Bucks News, Trade Ideas, Transactions

[ShootingtheJ]

I think it would be folly to assume that Horst has not considered a Middleton trade. His job is to know the trade value of every player on the Bucks roster. A year ago he traded Holiday and Allen for Lillard, a move that most observers thought made the Bucks favorites to come out of the East. I expect that if Horst could find a deal for Middleton that would improve the Bucks chances of winning, he would make that trade.

Let's be realistic. The Bucks can't expect an extraordinary return for a banged up vet like KM on the back end of a max contract. And if they can't trade him for a clear upgrade, I think the best move would be to stick with the known commodity who continues to produce in clutch situations.

Also, Middleton isn't on a max contact, so we'd need to find a player who's not only better than him, but also not on a max contract, because of the restrictive 2nd apron rules.

Id rather just keep the playoff assassin.

[fansinceforever]

Would now also be a good time to remind everyone who was the only one of our big 3 fully able to be playing at a high level through an entire playoff series last year?

What is this argument? So, considering trading Giannis is more reasonable than Middleton because he got hurt during the playoffs?

I don't know where you came up with that. I was simply making a point that when it mattered most he was the only one out there for us so maybe we don't have to make him not being out there for opening into night more than it is.

If it was just opening night then you'd have a strong point.

[paulpressey25]

Would now be a good time to bring up the idea that we should have traded him?

That ship sailed a long time ago, Giannis wanted him here so he stays. The real question is when will he accept the Ginobli treatment.

The 6th man stuff is not relevant here. He's never available to even be the 6th man. And in the games he's played the last two years, it has been at reduced minutes.

If anything, he's played less minutes than a top sixth man would have played the past couple seasons.

[Wooderson]

Would now be a good time to bring up the idea that we should have traded him?

Would now also be a good time to remind everyone who was the only one of our big 3 fully able to be playing at a high level through an entire playoff series last year?

Those things are directly related on both sides though. Middletons limited action allowed him to be healthy but forced Dame and Giannis to take on a much heavier regular season load than otherwise needed leading to injuries. Not advocating trading Midds but it's a tradeoff that's part of the picture if it happens again for a 3rd straight season.

[fansinceforever]

Would now be a good time to bring up the idea that we should have traded him?

Would now also be a good time to remind everyone who was the only one of our big 3 fully able to be playing at a high level through an entire playoff series last year?

Those things are directly related on both sides though. Middletons limited action allowed him to be healthy but forced Dame and Giannis to take on a much heavier regular season load than otherwise needed leading to injuries. Not advocating trading Midds but it's a tradeoff that's part of the picture if it happens again for a 3rd straight season.

Exactly, continuing to load manage Middleton means expecting 70ish games and heavy minutes out of Dame and Giannis. It really isn't ideal in any way.

[steger_3434]

Let’s only let dame and Giannis play 30 games as well. That way those two can be healthy for the playoffs like Middleton has been.

Also our coach thought Middleton might play 1 preseason game and now he can’t even play an opener 5 months after his last game played. I trust nothing that comes out of docs mouth. Starting to question if he’s really a doc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Frank Nova]

Would now be a good time to bring up the idea that we should have traded him?

That ship sailed a long time ago, Giannis wanted him here so he stays. The real question is when will he accept the Ginobli treatment.

The 6th man stuff is not relevant here. He's never available to even be the 6th man. And in the games he's played the last two years, it has been at reduced minutes.

If anything, he's played less minutes than a top sixth man would have played the past couple seasons.

This. What does changing his role have to do with him sustaining health?

But, on a brighter note, Khris is our 3rd best player and he’s our “Embiid”. Imagine being Philly and having your best player be like Khris Middleton? It could be worse… keep him warmed up and ready for when it matters. We should win plenty of regular season games without him.

[Ron Swanson]

You guys can't be serious blaming Khris for Griffin/Doc running Dame and Giannis into the ground. Bud managed to squeeze out 58-wins with a worse roster than this in a year where he only got 30-games out of Middleton. You've got Dame, Giannis, Brook, and a bunch of solid role-players around them. Figure it the **** out.

[raferfenix]

GTJ making a point to talk about being here long-term.

No clue how we get there. But Bobby took a ton less and somehow we did.

In an interview with Sportskeeda's Grant Afseth, Trent did not mince words when asked about his deal and what the future might hold.

"It's a great opportunity. I'm 25, and I still have years left to grow. This is a great place to find a home base and be part of something long-term. It's an excellent organization with great players, a solid front office and great energy, so it's been great so far."

https://behindthebuckpass.com/gary-trent-jr-consistent-bucks-problem-comments

[fansinceforever]

I don't blame anyone. It is what it is but Middleton being out constantly necessitates Giannis and Dame playing all of the time.

This team doesn't have the depth to load manage those 3 and still be a top 4/5 seed.

[blazza18]

Not the ideal situation but starting to lean more and more towards the idea of needing to trade Middleton for guys you have more trust in being healthy because at this point we just can’t with Khris anymore.

[KidA24]

Would now be a good time to bring up the idea that we should have traded him?

That ship sailed a long time ago, Giannis wanted him here so he stays. The real question is when will he accept the Ginobli treatment.

The 6th man stuff is not relevant here. He's never available to even be the 6th man. And in the games he's played the last two years, it has been at reduced minutes.

If anything, he's played less minutes than a top sixth man would have played the past couple seasons.

He is 2300 vs 2800 for Portis over the last 2 years.

So, yah, I guess but barely?

[emunney]

You guys can't be serious blaming Khris for Griffin/Doc running Dame and Giannis into the ground. Bud managed to squeeze out 58-wins with a worse roster than this in a year where he only got 30-games out of Middleton. You've got Dame, Giannis, Brook, and a bunch of solid role-players around them. Figure it the **** out.

Yeah, I agree it's on Doc. Doc specifically said he had playoff conditioning goals in mind as he stretched their minutes late in the season. Over the course of the season Giannis literally played more minutes per game in the 48 games Middleton and he both played than in the games Middleton didn't. So what are we talking about?

[machu46]

I don't blame anyone. It is what it is but Middleton being out constantly necessitates Giannis and Dame playing all of the time.

This team doesn't have the depth to load manage those 3 and still be a top 4/5 seed.

I wouldn't be sad at all if we were forced to play our good players.

[JayMKE]

I wouldn't expect any less load management going forward

[fansinceforever]

I don't blame anyone. It is what it is but Middleton being out constantly necessitates Giannis and Dame playing all of the time.

This team doesn't have the depth to load manage those 3 and still be a top 4/5 seed.

I wouldn't be sad at all if we were forced to play our good players.

Yeah agreed but Giannis isn't 26 anymore and he has a reoccurring knee issue.

It would be great for him to play around 60ish games. Dame too. Unfortunately, not really an option right now.

[benultimate]

Who is Miss Opener and why is Khris going to her? Sounds like he'll have a fun time at least...

[raferfenix]

I wouldn't expect any less load management going forward

Gaslighting is different than load management.

If Khris doesn’t come back real soon the franchise deserves way more derision than it’d get from our media market.

I mean if Middleton ends up out for weeks to come…what’s up with all this stuff?

Read on Twitter

[Baddy Chuck]

Who is Miss Opener and why is Khris going to her? Sounds like he'll have a fun time at least...

God damnit are they going to the strip clubs again....

[paulpressey25]

He is 2300 vs 2800 for Portis over the last 2 years.

So, yah, I guess but barely?

Just pulled these from BB Reference. Did I get the wrong numbers?

Regular season minutes played

2022-23
Middleton 801
Portis 1,818

2023-24
Middleton 1,487
Portis 2,008