Bucks News, Trade Ideas, Transactions

[ShootingtheJ]

Why are we taking on Wiggins' contract with such little incentive though? Or are we doing the pendulum thing and buying into him as a plus value player/asset again? Now that he's about to be on the wrong side of 30, I want no part of the Andrew Wiggins roller-coaster. At least with that proposed Beal trade to facilitate Jimmy to PHX, we're getting a good prospect and a 1st round pick.

What's the other proposal you're referring to?

Idk exactly but it was something like Beal, Dunn, Oso, and that one PHX 1st they can trade. I don't want Beal at all but it was at least adequate compensation for taking on his albatross contract.

Thanks. I'm assuming it would also include the Suns 4- 2nds too, and some swap rights on already swapped picks. Still not enough, but better.

[raferfenix]

Why are we taking on Wiggins' contract with such little incentive though?

Don't get me wrong I got plenty of reservations about Wiggins.

But there's also cause to think he's back and in his prime years on a value contract.

An athletic switchable perimeter defender with size who can score (albeit not the best shooter) with championship experience sure sounds good on paper.

If Khris were looking better I'd be less inclined to entertain taking the risk this is who he really is vs a low IQ player who dogged it after getting paid and winning it all.

Either way to your point -- Trayce Jackson-Davis is included in that scenario as well, and maybe the Bucks would be getting draft assets in addition if Wiggins' value is that bad.

Wiggins took an extended leave of absence to be with his father two seasons ago and missed some time here and there last season as Mitchell went through various treatments. His numbers declined significantly, his defensive energy disappeared and the Warriors went right down with him.

Wiggins was a more regular presence last season, playing in 71 games. But for a large portion of the season, he wasn’t really there. He averaged just 13.2 points per game, almost four points lower than his previous career low, as a rookie with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014-15. He shot 35.8 percent from 3-point range, took only 2.7 free throws per game and floated on defense to the point that Kerr chose to take Wiggins out of the starting lineup for the first time in his career. The Warriors knew Wiggins was carrying a heavy burden while his father was in and out of the hospital.

This season, his numbers are back where they belong — 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 42.6 percent from 3-point range, all numbers at or better than his lone All-Star season in 2021-22. [as of Jan. 9 he's at 16.4 points and 4.4 boards].

“It’s wonderful to see him at peace,” Kerr said. “It’s obviously a terrible outcome to all of this with his father passing away. I think just peace of mind, expecting a boy here in a couple of months and two beautiful little girls, a great family. He’s happy. And we were all thrilled to see that because of what a wonderful person he is.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6018536/2024/12/25/andrew-wiggins-father-warriors-nba/

[ShootingtheJ]

What's the other proposal you're referring to?

Idk exactly but it was something like Beal, Dunn, Oso, and that one PHX 1st they can trade. I don't want Beal at all but it was at least adequate compensation for taking on his albatross contract.

Thanks. I'm assuming it would also include the Suns 4- 2nds too, and some swap rights on already swapped picks. Still not enough, but better.

Would Beal and the Wizards agree to reunite? Wizards get the 1st, we get Poole and another less harmful contract.

Still not worth it, but closer.

[EasyE31]

Middleton to the bench was the right move. Now Doc absolutely has to get rid of AJAX in the starting lineup. Green should be starting and Gary Trent should be getting all the back up 2 guard minutes.

AJAX is a nice defender but we should be using him in limited match up / game situation spots as a defensive specialist. Starting him and playing him 10 minutes a night is silly. Also - if you insist on playing him 10 minutes a night take it from the SF rotation. Trent and Green are too good to be ceding minutes at this point.

[Ron Swanson]

Yeah, I still think Andre can be a useful player on a contender, but you see time and again how dudes like him are gonna get absolutely exposed in a playoff setting when you'll be handicapped into playing 4-on-5 offense. His minutes kinda need to be tied at the hip of Giannis sitting. It's just too much to overcome when you play two non-spacers in 2025. Even a team like OKC has realized that they can't play Caruso and Hartenstein together. It just absolutely kills their offense (104.0).

[Bernman]

To your point:

Dame-Ajax-Prince-Giannis-Lopez: +1 net in 395 possessions

Dame-Green-Prince-Giannis-Lopez: +29.4 in 104 possessions

Move Green into the starting lineup. I said bench Prince, who we've gotten diminishing returns from. But maybe just remove Ajax & use him in the 2nd unit when Giannis is off the floor. Or they both could come off. The Trent-Green lineups have put up gaudy #s

[MickeyDavis]

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[tydett]

As long as we have him, Ajax might be more useful with Bobby anyways, since Ajax doesn't want to score and Bobby doesn't want to let anyone else score.

