Bucks News, Transactions and Trade Ideas - 2025 Off-season

[Matches Malone]

Any interest in Jonathan Kuminga? Still only 22, could be someone to target in a sign-and-trade scenario. He's got holes in his game, but I think inconsistent playing time in GS didn't help. Maybe he can grow here with Giannis as a mentor.

His relationship with GS has been anything but rosey, so maybe you can talk Dunleavy Jr (punchable face) into moving him for a package around Kuzma or maybe Bobby gets signed and traded there (is that possible in the new CBA?)

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[MickeyDavis]

Bobby's gonna get paid and you just have to pray that it's a reasonable enough contract. If it's a 4-year deal then the last 1-2 years of that are gonna get pretty ugly.

Horst gives out player options like candy, it would be nice to get some team options once in awhile. Like with Bobby, Brook and whoever. I don't think many teams are successful getting team options though.

[jschligs]

Bobby's gonna get paid and you just have to pray that it's a reasonable enough contract. If it's a 4-year deal then the last 1-2 years of that are gonna get pretty ugly.

Horst gives out player options like candy, it would be nice to get some team options once in awhile. Like with Bobby, Brook and whoever. I don't think many teams are successful getting team options though.

Literally pray to god it's not a PO. It's hurt us WAY more than it's helped us recently.

[MickeyDavis]

Bobby's gonna get paid and you just have to pray that it's a reasonable enough contract. If it's a 4-year deal then the last 1-2 years of that are gonna get pretty ugly.

Horst gives out player options like candy, it would be nice to get some team options once in awhile. Like with Bobby, Brook and whoever. I don't think many teams are successful getting team options though.

Literally pray to god it's not a PO. It's hurt us WAY more than it's helped us recently.

Yes. Players only exercise a PO if they suck.

[Profound23]

You guys realize we are Milwaukee right? Cold as balls 2/3rds of the year, small city. If Horst wants to attract talent, the best thing to do is offer a PO.

[jschligs]

You guys realize we are Milwaukee right? Cold as balls 2/3rds of the year, small city. If Horst wants to attract talent, the best thing to do is offer a PO.

There is this other thing where we have the best player in the world and have one of the best records over the last five seasons. Our taxes are wayyyy less than other states as well.

[Profound23]

You guys realize we are Milwaukee right? Cold as balls 2/3rds of the year, small city. If Horst wants to attract talent, the best thing to do is offer a PO.

There is this other thing where we have the best player in the world and have one of the best records over the last five seasons. Our taxes are wayyyy less than other states as well.

I mean sounds nice, but I would rather go play in Houston or San Antonio. Warm, they have stars, no taxes. Or Milwaukee can offer me a PO that I can use in case I struggle for some reason, opt out if I play well. I love our team but see the flaws that force our GM to make the moves he has of trading future picks and offering PO's. My thing is, it's time to clean this mess up now. Fire the coach, hire someone who can maximize talent, and find younger/more athletic talent on a bargain. If the plan is to re-sign Lopez, Portis and keep going like this we not only ruin the 2025-26 season but our future.

[FrieAaron]

You guys realize we are Milwaukee right? Cold as balls 2/3rds of the year, small city. If Horst wants to attract talent, the best thing to do is offer a PO.

There is a balancing act here. I'm sure in some cases a PO might be the right move if you gauge it's the difference maker, but it's hard to see a situation where you needed one for a player like PC, even given how useful he was for us at times during our championship run.

[jakecronus8]

Love Bobby. To this day I don’t understand how so many people blamed him for the failures of the team when the reality is he has been on a bargain deal and incredibly productive and consistent.

That said, the big brain move if possible would be to use him for asset collection. Sign and trade for a bad money 1 or 2 year deal to line up with Dame’s contract along with a pick or 2.

[neiLz]

Any interest in Jonathan Kuminga? Still only 22, could be someone to target in a sign-and-trade scenario. He's got holes in his game, but I think inconsistent playing time in GS didn't help. Maybe he can grow here with Giannis as a mentor.

His relationship with GS has been anything but rosey, so maybe you can talk Dunleavy Jr (punchable face) into moving him for a package around Kuzma or maybe Bobby gets signed and traded there (is that possible in the new CBA?)

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if giannis is gone then yes... but zero faith in doc nor the front office being able to develop young players (see last 8 years of drafts/g-league signings)

[EasyE31]

you guys are overthinking things imo.

we need a couple shooters that can defend(aj and gtj)...a couple guards that can get to the paint and compete maybe shoot some(kpj and rollins)...... bigs that can move and switch(sims...portis and kuz are marginal)

and thats it. thats all.

we already have guys like this. its mostly done.

we need to move the guys that dont check these boxes. bring a couple more in that fit this mold.

do it within budget. maybe dump dame...maybe move him later.

that needs to be the offseason if giannis stays.

