Bucks News, Transactions, Trade Ideas

[MickeyDavis]

It will be interesting to see what Memphis does. Ja returns next week but they are buried pretty far down. Best to tank this season and regroup next year.

[psman2]

It will be interesting to see what Memphis does. Ja returns next week but they are buried pretty far down. Best to tank this season and regroup next year.

I think we let them play for a several weeks like 3-5, especially when Smart returns to try to get a sense of how good the team can be. But unless we go on some crazy winning streak we will likely start stealth tanking later in the season with selective rest and fathom injuries to secure a top 8 pick. We then are likely to try to trade that pick in the offseason for another win now player.

[raferfenix]

I think Memphis would be willing to do something like Konchar/2026 2nd (via LAC) for MarJon.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Grizzlies’ perspective.

Konchar is 27 but locked up for years. If I understand correctly he doesn’t make as much sense anymore with Memphis’ depth chart especially in a tanking situation.

MarJon I could easily see the Bucks still being high on, however, if we don’t expect he’ll be ready for real playoff minutes this season then Beauchamp could be the odd man out if we think Andre Jackson Jr. and / or AJ Green will be better than him by next year and there’s a path to upgrade in the short run.

[psman2]

I think Memphis would be willing to do something like Konchar/2026 2nd (via LAC) for MarJon.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Grizzlies’ perspective.

Konchar is 27 but locked up for years. If I understand correctly he doesn’t make as much sense anymore with Memphis’ depth chart especially in a tanking situation.

MarJon I could easily see the Bucks still being high on, however, if we don’t expect he’ll be ready for real playoff minutes this season then Beauchamp could be the odd man out if we think Andre Jackson Jr. and / or AJ Green will be better than him by next year and there’s a path to upgrade in the short run.

Sure this year Konchar is expendable, but having a guy like him as a 9th guy on a reasonable contract in the future when we plan to compete still represents value to us. But we are loaded with a ton of not great/unproven options at the 2/3/4 and we have been prioritizing playing our youth to see if we have anything there. But once the dust settles I think Konchar would have a good chance of reclaiming a rotation spot if we are again trying to win games.

I don't think MarJon is necessary in a trade here. Expiring salary and 2nd is really all we can hope to get out of a Konchar trade if we decide to trade him. We just cannot take on more players unless those players are really better than the guys we have to cut, which more than likely will not be the case. I think Boston could offer their TPE and a 2nd and that is the offer to beat.

[emunney]

Memphis is 8 games out of the 8 seed with 58 games to go. I would hate it if they tanked the season. They've got Ja back, they've got to compete. They should be looking to improve.

The fact that they're keeping Biyombo and waiving Lofton indicates to me that they agree and won't be sellers.

[PaulKellerman]

Memphis would be foolish to let this year go by and not compete. You've got an in-prime star like Ja, Bane is on the upswing-You do not punt away seasons like that with almost 60 games left.

[soxperry]

Memphis would be foolish to let this year go by and not compete. You've got an in-prime star like Ja, Bane is on the upswing-You do not punt away seasons like that with almost 60 games left.

hard, hard disagree.

Ja Morant is only 24 and that's still a pretty young team overall. To me, the best option is to just punt on the season, trade Marcus Smart for whatever you can get for him, and tank as hard as you can. Getting a top 3 pick when you already have an established superstar and a good supporting cast around him is so valuable in this league. Probably then trade the pick to the highest bidder and you now have the ability to significantly move the needle in terms of title contention.

You want to give that up so you can make a run, starting this far out of the playoff window? seems like a no brainer to tank.

[Prez]

The Grizzlies punting on the season and going full tank mode once Ja is back makes no sense to me.

First off I'm not sure it would even work if Ja is still the same dude he was pre-suspension. Dude’s an all-NBA player, Bane has turned into an efficient 25/5/5 all-star caliber guy, and JJJ is the reigning DPOY and an all star as well. When those 3 guys are healthy and in the lineup they’re not going to be bad enough.

If Ja is still Ja, they need to try to make a move for a legit starting C, which they can do because they have all their picks. If they can find a starting C to replace Adams and slide Biyombo to a backup spot, they are going to be dangerous again.

The West is good but it isn't anything amazing. It's Denver, a red hot Minnesota team, and a bunch of good but not great teams that have their own warts. If the Grizzlies make a couple good moves, which again they can because they have plenty of picks to throw around, they need to go for it.