[Profound23]

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It's a masterpiece

[fansinceforever]

Green and GTJ both need to start and play 25+ mpg. They're our most active and best on ball defenders and most consistent shooters. Ajax comes in off the bench alongside Middleton and Bobby.

Taurean Prince can be phased into 10-15 minute a night role.

We know who our best players are at this point. If we play our best offensive players and allow Giannis and Dame to QB everything, we'll probably be a top 1/3 offense or better. If we stay where we are defensively then maybe we've got something.

The roster seems to kinda be what it will be.

[drdrG]

Green and GTJ both need to start and play 25+ mpg. They're our most active and best on ball defenders and most consistent shooters. Ajax comes in off the bench alongside Middleton and Bobby.

Taurean Prince can be phased into 10-15 minute a night role.

We know who our best players are at this point. If we play our best offensive players and allow Giannis and Dame to QB everything, we'll probably be a top 1/3 offense or better. If we stay where we are defensively then maybe we've got something.

The roster seems to kinda be what it will be.

I agree completely. I like Ajax next to Middleton. Middleton can direct on offense, doesn't need as much space to operate and Ajax can make up for Middleton's lack of speed.

[SupremeHustle]

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You'd think the first player that would pop into my head after seeing that would be Ray or Glenn. Maybe two Ss, two Ls. But why was it Tim Thomas?

[slos]

Are we completely done with Beauchamp? He hasn't shined in G league and preseason games, but neither has Jackson and now he is a starter. I think these players are pretty similar. Ask them to lead the Herd and they will dissapoint you. Ask them to serve a role in the NBA and you will have something.

Honestly I don't feel like Marjon has been given a proper chance. I liked what I saw from him under Griffin. Actually I wouldn't hate the idea to experiment making both AJJ/Marjon 10ish minutes starters now that Middleton has become a 6th. That's definitely something to consider IMO with Prince's shooting getting cooler the past month.

[RESPERT]

You'd think the first player that would pop into my head after seeing that would be Ray or Glenn. Maybe two Ss, two Ls. But why was it Tim Thomas?

I think it's because Tim Thomas, or specifically the 1999/2000 season version of him, represented the pinnacle of hope for the team in that era. We had built things up to where Ray, Glenn, Sam were known quantities. He wasn't coasting on a fat contract yet. We didn't have fat Anthony Mason yet. He was 23, almost won 6th man, and looked like he was starting to fulfill his destiny as an unlimited ceiling guy. The most ascending player on what (we assumed) was an ascending team.

[MickeyDavis]

Fans were upset when it looked like Thomas was going to sign with the Bulls. We were coming off the ECF. The Bulls actually offered more money. The wheels fell off quickly with a team that had a ton of talent. Turned Scott Williams, Sam Cassell, Ray Allen and Big Dog into Anthony Mason, Joe Smith, 2 months of Gary Payton and Toni Kukoc. The Dog trade also included a first round pick from Atlanta which turned out to be #8. T.J. Ford. That was a top heavy draft with LeBron, Melo, DWade, Bosh. Too bad we had no lottery luck to move up from 8.

[Prez]

Our best two man lineup by net rating with over 100 minutes is Dre and AJ together. IMO screw it, just start both of them. I think the gravity of Dame/AJ and to a lesser extent Brook at the 5 gives us enough spacing to compensate for having Dre/Giannis on the floor together. At the very least we need to give that a try for a decent stretch. Defense in that lineup would be nasty as well (when the vets are trying lol).

[yb90]

Green and GTJ both need to start and play 25+ mpg. They're our most active and best on ball defenders and most consistent shooters. Ajax comes in off the bench alongside Middleton and Bobby.

Taurean Prince can be phased into 10-15 minute a night role.

We know who our best players are at this point. If we play our best offensive players and allow Giannis and Dame to QB everything, we'll probably be a top 1/3 offense or better. If we stay where we are defensively then maybe we've got something.

The roster seems to kinda be what it will be.

I disagree with benching Prince right now. He makes a lot of the swing passes to keep this offense flowing. I love what the other two are doing but the other shooters have the green light on all the time. That's not a bad thing either but you need players who knows it's okay to turn down a shot so my teammate can get a look.

[Reddeye]

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[JayMKE]

Bucks don’t have draft capital, I’m not sending the 31 first out on a back up big.

[Ron Swanson]

Pat and the 2031 1st for Nick Richards as our big deadline move is the most depressing idea yet. More likely this would involve moving Bobby to a 3rd team, kick some 2nd's over to Charlotte, and us ducking the 2nd apron. Meh.