Bucks News, Transactions, Trade Ideas - Horst Given Extension

[slos]

Looking at offseason just before the playoffs..

Porter - At this point he is playing his way to MLE money. Horst should be smart enough to offer the 4/60,6 full MLE. I can see though KPJ betting on himself with a 1/14 prove it deal. Can't see any team using cap space for 15+ offer after just 30 games coming from Milwaukee's bench.

Trent - He had a similar impact with Beasley, who got a 1/6 at Detroit last offseason. Bucks will have access to the BAE and I believe it's very realistic that GTJ returns with a 2/10,5/PO deal. He also gets the promise that Bucks will take care of him once they get his early Bird rights.

Rollins - He will be a non Bird RFA and honestly I don't know how that works. Can Bucks match anything or offer him a multi year contract without using an exception? I have him just taking the 2,8 mil QO again with the promise that Bucks will take care of him once they get his early Bird rights.

Portis - His market took a hit recently. He is still a MLE guy, but I can't see any team using cap space for more. I wouldn't be shocked if Bobby just opts in. If he shows up in the playoffs though he can get his extension.

Lopez - Money gets tight at this point. Using the NT-MLE hard caps Milwaukee at the 1st apron, which leaves just 5 mil for Brook. Maybe a 2/10 is enough for Lopez. There are ways though for Horst to offer him more with other small moves. Pat for example looks like a lock to opt in, but I wouldn't be shocked if he does a favor to Milwaukee and resign at 2/10.

Bucks 2025-2026 salaries

1. Giannis.........$54,126,450
2. Lillard..........$54,126,450
3. Kuzma..........$22,410,605 + $3,000,000 incentives
4. Porter...........$14,104,000 (NT-MLE)
5. Portis...........$13,445,754 (opt in)
6. Connaughton..$9,423,869 (opt in)
7. Trent............$5,134,000 (BAE)
8. Lopez...........$5,000,000 (resign)
9. Rollins...........$2,818,151 (QO)
10. Green..........$2,301,587
11. Prince..........$2,296,274 (min)
12. Jackson........$2,221,677
13. Livingston.....$2,221,677
14. Smith..........$1,955,377
15. #47.............$1,272,870
- total..............$192,858,601 + $3,000,000 incentives
- 1st apron........$195,945,000

Money works to bring everyone back. New roles will be needed though.

- Already had enough with Prince starting. I will welcome him back though as a 10th guy that like Pat will eat some RS minutes.

- Brook has been a warrior for Milwaukee, but it's about time he goes to the second unit. Definitely a keeper, but as a backup C.

- Having just entered his 30s it's time for Giannis to share more time at C. I know he won't like it full time, so I still have him playing 10 minutes with Brook and another 10 minutes with Bobby.

- Who starts? I think I wouldn't touch that KPJ/GTJ combo coming from the bench. Are we too small with Rollins/Green starting next to Dame? Maybe. At least offensively I love it. You get another ball handler next to Dame with Rollins and along with Green you get a couple of 40% 3p shooters next to Kuz/Giannis.

Bucks 9 men rotation

Lillard (34)/Porter (14)
Rollins (24)/Trent (14)/Porter (10)
Green (24)/Kuzma (14)/Trent (10)
Kuzma (14)/Portis (24)/Giannis (10)
Giannis (24)/Lopez (24)

[soxperry]

Guys, Brook is going to make at least 10. Hes still a commodity.

[Ron Swanson]

Looking at offseason just before the playoffs..

Porter - At this point he is playing his way to MLE money. Horst should be smart enough to offer the 4/60,6 full MLE. I can see though KPJ betting on himself with a 1/14 prove it deal. Can't see any team using cap space for 15+ offer after just 30 games coming from Milwaukee's bench.

Trent - He had a similar impact with Beasley, who got a 1/6 at Detroit last offseason. Bucks will have access to the BAE and I believe it's very realistic that GTJ returns with a 2/10,5/PO deal. He also gets the promise that Bucks will take care of him once they get his early Bird rights.

Rollins - He will be a non Bird RFA and honestly I don't know how that works. Can Bucks match anything or offer him a multi year contract without using an exception? I have him just taking the 2,8 mil QO again with the promise that Bucks will take care of him once they get his early Bird rights.

Portis - His market took a hit recently. He is still a MLE guy, but I can't see any team using cap space for more. I wouldn't be shocked if Bobby just opts in. If he shows up in the playoffs though he can get his extension.

Lopez - Money gets tight at this point. Using the NT-MLE hard caps Milwaukee at the 1st apron, which leaves just 5 mil for Brook. Maybe a 2/10 is enough for Lopez. There are ways though for Horst to offer him more with other small moves. Pat for example looks like a lock to opt in, but I wouldn't be shocked if he does a favor to Milwaukee and resign at 2/10.

Bucks 2025-2026 salaries

1. Giannis.........$54,126,450
2. Lillard..........$54,126,450
3. Kuzma..........$22,410,605 + $3,000,000 incentives
4. Porter...........$14,104,000 (NT-MLE)
5. Portis...........$13,445,754 (opt in)
6. Connaughton..$9,423,869 (opt in)
7. Trent............$5,134,000 (BAE)
8. Lopez...........$5,000,000 (resign)
9. Rollins...........$2,818,151 (QO)
10. Green..........$2,301,587
11. Prince..........$2,296,274 (min)
12. Jackson........$2,221,677
13. Livingston.....$2,221,677
14. Smith..........$1,955,377
15. #47.............$1,272,870
- total..............$192,858,601 + $3,000,000 incentives
- 1st apron........$195,945,000

Money works to bring everyone back. New roles will be needed though.

- Already had enough with Prince starting. I will welcome him back though as a 10th guy that like Pat will eat some RS minutes.