[BigO]

Fun fact:

Joe Barry and Adrian Griffin have never been seen in the same room together.

[slos]

So what happens when Beasley returns after AJJ having two good games as a starter? I think I would cut Payne out of the rotation to create minutes for AJJ before thinking about reducing Beasley’s role. Giannis and/or Middleton can pretend the PG the 6 first minutes Lillard sits on the bench in the 2nd and 4th quarter. More ball for Giannis/Midds in these opportunities means also more ball for Dame when he plays. And then you have 12 available minutes at minimum for AJJ to keep him a rotational piece in every game and help him grow faster.

Dame (36)/Giannis (6)/Midds (6)
Beasley (30)/Marjon (18)
Midds (20)/Pat (24)/AJJ (4)
Giannis (30)/AJJ (12)/Bobby (6)
Lopez (30)/Bobby (18)

That’s the 9 man rotation I would like to see having Payne and Crowder (when he returns) fighting for the 10th spot.

[Ron Swanson]

Cut Wiggington and sign that absolute UNIT Kenny Lofton Jr. to a two-way. Please and thank you.

[emunney]

Cut Wiggington and sign that absolute UNIT Kenny Lofton Jr. to a two-way. Please and thank you.

I think he probably gets claimed and they're leaking it to try to get someone to drop a 2nd for him, but yes.

[GoldenAntlers]

So what happens when Beasley returns after AJJ having two good games as a starter? I think I would cut Payne out of the rotation to create minutes for AJJ before thinking about reducing Beasley’s role. Giannis and/or Middleton can pretend the PG the 6 first minutes Lillard sits on the bench in the 2nd and 4th quarter. More ball for Giannis/Midds in these opportunities means also more ball for Dame when he plays. And then you have 12 available minutes at minimum for AJJ to keep him a rotational piece in every game and help him grow faster.

Dame (36)/Giannis (6)/Midds (6)
Beasley (30)/Marjon (18)
Midds (20)/Pat (24)/AJJ (4)
Giannis (30)/AJJ (12)/Bobby (6)
Lopez (30)/Bobby (18)

That’s the 9 man rotation I would like to see having Payne and Crowder (when he returns) fighting for the 10th spot.

Has Marjon earned 18mpg? (Coming from a big Marjon optimist to start the season.)

[Frank Nova]

Considering our salary threshold and the type of starting 2 we are capable of getting. Is Andre Jackson basically untouchable for that range? At this point I'm not trading him for a Carouso/Grayson Allen level of player.

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I'd instantly trade him for Caruso, anyone who wouldn't is just way too lost in their homerism. We're trying to win right now and Caruso is far and away better for that.

I totally get the thought process here but I have to respectfully disagree. Dre Jack is already doing Caruso type things in limited minutes. He makes winning plays with a non stop motor and a high basketball IQ. He’s our best draft pick since Malcolm Brogdon and like 7yrs younger than Caruso as well. I honestly believe if you throw Dre Jack to the wolves now, he’s gonna come back with a fur coat when it matters most. Get him acclimated with the officiating so his intense defense won’t draw fouls in the playoffs. He’s gotta earn more respect and he’ll be better than Caruso long term and I don’t even find that to be debatable. Dre Jack is cheap and the exact type of lengthy wing you want to pair with Dame imo. You can win now and later with him so why make a short term move that might not move the needle any more than it’s already moving?

[EasyE31]

Robin Lopez, Chris Livingston and the Blazers 2nd for John Konchar?

Brook required us signing him yes but Rolo being untradeable might not be the case. Rich Paul directed Livingston to the Bucks and we wouldn’t take that lightly either.

Grizzlies need help at the 5 if the lesser Lopez might actually get minutes. They could use good vibes guys too.

Bucks don’t have many easily disposable players even aside from that second being one of the extremely few draft assets we can deal. This way we’d retain our most important developmental prospects while picking up Konchar and his cheap locked in contract.

If it’s not worth the Brook drama trading Robin we could slot in Jae Crowder or Beasley instead and it’d work contractually.

MarJon is the more obvious player we could trade out of any of them (and we wouldn’t need Livingston’s salary either) but I was wondering whether the Grizzlies would really prefer him vs the Blazers 2nd.

