Around The NBA : 2023-24 Season #3

[DASMACKDOWN]

Its crazy that Kuz is only 3 months younger than Zach.

But Kuz had been checked out in Washington. Really surprised they decided to extend him. But he wasn't turning down more money.

Everyone knows Kuz strengths and well documented weaknesses. The Bucks just wanted a more reliable scoring punch at this stage in their careers.

[TheStig]

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Probably the best they could do given their limited assets, but I don't think this will move the needle enough to put them into championship territory.

I wonder how much they are regretting the Jrue/Dame trade at this point.

I'd have thought they'd hold out to get someone better. They got little time to waste. I know Jimmy said no but I always sneakily suspected that Milwaukee would be a viable landing spot if Phoenix didn't work out.

[jnrjr79]

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Probably the best they could do given their limited assets, but I don't think this will move the needle enough to put them into championship territory.

I wonder how much they are regretting the Jrue/Dame trade at this point.

I'd have thought they'd hold out to get someone better. They got little time to waste. I know Jimmy said no but I always sneakily suspected that Milwaukee would be a viable landing spot if Phoenix didn't work out.

This gets them under the 2nd apron, so now they do have flexibility to make more moves, but I don't know what offloading Portis or Connaughton is going to get you.

[kodo]

Jesus, the Blazers are really playing well recently. They may not make it into the playoffs, but they are going to get darn close if they continue to play the way they have the rest of the way.

And they aren't bum slaying either. It's almost all vs playoff teams. If they didn't draw OKC, they would have had a 9 game win streak.
Deni is looking like a nice trade, I was surprised Washington traded him.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Jesus, the Blazers are really playing well recently. They may not make it into the playoffs, but they are going to get darn close if they continue to play the way they have the rest of the way.

And they aren't bum slaying either. It's almost all vs playoff teams. If they didn't draw OKC, they would have had a 9 game win streak.
Deni is looking like a nice trade, I was surprised Washington traded him.

I think Deni looks trimmer and seemingly faster/smoother. But after looking at his stats, he is playing exactly to the level he was last year.

The only difference is better players that fit and coaching in comparison to Washington.

Im sure Kuz will look much better for the Bucks. Poole probably would too but his contract is ridiculous.

[sco]

Jesus, the Blazers are really playing well recently. They may not make it into the playoffs, but they are going to get darn close if they continue to play the way they have the rest of the way.

And they aren't bum slaying either. It's almost all vs playoff teams. If they didn't draw OKC, they would have had a 9 game win streak.
Deni is looking like a nice trade, I was surprised Washington traded him.

I think Deni looks trimmer and seemingly faster/smoother. But after looking at his stats, he is playing exactly to the level he was last year.

The only difference is better players that fit and coaching in comparison to Washington.

Im sure Kuz will look much better for the Bucks. Poole probably would too but his contract is ridiculous.

I think that Kuz was cast in WAS as a 1st/2nd option guy and he struggled efficiency-wise with the added defensive attention. He'll be facing single coverage in MIL and won't be asked to do as much.

[dougthonus]

A bit surprising to me that Washington did this one. Middleton had 38M? of dead money next year for them. That's a lot to pay for a 2028 pick swap which has a very reasonable chance of not conveying into anything. Maybe they love AJ Johnson, I don't know anything about him, but he's not getting any burn on a Bucks roster that probably should have minutes available for him.

Washington probably just wanted Kuzma off the team. He checked out this season and hurt his trade value. Getting AJ Johnson could be seen as another FRP I guess.

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Yeah, just seemed like a lot of dead salary to take on.

[drosestruts]

Want to talk about some bad drafting

Bucks recent 1st round picks:

2024: AJ Johnson - traded his rookie season

2022: MarJon Beauchamp - team already declined his 4th year option

2018: Donte DiVincenzo - traded for Serge Ibaka (bet they wish they had Donte)

2017: DJ Wilson - out of the league

2016: Thon Maker - out of the league

2015: Rashad Vaughn - out of the league

2014: Jabari Parker - out of the league


Since drafting Giannis in 2013 they've made one good pick (DiVincenzo) who they traded for Serge Ibaka

[2weekswithpay]

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[SirKaiser]

Kings got Valancuinas. They're building the team that AK was supposed to build, and watch it work for them

[Dan Z]

Its crazy that Kuz is only 3 months younger than Zach.

But Kuz had been checked out in Washington. Really surprised they decided to extend him. But he wasn't turning down more money.

Everyone knows Kuz strengths and well documented weaknesses. The Bucks just wanted a more reliable scoring punch at this stage in their careers.

Milwaukee also did the deal for money and nba rule reasons.

Notably, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Kuzma has agreed to reduced his trade bonus to help push this deal through for the Bucks. That matters because this deal saves the Bucks enough money to get under the second apron. Teams above the second apron cannot aggregate salaries in trades, meaning Milwaukee was limited in the sort of moves it could make to improve ahead of Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline.

Now, however, the Bucks can aggregate salaries, and that therefore opens the door to a number of follow-up moves. The likeliest course for them now would be to attempt to aggregate the salaries of Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis, who make around $22 million combined, to trade for another significant piece. They still have their 2031 first-round pick at their disposal to entice sellers as well.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/bucks-trade-khris-middleton-for-wizards-kyle-kuzma-as-milwaukee-parts-ways-with-title-winning-veteran/

[WesPeace]

Good pickup by Kings.. they can play Sabonis and Jonas together easily for decent amount of minutes.

[kulaz3000]

Good pickup by Kings.. they can play Sabonis and Jonas together easily for decent amount of minutes.

They can definitely play them together in moments, but definitely not for long stretches. Most of the teams in the league would run circles around a line up of Sabonis and Jonas in the front court.

[IliketheBullsNBearstoo]

Giannis is gonna hate Kuzma.

Middleton is washed, but he was a key part of their deep playoff runs and championship win.

Giannis reportedly signed off on the trade.

Then why did he tweet this?

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Bulls jersey colors. Its happening

[kulaz3000]

Giannis is gonna hate Kuzma.

Middleton is washed, but he was a key part of their deep playoff runs and championship win.

Giannis reportedly signed off on the trade.

Then why did he tweet this?

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Bulls jersey colors. Its happening

If I was an NBA player, I would so use Twitter to troll people constantly. The way people just try to decipher everything that players post is just hilarious. I'd have an absolute field day because I'm a sicko like that. And this is the exact same reason I deleted my facebook 20 years ago, I just can't be trusted.

[Jcool0]

Giannis is gonna hate Kuzma.

Middleton is washed, but he was a key part of their deep playoff runs and championship win.

Giannis reportedly signed off on the trade.

Then why did he tweet this?

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Bulls jersey colors. Its happening

I dont know. Why are you asking me?

[IliketheBullsNBearstoo]

Giannis reportedly signed off on the trade.

Then why did he tweet this?

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Bulls jersey colors. Its happening

I dont know. Why are you asking me?

Im not really. It was just for fun. Sorry, carry on.

[Muzbar]

Then why did he tweet this?

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Bulls jersey colors. Its happening

I dont know. Why are you asking me?

Im not really. It was just for fun. Sorry, carry on.

Whoosh!

[Ice Man]

The Kings are Chicago Lithuanians' heaven. Jonas, Domantas, Zach, and DDR. If the Kings got Matas too my wife's family might move to Sacramento.

[DASMACKDOWN]

I am not feeling Jimmy going to GS. I think it's a lateral move. Smells of being desperate. It certainly helps Miami short-term.