- Brook has been a warrior for Milwaukee, but it's about time he goes to the second unit. Definitely a keeper, but as a backup C.

- Having just entered his 30s it's time for Giannis to share more time at C. I know he won't like it full time, so I still have him playing 10 minutes with Brook and another 10 minutes with Bobby.

- Who starts? I think I wouldn't touch that KPJ/GTJ combo coming from the bench. Are we too small with Rollins/Green starting next to Dame? Maybe. At least offensively I love it. You get another ball handler next to Dame with Rollins and along with Green you get a couple of 40% 3p shooters next to Kuz/Giannis.

Bucks 9 men rotation

Lillard (34)/Porter (14)
Rollins (24)/Trent (14)/Porter (10)
Green (24)/Kuzma (14)/Trent (10)
Kuzma (14)/Portis (24)/Giannis (10)
Giannis (24)/Lopez (24)

I think if they can take a mini-leap and you can somehow retain KPJ and Rollins on low-cost extensions, then I actually like our guard rotation pretty well (Dame/KPJ/Rollins/Green) even with Trent likely bolting for a contract we can't afford. But at the same time, essentially just "running it back" with the same exact roster plus a new coach can't be the ultimate goal here, right? And yeah, Brook is likely not getting less than the Al Horford contract (2-yrs $20 million). I don't think bringing everyone back is even financially doable.

[Bernman]

They can't carry Livingston, Smith, #47 & Ajax next season. That's again, too much fluff. I'd waive Livingston & trade 2-3 of the others. Get a late 1st, at least high 2nd. College vets are under-valued cuz it's a slow adjustment to them getting paid. Get someone w/ actual seasoning & skills this time.

[fansinceforever]

Do we dare move on from Dame? I would be fine with it.

1000%

[fansinceforever]

If Dame still has good value and Kuzma has any value then theoretically it's still possible to build something worth investing time in around Giannis. KPJ and Rollins make that possible.

[fan230]

Is kpj not signed through next season with the Bucks?

[tsamo]

Is kpj not signed through next season with the Bucks?

Player option.

[paulpressey25]

Is Dame going to the fountain of youth & the NBA allowing contract re-structuring? If not he's going to be our 2nd-3rd best player on supermax and will be 36 right after the playoffs. Thus he'll be more valuable to a # of other teams & it's best to get out of his biz before it's too late.

At the moment Dame is probably a more negative asset than Embiid. The medical situation has to clear, he's got to prove he can play and even then best case we're getting 50 cents on the dollar of what we might have dealt him for at the February trade deadline.

Think we've got to hope his health clears and he can play well for us next year. That's our best case scenario (and his).

[VooDoo7]

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[Bernman]

At the moment Dame is probably a more negative asset than Embiid. The medical situation has to clear, he's got to prove he can play and even then best case we're getting 50 cents on the dollar of what we might have dealt him for at the February trade deadline.

Think we've got to hope his health clears and he can play well for us next year. That's our best case scenario (and his).

I don't think the first paragraph is correct. It's not an ailment hurting performance and there's no suggestion of re-occurrence. It'll clear at a point before the season.

We may still not get full return because it dirties him up a bit and perception is to a degree reality. That has to be weighted against him being a half year older when he's moved. And I don't know if retaining him impedes KPJ re-signing. Just have to see what's out there (Butler giving GSW a jolt may help Dame's market) & if it aids us in forming a viable contender around Giannis/KPJ.

[fan230]

My instinct says Dame will be able to play to an extent at least, in the playoffs.

[Ron Swanson]

I mean, the win was fun but we're getting way ahead of ourselves. +0.7 net-rating the last 10-games, and +3.6 since the ASB with that "post trade deadline honeymoon" period juicing those numbers. As always, the playoffs will be the ultimate barometer here. Rooting for a competitive series at the very least to ease Giannis' hesitation in our ability to quickly turn this around. The org can gaslight the fanbase all they want, but I'm not expecting Dame back for the playoffs until I see it happen. Major changes this offseason are still very much needed.

[msiris]

They can't carry Livingston, Smith, #47 & Ajax next season. That's again, too much fluff. I'd waive Livingston & trade 2-3 of the others. Get a late 1st, at least high 2nd. College vets are under-valued cuz it's a slow adjustment to them getting paid. Get someone w/ actual seasoning & skills this time.

When watching the tourney I was thinking oh he could be useful. We have a superstar so find him help for now not when he is 40. Even a guy like Sims was able to help us.

[Prez]

[giannis and 1]

Our path to the finals is Indiana, Cleveland, Boston. It's do-able if Dame is back by the 2nd round.

[crkone]

I mean, the win was fun but we're getting way ahead of ourselves. +0.7 net-rating the last 10-games, and +3.6 since the ASB with that "post trade deadline honeymoon" period juicing those numbers. As always, the playoffs will be the ultimate barometer here. Rooting for a competitive series at the very least to ease Giannis' hesitation in our ability to quickly turn this around. The org can gaslight the fanbase all they want, but I'm not expecting Dame back for the playoffs until I see it happen. Major changes this offseason are still very much needed.

On that note, the record against +.500 teams is not so good.

[blazza18]

Spoiler:

Not just a bad fit with your franchise star but also a bad player. I still cannot understand why they targeted him.

[ReasonablySober]

Spoiler:

Not just a bad fit with your franchise star but also a bad player. I still cannot understand why they targeted him.

It'll always come down to the simple fact that the Bucks wanted to get under the apron, and Washington was able to take in more salary than they sent out.

[blazza18]

It'll always come down to the simple fact that the Bucks wanted to get under the apron, and Washington was able to take in more salary than they sent out.

They (Doc I think) really wanted out of the Khris situation too. Thinking they could fix Kuzma should get them fired.