imo there is a way to be competitive in 26-27.

Trafing Lilard expiring for 2 longer contracts, they can get 2 good players.

Other option is to be a FA destination in summer 27, but thats 2 giannis seasons lost in meantime.

I agree but I think their logic is its better to run Giannis into the ground than to just give up. This is their '13-'18 mavericks run.

I think its more likely they never win another series with Giannis than it is they make the finals. I think they will miss PO's next year.

ForeverTFC wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:They can attach draft capital to Dame and/or Kuzma next summer, when there will be a lot of cap space league wide, and remake the roster around him. Of course, there's no guarantee that will work, and eating additional seed corn is risky even if they do get other players to commit, but there's a path to being competitive in 26-27.

They don't have the assets to pull off both in the same year

An expiring Dame (who may actually see the court before the end of the season) and an expiring Kuzma ($20M) can't get moved with an unprotected 31st and unprotected 32 swap?

I think they could. Again, I'm not saying it's prudent to do this. I'm saying there's a needle to be threaded if they really want to.

Both should want a divorce, but if they are happy, then whatever.

Jellybeans wrote:Getting picks and some young talent wont make you better in future.
You cant say it will.
You have at worst top5 player in NBA. Denver and Bucks will never trade Giannis and Joker if they dont ask for it.

Great so you provide no progress for your team and you ruin your star player's prime. The only good thing about MIL keeping Giannis is revenue.

jbk1234 wrote:

ForeverTFC wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:They can attach draft capital to Dame and/or Kuzma next summer, when there will be a lot of cap space league wide, and remake the roster around him. Of course, there's no guarantee that will work, and eating additional seed corn is risky even if they do get other players to commit, but there's a path to being competitive in 26-27.

They don't have the assets to pull off both in the same year

An expiring Dame (who may actually see the court before the end of the season) and an expiring Kuzma ($20M) can't get moved with an unprotected 31st and unprotected 32 swap?

I think they could. Again, I'm not saying it's prudent to do this. I'm saying there's a needle to be threaded if they really want to.

Sorry, I meant they don't have enough assets to both move those guys and bring good new players in. As you point out, they need to attach whatever they have to just get off of them.

TheAlchemist wrote:It's literally negligent of the Bucks to not field offers.

There's no way around it, and I think this should be a separate post from the Giannis trade request. The Bucks are in deep, deep trouble.

2025 – 2nd Round (own): from Detroit via Pistons/Clippers/Portland/Washington chain
2026 – 1st round pick that New Orleans Pelican can swap, 2nd Round (own): top‑55 protected via Utah, but still directly theirs
2028 – 2nd Round (own): retained, no outgoing conditions noted
2031 – 2nd Round (own): part of long-term retained assets
2030 – 1st Round (own with swap rights): Portland holds swap rights but Bucks keep the pick
2031 – 1st Round (own): Bucks retain this unless traded

For their cap space:

2025–26:
Total salary: ~$164.8M
Still over the cap
No cap space (above 1st apron, possibly under 2nd apron

2026–27:
Total salary: ~$144.4M
Salary cap (projected): ~$152–155M
Slightly below cap possible, but likely still over due to hold/cap mechanics
Best-case space with cuts: ~$5–10M (still not "true" cap space for big moves)

2027–28 (Major Opportunity Year)
Total salary (projected): ~$65.3M
Giannis player option: $62.8M
Cap projection for 2027–28: ~$160–170M
Estimated cap space: ~$95–105M
Even with Giannis on the roster at ~$63M, they could:
Sign another max free agent
Fill out roster with high-level role players

So in the grand scheme of things, the only time that the Bucks will be able to field a decent competitive roster is in 2027-28 off season. They don't have their own first round pick until 2031, and 2027 /29 are swap right protected. If they bank on fielding a good team, there is a chance that Giannis might not opt in to his player option. In that case he'll walk away completely free to choose where he wants to play. Although I think Bucks are able to offer him the most salary

The Bucks best case scenario is if New Orleans gets in the lottery next year and so are the Bucks. New Orleans getting like a top 3, and the Bucks are drafting after that. Better yet they find a way to get out of Lillards contract. Then in 2027 they somehow sign free agents and a star max guy. They'll have to do some efficient cap spending though. Oh, and Giannis re-signs.

That's a tremendous amount of If's.

If I was a GM or a manager, I'd be working with GIannis to see the best option for the team, Giannis, and how to turn around the franchise. Cause let's be honest, this is a horrible horrible situation right now. You can roll the dice to try to get cap space in two years, but Giannis might simply have enough and want to compete again at his age. On the other hand, would your team be marketable to sign a free agent? Could you have the ability to without overpaying guys?

What the Bucks are doing now, "Business as usual" is a really, really bad choice of managing the team. And the onus is on the GM and management that got the team there.

You say they should trade him but give no examples of what they should trade for. You cite the fact that they have no draft picks for the next 5 years, so if they trade Giannis they all of a sudden can't get better and will just be gifting other teams high draft picks. Trading Giannis for a bunch of picks is likely only going to return mediocre prospects. If Giannis doesn't want out, they should keep him. The problem is what he says today may not be what he says tomorrow, so it'd be smart for them to guage the market and see if anyone can knock their socks off and give them the kind of package that they'd be fools to turn down. Something like Chet and Wiliams and picks or Sengun and Thompson and picks, etc.

Yeah, they should trade Giannis and become irrelevant for the next three decades. Smart

Nobody really knows what their plans are anyway. Nothing is stopping other teams from calling them and making offers- if an offer knocks their socks off, they can make a trade.

NyKnicks1714 wrote:

TheAlchemist wrote:There's no way around it, and I think this should be a separate post from the Giannis trade request. The Bucks are in deep, deep trouble.

Cause let's be honest, this is a horrible horrible situation right now.

This is misguided. Treadmill team with a top 3 player who the fans love is a pretty damn good situation for a franchise like Milwaukee. It will be a long time before they get a player of his caliber again. If he's happy to stay then they are absolutely right to keep him.

A good perspective that isn't raised enough. If you have a player like that you keep him until the end. The emotional connection is enough to make it with it, even if the path to title contention isn't there.