I think this is largely right. The only thing I'd add is we need a solid switchable wing defender. I keep coming back to Bruce Brown.

1) Convince KPJ and Trent to take a 1 yr deal that gives us bird rights and pay them next year (maybe use the BAE on Trent)
2) Bruce Brown gets the MLE
3) Extend Green & Portis (they help next year and give you some tradeable contracts going forward)
4) Sign Rollins and Sims to reasonable multi year deals


KPJ / Rollins / Dame
Trent / Green
Brown / Pat / AJAX
Giannis / Kuzma
Portis / Sims

[German Athens]

I doubt Naz would take less money, but I’d still hold out hope the opportunity to start would be enticing.

Mke: Cam Johnson, #27 or #36
Bkn: Kuz, ‘31 1st

I think a starting lineup of

KPJ
Dairy
Cam
Giannis
Naz

Could give teams a really difficult time.

[MickeyDavis]

Any interest in Jonathan Kuminga? Still only 22, could be someone to target in a sign-and-trade scenario. He's got holes in his game, but I think inconsistent playing time in GS didn't help. Maybe he can grow here with Giannis as a mentor.

His relationship with GS has been anything but rosey, so maybe you can talk Dunleavy Jr (punchable face) into moving him for a package around Kuzma or maybe Bobby gets signed and traded there (is that possible in the new CBA?)

Read on Twitter

if giannis is gone then yes... but zero faith in doc nor the front office being able to develop young players (see last 8 years of drafts/g-league signings)

Front office, sure. Horst has been terrible at drafting as we all know. But under Doc Green had his playing time more than double. AJJ saw a significant increase in playing time, he actually started more than half the games. AJJ ultimately hasn't worked out but not for a lack of opportunity. Smith and others didn't deserve more PT. Doc will play the young guys IF Horst can find any worth playing.

[Bernman]

Any interest in Jonathan Kuminga? Still only 22, could be someone to target in a sign-and-trade scenario. He's got holes in his game, but I think inconsistent playing time in GS didn't help. Maybe he can grow here with Giannis as a mentor.

His relationship with GS has been anything but rosey, so maybe you can talk Dunleavy Jr (punchable face) into moving him for a package around Kuzma or maybe Bobby gets signed and traded there (is that possible in the new CBA?)

Read on Twitter

if giannis is gone then yes... but zero faith in doc nor the front office being able to develop young players (see last 8 years of drafts/g-league signings)

Front office, sure. Horst has been terrible at drafting as we all know. But under Doc Green had his playing time more than double. AJJ saw a significant increase in playing time, he actually started more than half the games. AJJ ultimately hasn't worked out but not for a lack of opportunity. Smith and others didn't deserve more PT. Doc will play the young guys IF Horst can find any worth playing.

It's not as extreme as some make it, but Doc's still more youth averse than a good majority of coaches. He came out of camp playing all vets. Then when they cratered to 2-8 he was compelled to try stuff.

It was similar in the playoffs. He played the failing vet lineup over the smaller, younger one, until game 5 when the series was almost over. Green started only a few A-team games this season in spite of him killing it w/ the starters.

And this wasn't a young player, but Doc's instruction for Kuz to "get involved" was ridiculous. He should be telling him to make an Aaron Gordon turn. This is our developmental coach?

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

you guys are overthinking things imo.

we need a couple shooters that can defend(aj and gtj)...a couple guards that can get to the paint and compete maybe shoot some(kpj and rollins)...... bigs that can move and switch(sims...portis and kuz are marginal)

and thats it. thats all.

we already have guys like this. its mostly done.

we need to move the guys that dont check these boxes. bring a couple more in that fit this mold.

do it within budget. maybe dump dame...maybe move him later.

that needs to be the offseason if giannis stays.

I think this is largely right. The only thing I'd add is we need a solid switchable wing defender. I keep coming back to Bruce Brown.

1) Convince KPJ and Trent to take a 1 yr deal that gives us bird rights and pay them next year (maybe use the BAE on Trent)
2) Bruce Brown gets the MLE
3) Extend Green & Portis (they help next year and give you some tradeable contracts going forward)
4) Sign Rollins and Sims to reasonable multi year deals


KPJ / Rollins / Dame
Trent / Green
Brown / Pat / AJAX
Giannis / Kuzma
Portis / Sims

im almost of the opinion we go with a 3 guard front. i like defenders in the porter/ajg/rollins mold with super active athletic bigs behind them.

those bigger active wing defenders of the past are all more suited to pf these days

id switch sims and portis on your depth chart to accomplish that look. obviously an upgrade would help there but hed do for now

kpj
gtj
ajg
giannis
sims

thats my lineup. let kpj take the bigger assignments. ajg could too. on offense wed run and shoot them off the court

[Bernman]

Trey Lyles is an FA & Klutch klient. So look out for him to be a signing. I'd be fine w/ it, so long as it's to be a backup, not starter, & Bobby's out to boot. They seem pretty redundant.

