Giannis Thread - On Asking for a Trade - "I am not this kind of guy, they would have to kick me out”.

[CharityStripe34]

I appreciate the optimist point of view but sorry, if Doc's actually gonna be back (which I still can't believe is looking like a possibility), then there's absolutely no hope here. Dame torn Achilles, Kuzma with an all-time playoff stinker rendering him useless as a trade asset, Kevin Porter Jr. not being any sort of playoff difference maker. This was basically the nightmare scenario outside of Giannis shattering his leg or something.

That doesn't mean a Giannis trade is our only option, but we're not doing anything this season and unfortunately you're just gonna have to sell Giannis on the "gap year" idea. Next offseason we could realistically have a lottery pick, two future firsts, and a swap to trade. That plus a clean cap sheet isn't nothing. Tell Giannis to start recruiting for 2026.

Not coping or anything as I'm mostly ambivalent about sports off-seasons, but you'd be surprised about what a dumb team may give up for Kuzma even mid-season. But I'm with you, the coaching situation has to have a shift. Give Doc a ceremonial talent consultant role and let him golf half the time, and promote one of the more experienced assistants who realizes we have to play some modern basketball. Hell, even Kuzma can be a decent player if he's actually played in his position (as a "small" 4).

I don't think the Bucks are a trainwreck next season with some decent tweaks and some baseline level coaching. I know that's asking a lot but given the parity we have it's not inconceivable to field a pesky rag-tag group next to Prime Giannis and surprise people (fully realize this sounds overly optimistic).

[Ron Swanson]

Ironically the "sell" to Giannis actually just got incredibly easy. I mean, just point him to the current playoff bracket. One of either the Pacers or Knicks, two teams that finished with just 2 and 3 more wins than us, are likely going to the Finals. I don't even think you can call it parity anymore. It's basically just become an attrition war where the best team with the least amount of injuries are the last ones left standing.

Like, can you really argue against the notion that we'd have been a legit Finals threat with a healthy Dame/Giannis and a coach with a brain had the darkest timeline not happened? The entire legacy of this Boston core got bailed out by one of the easiest/luckiest roads to a championship we've ever seen, and now their window is slammed shut. I'm really starting to think that all you really need is a superstar, a good coach, and some injury luck. You just gotta sell Giannis that the 2025-26 season is gonna be our 2020-21 Warriors year.

[drew881]

I don’t think making Giannis trade proposals are drinking the media kool aid. It is the accumulation of our record post 2021. The fact is we have been nowhere near contention since the championship, and while a lot of factors contributed to that, such as Middleton’s injury, Giannis is also a part of that record. Moving forward as constructed, we are a 1st or 2nd round playoff team for the next 5 years. That is probably our ceiling. And on the other side, we have dodged long term injuries with Giannis every year. Weighing the ceiling with what could be an awful alternative, I think it is reasonable that many think now is a good time to move on. Giannis is not going to have LeBron’s longevity nor his skill game to maintain a high level of play. If he does, I wish him well, but am going to bet on the side on a gradual decline.

This isn’t trading Luka Doncic at 25. Giannis is 31 and has 2 years plus the player option left on his contract. Perfect time to move him if the deal is right.

[JayMKE]

Doc probably doesn’t seem as bad with a team with lowered expectations, that’s usually when he’s looked his best as a coach.

Bucks should still be a playoff team next year even with Dame out and Doc still here, I wanted to trade Dame in the offseason but I don’t think our trajectory changes that much otherwise. I think you hope Dame returns for the playoffs and shows enough to have value in addition to expiring.

If Giannis can be sold on Adrian Griffin and Doc Rivers then I think he can be sold on next season still being salvageable and the bigger picture going forward. Seriously sign Thanasis and Kostas too, that would be fun regardless.

[drew881]

Ironically the "sell" to Giannis actually just got incredibly easy. I mean, just point him to the current playoff bracket. One of either the Pacers or Knicks, two teams that finished with just 2 and 3 more wins than us, are likely going to the Finals. I don't even think you can call it parity anymore. It's basically just become an attrition war where the best team with the least amount of injuries are the last ones left standing.

Like, can you really argue against the notion that we'd have been a legit Finals threat with a healthy Dame/Giannis and a coach with a brain had the darkest timeline not happened? The entire legacy of this Boston core got bailed out by one of the easiest/luckiest roads to a championship we've ever seen, and now their window is slammed shut. I'm really starting to think that all you really need is a superstar, a good coach, and some injury luck. You just gotta sell Giannis that the 2025-26 season is gonna be our 2020-21 Warriors year.

