CHI| MIL | HOU | SAS: 4-team big-man shuffle

[drosestruts]

Chicago in: Zach Collins and Jock Landale
Chicago out: Nikola Vucevic and Jevon Carter

Milwaukee in: Steven Adams and Jevon Carter
Milwaukee out: Brook Lopez

Houston in: Brook Lopez
Houston out: Steven Adams and Jock Landale

San Antonio in: Nikola Vucevic
San Antonio out: Zach Collins


Why for Chicago?
Chicago's summer has been all about one thing - getting younger. They continue that here bringing in the 26 year old Collins and 28 year old Landale. Will be an open competition at the center spot for minutes between Collins, Landale, and Smith.

Why for Milwaukee?
Bucks get a 2:1 player swap while lowering their tax bill. Carter was a key bench piece in Milwaukee previously, and Adams brings a different flavor at the center spot from Lopez with great screens and elite offensive rebounding. Bucks still have Portis to give them the stretch big component they had in Lopez. This gives them more depth and lineup flexibility.

Why for Houston?
They were interested in Lopez just a year ago. They add him now on an expiring deal to provide depth up-front in the year before Sengun is given his new contract. Trade also opens up a roster spot to sign summer league standout Orlando Robinson.

Why for San Antonio?
Spurs have added several veteran pieces to their lineup this summer like CP3 and Harrison Barnes. They add another here in Vucevic who's an upgrade over Collins and can play with Wemby. Spurs have a nice blend of young and veteran talent with none of those veterans on deals that will last past their key young pieces needing extensions. Spurs appear to not be shy about gunning for the playoffs in a competitive west, and this makes them better.


Pretty proud of this one, can't wait to hear why you hate it.

[ThatBoyNick]

I don’t hate it but I’m not sure it works for everybody. Particularly the Spurs who seem to be favoring Wemby at the 5, and the Bucks who lose spacing for Giannis and don’t get a particularly durable player.

For Houston it’s solid, I’m totally happy with Adams but I recognize the spacing Lopez would bring so we probably should do this.

For Bulls, clearing out Vucs salary during a re-tool is a win.

[RollingWave]

I mean there’s nothing to lose here for Houston, Mil seems most suspect as Lopez is a huge part of what makes things work for them, the Spurs part is debatable but Vuc is more likely to be at least avalible, for Chicago it’s a pretty big win if they can move Vuc without attaching things but hard to imagine them run Collins and Landale for a year and win many games ( though that might be a positive)

So the Bucks part seems most dubious

[psman2]

I don't think saving 4 million in salary here is near enough motivation for the Bucks to downgrade. Chicago dumping a lot of money here too cheap too.

[pipfan]

Chi sends the Port 1st to Milw, to help grease the wheels?

[giannis and 1]

Bucks decline.

[MoreyWins]

Wouldn't mind this at all for Houston. Lopez definitely helps improve the 3PT% for the Rockets, which is essential for next season.

[RiotPunch]

A) Bucks don't have the roster spot for a 2 for 1 after signing Trent.
B) This is a truly terrible return for our starting center and defensive anchor.

[K_chile22]

Have a hard time seeing why the bucks would do this

[drosestruts]

The biggest issue with the proposal seems to be on the Bucks end.

I think a lot of people are assuming BroLo goes back to having the defensive impact he provided in previous seasons, but he's 36 years old and Lillard changed the whole dynamic of Milwaukee's team.

Lopez had a 114 Defensive Rating last year, that's higher than any season of Steven Adams' career.

I don't think there's the drop in defensive impact people might be thinking there is. Yes, Adams and Lopez are different players with different styles.

Offensively - Adams is going to set better screens and give the Bucks extra possesions with his elite offensive rebounding. This is different than the floor spacing Lopez provides, but the better screening will be helpful in getting Lillar'ds full potential impact.

Defensively - we know Lopez has been in his career a great drop defender who blocks and alters shots in the paint. Adams provides a bit more mobility (perhaps a low bar in comparison to a 36 year old Lopez).

Lopez was grabbing 5 rebounds total last year, Adams was grabbing that many offensive rebounds last he played.

If Jrue Holiday were still in Milwaukee I think Lopez is the better fitting center, with Lillard here I think there's benefits to having Steven Adams as the center in Milwaukee.

[JonHeist]

Bucks say no and this trade also isn't legal

[One_and_Done]

The Spurs don't want Vuc.

[ChettheJet]

Good for the Bulls to end up with 3 centers. They could start Smith at the 4 and have Collins and Landale split the time at the 5. Good to move Carter

Don't see why SAS want Vucevic, he's not going to come off the bench and he puts Wemby at the 4 which on offense could work but on defense Wemby is mostly covering for Vuc and not protecting the rim full time

[drosestruts]

I think Wemby in more of a roaming defensive role over strictly being a paint protector is potentially scarier. You'll never know where that long limbed alien is coming from.

It also allows Wemby time to grow his strength and grow into the physical demands of being a full-time center.

I'm sure there's a rotation that could be figured out that includes minutes with Vuc and Wemby together, and times where only one of them is on the court.

[Ron Swanson]

Woof, this might the worst Lopez return I've seen yet. 31-year old Adams coming off knee surgery and Jevon Carter's extra year at $6.8 million is just straight up negative value. Houston's just getting the best player here for free.

[Joe Joe]

If Adams is expected to be healthy (i.e., greater than 60 games), Houston doesn't do this deal.
If Adams isn't healthy, I'm still not sure Houston does this deal as they still probably like flexibility of having two contracts for salary matching purposes.