Another notable Klutch klient who's likely be an FA is Fred VanVleet. Taking the MLE seems even more unlikely than for Naz Reid, but maybe an s&t if/when Houston don't pick up his option? He'd be a great fit here next to Giannis. Now you wish we'd done PP's trade.

[machu46]

you guys are overthinking things imo.

we need a couple shooters that can defend(aj and gtj)...a couple guards that can get to the paint and compete maybe shoot some(kpj and rollins)...... bigs that can move and switch(sims...portis and kuz are marginal)

and thats it. thats all.

we already have guys like this. its mostly done.

we need to move the guys that dont check these boxes. bring a couple more in that fit this mold.

do it within budget. maybe dump dame...maybe move him later.

that needs to be the offseason if giannis stays.

I think this is largely right. The only thing I'd add is we need a solid switchable wing defender. I keep coming back to Bruce Brown.

1) Convince KPJ and Trent to take a 1 yr deal that gives us bird rights and pay them next year (maybe use the BAE on Trent)
2) Bruce Brown gets the MLE
3) Extend Green & Portis (they help next year and give you some tradeable contracts going forward)
4) Sign Rollins and Sims to reasonable multi year deals


KPJ / Rollins / Dame
Trent / Green
Brown / Pat / AJAX
Giannis / Kuzma
Portis / Sims

Who was it that we were rumored to potentially be offering in a trade for Bruce Brown a year or two ago? Guessing it must have been Brook given the contracts at the time?

At any rate, I hated the idea of trading for him on his bloated contract, but he'd make some sense on the MLE for us. Still just don't really like him that much as a player given his offensive issues but I do think getting defense on the perimeter should be our top priority this offseason and he'd fit that bill.

[Ron Swanson]

Awfully hard to get excited about handing out raises to a couple key rotation guys (KPJ, Bobby) and just running this depressing roster back sans Dame, Trent, and Brook with the slightest of wiggle room beneath the tax. But I can't help but think that's exactly what Horst is gonna do at this point. Feels like we're about to find out how far Giannis' patience and loyalty actually go these next couple months. I can't imagine trying to sell him on anything we'll be able to do this season without looking delusional. Basically gotta pitch him on the 2026 offseason with a (relatively) clean cap sheet and up to 3-4 firsts/swaps to trade.

[bucksfansince88]

you guys are overthinking things imo.

we need a couple shooters that can defend(aj and gtj)...a couple guards that can get to the paint and compete maybe shoot some(kpj and rollins)...... bigs that can move and switch(sims...portis and kuz are marginal)

and thats it. thats all.

we already have guys like this. its mostly done.

we need to move the guys that dont check these boxes. bring a couple more in that fit this mold.

do it within budget. maybe dump dame...maybe move him later.

that needs to be the offseason if giannis stays.

I think this is largely right. The only thing I'd add is we need a solid switchable wing defender. I keep coming back to Bruce Brown.

1) Convince KPJ and Trent to take a 1 yr deal that gives us bird rights and pay them next year (maybe use the BAE on Trent)
2) Bruce Brown gets the MLE
3) Extend Green & Portis (they help next year and give you some tradeable contracts going forward)
4) Sign Rollins and Sims to reasonable multi year deals


KPJ / Rollins / Dame
Trent / Green
Brown / Pat / AJAX
Giannis / Kuzma
Portis / Sims

Id try to get Keldon Johnson instead of Bruce Brown

[machu46]

Not going to bother putting guys in the different exception buckets, but some of the potential free agents out there that I think would make some sense would be:

Guards:
Tyus/Tre Jones
Dennis Schroder
Davion Mitchell - Saratsis connection!!!
Markelle Fultz
Dante Exum

Wings/Forwards:
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Keon Ellis
Amir Coffey
Bruce Brown
Ajay Mitchell
Jabari Walker
Guerschon Yabusele
Jake LaRavia

Bigs:
Larry Nance Jr.
Mo Wagner
Isaiah Jackson

Not sure how many of these guys are poised to be full MLE guys or if we might be able to split it up and get a couple of them (also excluding our own free agents but obviously we might just try to bring KPG, Trent, Brook, etc. back). I've always liked the Jones brothers, particularly the floor general vibes that Tyus has and the defense that Tre brings despite his relatively small size. I know some around here have been huge Keon Ellis fans in the past; I think any of those wings/forwards would be nice pickups to be honest for different reasons. Guessing Wagner will return to Orlando but I'd imagine Nance and Jackson are attainable.