What are the Pacers and Knicks records against winning teams during the regular season? I don’t buy that notion that we are close to them talent or skill wise (or the mental fortitude), despite them being only a few wins above us.

[th87]

Doc is going to be the coach and no we do not have a top 4 roster in the East. We're a 40-45 win team if we somehow manage to bring everyone back and we won't.

Good luck selling that to Giannis, his representation and to the fans. Strap in, we're gonna hear a lot of more of these stories.

A Brandon Knight-led team got us 40 wins.

A healthy Giannis + improvements from Green, Trent, and Porter, along with new 3 and D athletes can easily get us 50.

They'll play better due to not having to figure out how to implement Dame. And once he returns, he can come off the bench as a microwave scorer.

[Ron Swanson]

Ironically the "sell" to Giannis actually just got incredibly easy. I mean, just point him to the current playoff bracket. One of either the Pacers or Knicks, two teams that finished with just 2 and 3 more wins than us, are likely going to the Finals. I don't even think you can call it parity anymore. It's basically just become an attrition war where the best team with the least amount of injuries are the last ones left standing.

Like, can you really argue against the notion that we'd have been a legit Finals threat with a healthy Dame/Giannis and a coach with a brain had the darkest timeline not happened? The entire legacy of this Boston core got bailed out by one of the easiest/luckiest roads to a championship we've ever seen, and now their window is slammed shut. I'm really starting to think that all you really need is a superstar, a good coach, and some injury luck. You just gotta sell Giannis that the 2025-26 season is gonna be our 2020-21 Warriors year.

What are the Pacers and Knicks records against winning teams during the regular season? I don’t buy that notion that we are close to them talent or skill wise (or the mental fortitude), despite them being only a few wins above us.

Then what do you "buy"? We were 3-1 against the Pacers and had a better regular season net-rating/SRS. The Knicks had a 15-23 record vs. teams over .500 (we were 17-21) and got annihilated by Boston every time to the point where it was a running gag. Nobody was running with the narrative that those teams had anything but a puncher's chance against the two East juggernauts.

[MalagaBulls]

Bulls fan in peace, with the simple question. Who do you think ponies up the goods for Giannis? It has been suggested a top 3 pick plus assets or an All Star player plus picks & swaps would do it.
We couldn't compete simply due to the tax your FO would levy on us for being rivals and in the same division.
But I know (or suspect) you peeps would take Buzelis back in a hypothetical trade with other assets all things considered. I'm just curious what it's going to take, that's all.

[matt21164]

Bulls fan in peace, with the simple question. Who do you think ponies up the goods for Giannis? It has been suggested a top 3 pick plus assets or an All Star player plus picks & swaps would do it.
We couldn't compete simply due to the tax your FO would levy on us for being rivals and in the same division.
But I know (or suspect) you peeps would take Buzelis back in a hypothetical trade with other assets all things considered. I'm just curious what it's going to take, that's all.

I think it would take basically all the picks a team has, swaps, young talent, and useful salary matches. I don't think the bulls have that minus the division tax, but with the division tax most definitely not.

[German Athens]

Yeah, Knicks fans were pissed they traded for Mikal and Towns instead of waiting for our golden boy all of one series ago. Most of them didn’t believe they stood a chance against Boston.

They went 0-8 against Boston and Cleveland this year.

There’s a lot of hopelessness being peddled, but I just can’t get there at all.

[BUCKnation]

I also don't think were much different than a majority of these west teams either. That whole conference has looked unimpressive. Probably the highest amount of parity we've seen in the NBA playoffs.

[jschligs]

Bulls fan in peace, with the simple question. Who do you think ponies up the goods for Giannis? It has been suggested a top 3 pick plus assets or an All Star player plus picks & swaps would do it.
We couldn't compete simply due to the tax your FO would levy on us for being rivals and in the same division.
But I know (or suspect) you peeps would take Buzelis back in a hypothetical trade with other assets all things considered. I'm just curious what it's going to take, that's all.

I think it would take basically all the picks a team has, swaps, young talent, and useful salary matches. I don't think the bulls have that minus the division tax, but with the division tax most definitely not.