I think Memphis would be open to a Konchar trade but he is a fan favorite though. He is referred to as our swiss army knife since he can do a little bit of everything and fill in when needed, but he really needs to play next to stars for his real value to be realized. But our roster is full so it would have to be a one for one type of trade, or involve a 3rd party to eat extra contracts, or a TPE like Boston is considering offering. We would have to cut players better than/more valuable than what is coming in to accept a 2 for 1 like above. I don't think we would place much value on a guy like Lopez since we are very likely done this season. We are going to have to play like a #1 seed just to catch Houston for the 10th spot and we still have holes on our roster, I think whatever trades we make are for setting up next year's roster.

I think Memphis would be willing to do something like Konchar/2026 2nd (via LAC) for MarJon.

Regarding Portis, I don't think he is really someone we would value as much as the Bucks do and would not likely be a target in a trade since Clarke and Adams are expected to be back in our rotation next season. If we were to trade Kennard we likely just flip him for an expiring and 2nds. That would help us to get closer to having enough space next season to have the full MLE and dodge the tax and get a couple of picks. And we paid a lot to get Smart, we are likely not going to throw in the towel on him until next season if things don't gel by then, so no point if trying to buy low on him since we won't be selling anytime soon.

Konchar and Xavier Tillman for AJ Green and MarJon Beauchamp. Grizzlies get two young guys that they control for multiple years. Tillman is up after this year and seems like he's fallen out of the lineup a bit recently anyways.

Tillman and Konchar would be significant upgrades defensively off the bench for the Bucks.

[pifhluk23]

Considering our salary threshold and the type of starting 2 we are capable of getting. Is Andre Jackson basically untouchable for that range? At this point I'm not trading him for a Carouso/Grayson Allen level of player.

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I'd instantly trade him for Caruso, anyone who wouldn't is just way too lost in their homerism. We're trying to win right now and Caruso is far and away better for that.

I totally get the thought process here but I have to respectfully disagree. Dre Jack is already doing Caruso type things in limited minutes. He makes winning plays with a non stop motor and a high basketball IQ. He’s our best draft pick since Malcolm Brogdon and like 7yrs younger than Caruso as well. I honestly believe if you throw Dre Jack to the wolves now, he’s gonna come back with a fur coat when it matters most. Get him acclimated with the officiating so his intense defense won’t draw fouls in the playoffs. He’s gotta earn more respect and he’ll be better than Caruso long term and I don’t even find that to be debatable. Dre Jack is cheap and the exact type of lengthy wing you want to pair with Dame imo. You can win now and later with him so why make a short term move that might not move the needle any more than it’s already moving?

One guy made All Defense 1st team and the other guy is a rookie... Claiming AJJ is going to make an all defense 1st team in his career is crazy, yes he looks good but you simply can't make that statement. I bet we don't even see AJJ after the 1st round in the playoffs whereas Caruso you can literally start him on a finals team. There is a giant gap between the 2 right now and you can't let the alure of youth trick you into what is better right now to win a chip. It doesn't matter anyways the Bulls aren't trading Caruso to us unless we got a third team involved.

[ReasonablySober]

Is the Dame-Giannis Pick-and-Roll a Work in Progress or Just an Afterthought?

Reads like a Things Are Going Wrong In Milwaukee article even as Mahoney admits the Bucks offense is historically good and devastating in clutch time.

[Ron Swanson]

This is probably the only paragraph he needed to type:

Maybe that’s OK. Maybe dwelling so much on the pick-and-roll is thinking too small—reducing some of the most dynamic players in the league to their most obvious applications, like wondering why a supercomputer isn’t optimized to send emails.

Lillard is 6th in the league in P&R frequency. The wide-ranging obsession with the Dame/Giannis pick-and-roll reminds me of when casual NFL fans would always shout "why don't you run quick slants every single play?!" as this magical cure for every offensive woe. Funny enough, zero mention of the fact that Giannis is actually the most efficient P&R ball-handler (1.22 PPP, tied with Haliburton) shows the extent of Mahoney's "analysis".

[paulpressey25]

Mahoney wrote a fair article. Think the most important line was where he described Giannis as essentially not being patient. That to me sums it up.

Giannis is so used to going all out downhill for years, that slowing the game down and letting a play develop isn't in his vocabulary yet. He's all about brute force strike speed to the hoop.

[MissKhriddleton]

Am I dumb or does half the league right now have a historically good offense? Seems like there is quite a bit of offesnive inflation going on, so using that as a metric to justify the decision to not run more Dame and Giannis PNR is a bit silly.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/best-offensive-rating-by-a-team-in-nba-history-in-a-single-season