Tim_Hardawayy wrote:I'm not totally sold yet either, but as is, you can't deny the Blazers would have been better off taking the package we offered, or at the very least, it wasn't "robbery" like they and others claimed.
I don't think you can judge the Portland Dame trade with Bucks yet. The players they got like Ayton were obviously head scratchers in terms of 'why?', but the picks are interesting:
- 2028 1st round pick swap with Milwaukee
- 2029 unprotected 1st round pick of Milwaukee
- 2030 1st round pick swap with Milwaukee
Giannis is 30 now so will be 33, 34, 35 in those seasons, he has been playing since 19 and has no signs of developing an outside shot.
His game is totally predicated on drives to the basket (though I think there may be some contrary evidence this season that he is developing some mid range?), but he doesn't have a game that ages well, and like Jimmy I think it leads to those sort of 'in the paint' injuries where you roll ankles etc - he rarely seems to get out of a season without a significant injury.
Checking his games played per season I was actually surprised it wasn't worse, but I think he has missed more time in the playoffs as well.
But Giannis is definitely the type of player you could see declining early, or battling injuries more rapidly after his peak. His main supporting cast - Dame (34), Middleton (33), Lopez (36), will all be gone or no good.
You would have a post peak Giannis with Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr as his main support. Milwaukee is not a destination for FA, they are in the 2nd apron, and won't have high picks, so unlikely to get significant help either to bridge it.
Those picks could be very good.
Then they onsold Jrue Holiday to Boston, and got:
- 2029 unprotected 1st round pick of Boston (possibly not a big deal, but Horford, Jrue will be retired, White will be at the end of his career, Kristaps will be 33 and based on his injuries could be gone. Jayson and Jaylen will be at their peaks of 30 and 32 years old, but Boston must have navigated the cost of their team between then and now)
- Deni Avdija
- Robert Williams
The possibility of all those picks down the road could be intriguing, they have basically gambled on Giannis longevity and health being bad, which is a decent bet