This. The offer for Giannis needs to be massive. KD even tweeted your 2-5 starts and 6 picks. I think that's the most realistic given what others have gone for and they weren't top 20 players ever.

[JayMKE]

Boston going down and Cleveland not looking as impressive in the postseason make the east appear a lot more open for sure. The regular season really is pointless the way it’s called so differently and how long it is, keep our guys healthy and just give Giannis a shot at it like Miami did with Jimmy for years.

[aboveAverage]

Also sell Giannis on the fact that the media is trying to manipulate him. Giannis wins on his own terms. He’s that kind of guy.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Giannis could also survey the league, decide there isn't an ideal fitting team he could specifically force his way to, and wait a year for when he'll have much more control being on an ending contract (if he'd opt-out).

I could see a situation where we bring him back. See what we can do and what Point-Center Giannis looks like. We are .400 at the all-star break we can blow it up then. Or we catch lightning in the bottle where we are fun overachieving team with MVP Giannis.

[BigO]

Doc is still coach. I would think he'd be gone by now if he was getting fired. Is there any good news on this front?

[Perishable517]

I think part of the pandemonium around a potential giannis deal is the unknown and hope that maybe they’d get enough to reload.

As is, the thought of running this team back sans Dame/Brook is so uninspiring and depressing. There’s not really a win available this offseason.

We have no idea though.

Remember Jared Dudley was the glue that solidified that 2015 team that had no business doing anything. John Salmons made us a legit threat until Amar'e pushed Bogut.

When Giannis is your base, anything is possible.

Absolutely!

Sent from my CPH2417 using RealGM mobile app

[fansinceforever]

Doc is going to be the coach and no we do not have a top 4 roster in the East. We're a 40-45 win team if we somehow manage to bring everyone back and we won't.

Good luck selling that to Giannis, his representation and to the fans. Strap in, we're gonna hear a lot of more of these stories.

A Brandon Knight-led team got us 40 wins.

A healthy Giannis + improvements from Green, Trent, and Porter, along with new 3 and D athletes can easily get us 50.

They'll play better due to not having to figure out how to implement Dame. And once he returns, he can come off the bench as a microwave scorer.

Will guys like KPJ, Trent, Lopez, Bobby and Sims be back next year? All of them?

How do you plan to get these new 3 and D guys you're talking about?

We're going to play better without our all star PG? And returning next year? I don't think so.

That's a lot questions without great answers that are required for us to maybe get to 50 wins. And that's before asking if that's actually a 50 win core.

[MalagaBulls]

Which of the following 2 would be more attractive?:

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/ranking-best-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-packages-bucks-must-demand

1. Houston could send Jalen Green ($33.3 million through 2027), Jabari Smith Jr. ($12.3 million expiring), Reed Sheppard ($10.6 million through 2028), and five first-round selections: a 2025 via Phoenix, a 2027 via Phoenix, a 2027 Brooklyn swap, a 2029 Dallas/Phoenix swap, and a 2030.

2. Thunder - A trade package could send Jalen Williams
($6.5 million expiring), Isaiah Hartenstein ($28.5 million through 2026), Luguentz Dort ($17.7 million through 2026), and four first-round picks: a 2025 pick via Miami, a 2027 Clippers pick, a 2028 Dallas swap, and a 2029 unprotected Thunder first.

[Bernman]

Which of the following 2 would be more attractive?:

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/ranking-best-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-packages-bucks-must-demand

1. Houston could send Jalen Green ($33.3 million through 2027), Jabari Smith Jr. ($12.3 million expiring), Reed Sheppard ($10.6 million through 2028), and five first-round selections: a 2025 via Phoenix, a 2027 via Phoenix, a 2027 Brooklyn swap, a 2029 Dallas/Phoenix swap, and a 2030.

2. Thunder - A trade package could send Jalen Williams
($6.5 million expiring), Isaiah Hartenstein ($28.5 million through 2026), Luguentz Dort ($17.7 million through 2026), and four first-round picks: a 2025 pick via Miami, a 2027 Clippers pick, a 2028 Dallas swap, and a 2029 unprotected Thunder first.

Why is there anyone who thinks Houston could get Giannis w/out giving up Sengun &/or Amen? Like you can keep your better core together & get Giannis? That doesn't make any sense. It's opportunity cost. You gotta pay to play. Sengun & Amen are even bad fits w/ Giannis.