Middleton/Johnson to Wash for Kuzma/Baldwin

[aboveAverage]

https://youtu.be/A1HdMS4fnJw?si=SuBFA5e7y56O89-_

His passing is better than I expected. I hope he can cut down the bad shots and transition into more of a Boris Diaw type role.

[paulpressey25]

Kinda want to grab a Khris jersey on sale. Why not?

Hmmm.

[nagawicka]

Bucks' Moves/Non-Moves influenced by ankle problems:

- Ray Allen for Gary Payton
- Andrew Bogut for Stephen Curry
- Khris Middleton/AJ Johnson for Kyle Kuzma....

For my money, Khris hasn't looked right physically as far as running, jumping and any lateral movement since his hamstring ripped off his leg. We just kept signing him so he can hobble around. Still glad we got him a ring and he was a big part of it but his physical and injury limitations have been there for 9 years.

Khris (&others) have 'nt looked in peak form since they decided the Olympics were more important than a credible two-peat.

[humanrefutation]

AJ Johnson had a nice dunk and four assists in nine minutes of play in his debut for Washington. He followed it up tonight with 4 fouls in 7 minutes of play.

Khris is in street clothes for some reason.

[Bernman]

I still can't believe they did it. Doc or Haslam must have had a hand. I'm sure Horst didn't want to trade the guy he just drafted, when he wasn't behind expected development. Goes to show he's a terrible negotiator, when his superiors say get this guy.

Watch on YouTube

Vecenie had a lot more distaste for it than the other best analyst in the podcast space, Timpf, who seemed neutral. Was more keen on Kuzma cuz he's a Lakers' fan & weighted Khris' lack of volume stats over Vecenie who cared about the efficiency.

[M-C-G]

After a few weeks, it seems like Horst hit the ground like a rocket on this one.

[tedbrogen]

After a few weeks, it seems like Horst hit the ground like a rocket on this one.

I think sometimes we get a little too wrapped up in pure efficiency. A team with Dame and Giannis being the highest usage guys with their excellent efficiency can sacrifice some efficiency from role players to fill in other needs (defense, rebounding, size on the wing, athleticism).

[soxperry]

After a few weeks, it seems like Horst hit the ground like a rocket on this one.

I think sometimes we get a little too wrapped up in pure efficiency. A team with Dame and Giannis being the highest usage guys with their excellent efficiency can sacrifice some efficiency from role players to fill in other needs (defense, rebounding, size on the wing, athleticism).

Yeah idk. I have a feeling we are going to see how important efficiency is when we play Boston or Cleveland in the playoffs. When your opponent is an efficiency machine, the margins really matter. I hope Im wrong

[M-C-G]

After a few weeks, it seems like Horst hit the ground like a rocket on this one.

I think sometimes we get a little too wrapped up in pure efficiency. A team with Dame and Giannis being the highest usage guys with their excellent efficiency can sacrifice some efficiency from role players to fill in other needs (defense, rebounding, size on the wing, athleticism).

Yeah idk. I have a feeling we are going to see how important efficiency is when we play Boston or Cleveland in the playoffs. When your opponent is an efficiency machine, the margins really matter. I hope Im wrong

I just mentally go back to playing the Pacers last year (I think) and watching us score and before half our team was back on D, Indy was laying it in. This team needed to drastically change its DNA and we did. Remains to be seen how it goes come playoff time but I think we have a fighting chance now.

I’d still spend the off-season looking for a new starting (athletic) 5 and seeing if we can get Brook back as a cheaper bench option. Not sure what he would think of that, but Jonathan Isaac (or similar type big) paired with Dame, SG, Kuz, Giannis is my ideal scenario.

[Jez2983]

After a few weeks, it seems like Horst hit the ground like a rocket on this one.

I think sometimes we get a little too wrapped up in pure efficiency. A team with Dame and Giannis being the highest usage guys with their excellent efficiency can sacrifice some efficiency from role players to fill in other needs (defense, rebounding, size on the wing, athleticism).

I've been thinking about this too. Is another way to look at it could be described as the league returning to Kuz's mean during the playoffs? And that historically teams win championships with inefficient players?

However I feel teams will leave Kuz open. Here's to hoping he can make them pay.

[tedbrogen]

After a few weeks, it seems like Horst hit the ground like a rocket on this one.

I think sometimes we get a little too wrapped up in pure efficiency. A team with Dame and Giannis being the highest usage guys with their excellent efficiency can sacrifice some efficiency from role players to fill in other needs (defense, rebounding, size on the wing, athleticism).

I've been thinking about this too. Is another way to look at it could be described as the league returning to Kuz's mean during the playoffs? And that historically teams win championships with inefficient players?

However I feel teams will leave Kuz open. Here's to hoping he can make them pay.

Efficiency does decrease in the playoffs mainly due to playing better teams and shortened rotations. The Bucks did almost repeat with Giannis surrounded by the most inefficient group possible after Midds went down. So it’s possible that Giannis and Dame just go off and the new D is able to hold down other teams enough that it doesn’t matter what the Bucks get from everyone else.

[ReasonablySober]

Thanks for unlocking this.

[MickeyDavis]

Thanks for unlocking this.

With the playoffs starting soon we need to keep the ATL focused on that.

[MickeyDavis]

Thanks for unlocking this.

With the playoffs starting soon we need to keep the ATL focused on that.

[VooDoo7]

How many pages was the Tobias thread?

[Wonka]

My initial reaction to this trade was that it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Nothing has changed. What an absolute f*cking disaster…and becoming more so each and every single passing day.

[emunney]

To be fair, I don't think there's a GM in the league that this board wouldn't run circles around in terms of just yea-or-nay personnel decisions. But this one is special.

Like Luke said early in this thread, there's no way the 2nd apron penalties are worse than this.

[paulpressey25]

How many pages was the Tobias thread?

I think maybe 320(?). But the pages back then were shorter (i.e. fewer posts per page). It’s out there. Someone post the link and I will bump it (assuming it is locked).

[paulpressey25]

You've got to be kidding me with that. We included AJ Johnson, too?

This part frosts me. Fire Horst

I’m been somewhat sanguine about the trade, with an emphasis on the 2nd apron and TPMLE money issues. But at least my instant reaction was correct before I started to enter the bargaining stage of grief.

[raferfenix]

If AJ Johnson is for real this board might not recover.

If he’s just a guy whatever if Kuzma was a swing and a miss.

More importantly is what Khris deals we passed on post-championship when the warning signs popped up before the wheels fell off, and more recently whether there was any way we could have pulled Jimmy Butler instead.