Saving the Bucks - Building around Giannis for 25-26

[KB20]

With the East looking wide open again next year and Giannis preferring to stay in Milwaukee (based on what we know about him, not any reporting); the Bucks see what they can do to surround him with the talent to make a run.


Trade #1

Milwaukee Receives:
Jerami Grant

Portland Receives:
Kyle Kuzma
Pat Connaughton

Why for Portland - Grant's trade value has fallen off with his play on this contract. They knock a year off of JG's deal with Kuzma and Connaughton is expiring. Maybe Kuzma rehabs his trade value to be dealt at the deadline or next offseason.


Trade #2

Milwaukee Receives:
Jordan Poole
Marcus Smart

Washington Receives:
Damian Lillard
2031 Top 3 Protected 1st Round Pick, unprotected in 2032

Why For Washington - This will definitely be controversial. Washington is on track to be at the bottom of the standings again next season. They get a very attractive 1st Round Pick long after Giannis's prime basically to pay Dame $20M more than they would pay Poole in 26-27. In the meantime, Dame can be a great mentor to their young guys along with Middleton. Potential to include swaps of swaps as additional sweetner.


Trade #3

Milwaukee Receives:
Moses Moody

Golden State Receives:
Brook Lopez (S&T 2 Years $24M)

Why for Golden State - Fill their hole at center with a great fit next to their core guys on the same timeline.

Free Agency
Guerschon Yabusele - 3 Years, $30M (most of the midlevel, right up to the 1st Apron)
Jericho Sims - Minimum
Tre Jones - Minimum

Bucks Roster
5) Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bobby Portis | Jericho Sims
4) Jerami Grant | Guerschon Yabusele | Tyler Smith
3) Moses Moody | Andre Jackson | Chris Livingston
2) Jordan Poole | AJ Green | (#47 pick on a two-way)
1) Marcus Smart | Kevin Porter Jr. | Tre Jones

This team leans into point-Giannis at center. JG, Yabu, and Moody give you length and solid shooting at the forward spots. Poole is an upside bet that he can give you 70-80% of what Dame did. It's a homecoming for him and your hoping a winning environment gets him in-line to be a positive on the court. Marcus Smart hasn't been healthy and no guarantees but he's a leader with a chip on his shoulder who brings toughness and attitude to a team that has lacked on both. Portis and Sims give you two different types of centers that can play with and in-place of Giannis. Tre Jones is point guard insurance to run your team when Marcus is absent.


Thoughts?

[jayjaysee]

Giannis should demand out of these deals happen.

(Just the Poole idea honestly)

[JRoy]

With the East looking wide open again next year and Giannis preferring to stay in Milwaukee (based on what we know about him, not any reporting); the Bucks see what they can do to surround him with the talent to make a run.


Trade #1

Milwaukee Receives:
Jerami Grant

Portland Receives:
Kyle Kuzma
Pat Connaughton

Why for Portland - Grant's trade value has fallen off with his play on this contract. They knock a year off of JG's deal with Kuzma and Connaughton is expiring. Maybe Kuzma rehabs his trade value to be dealt at the deadline or next offseason.


Trade #2

Milwaukee Receives:
Jordan Poole
Marcus Smart

Washington Receives:
Damian Lillard
2031 Top 3 Protected 1st Round Pick, unprotected in 2032

Why For Washington - This will definitely be controversial. Washington is on track to be at the bottom of the standings again next season. They get a very attractive 1st Round Pick long after Giannis's prime basically to pay Dame $20M more than they would pay Poole in 26-27. In the meantime, Dame can be a great mentor to their young guys along with Middleton. Potential to include swaps of swaps as additional sweetner.


Trade #3

Milwaukee Receives:
Moses Moody

Golden State Receives:
Brook Lopez (S&T 2 Years $24M)

Why for Golden State - Fill their hole at center with a great fit next to their core guys on the same timeline.

Free Agency
Guerschon Yabusele - 3 Years, $30M (most of the midlevel, right up to the 1st Apron)
Jericho Sims - Minimum
Tre Jones - Minimum

Bucks Roster
5) Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bobby Portis | Jericho Sims
4) Jerami Grant | Guerschon Yabusele | Tyler Smith
3) Moses Moody | Andre Jackson | Chris Livingston
2) Jordan Poole | AJ Green | (#47 pick on a two-way)
1) Marcus Smart | Kevin Porter Jr. | Tre Jones

This team leans into point-Giannis at center. JG, Yabu, and Moody give you length and solid shooting at the forward spots. Poole is an upside bet that he can give you 70-80% of what Dame did. It's a homecoming for him and your hoping a winning environment gets him in-line to be a positive on the court. Marcus Smart hasn't been healthy and no guarantees but he's a leader with a chip on his shoulder who brings toughness and attitude to a team that has lacked on both. Portis and Sims give you two different types of centers that can play with and in-place of Giannis. Tre Jones is point guard insurance to run your team when Marcus is absent.


Thoughts?

There was a time I hated this. Kuzma is a loser, don’t want him anywhere near my team, but if he could be rerouted…

[MoreyWins]

I think they're just cooked.

[jbk1234]

Trade 3 probably isn't legal and Brook may retire.

[Ron Swanson]

Trades 1 and 3 are perfectly reasonable deals that I'd outright advocate for. Trade 2 is an absolute abomination that would seal the franchise's fate for the next decade. I don't see any universe, Giannis trade or not, where Milwaukee throws away their ability to make one last big-swing move (having 3-4 tradeable firsts and swaps next offseason) just to dump Dame's salary for Jordan Poole and the corpse of Marcus Smart. That trade ironically would probably make Giannis request out lol.

[parsnips33]

Moses and Poole reuninon!

[HornetJail]

that is a revolting roster. Like without Giannis, that may be one of the worst teams in NBA history.

[facothomas22]

I don't see trades 1 or 2 doing much for the Bucks. Jemari Grant declined and Jordan Poole/Marcus Smart are not winning players at this point in their careers. Also the Warriors decline on the 3rd trade. Brook Lopez is washed and will be lucky to get tax payer mid level, while Mosses Moody should a solid rotation level player for years to come.

[machu46]

Trades 1 and 3 are perfectly reasonable deals that I'd outright advocate for. Trade 2 is an absolute abomination that would seal the franchise's fate for the next decade. I don't see any universe, Giannis trade or not, where Milwaukee throws away their ability to make one last big-swing move (having 3-4 tradeable firsts and swaps next offseason) just to dump Dame's salary for Jordan Poole and the corpse of Marcus Smart. That trade ironically would probably make Giannis request out lol.

Mostly echo these sentiments. I'd do 3 if that's legal (sign and trade rules are a blind spot for me). #1 I can take or leave; I'll always have a soft spot for Grant as someone that went to school with him. Not really convinced that trade does anything for us but it's possible; my guess is our front office will just stick with Kuzma and hope an offseason with our trainers gets him into better shape and we see a better version of him but I think the vast majority of us are skeptical for obvious reasons.

#2 doesn't really interest me. I think Poole has become a bit underrated (relative to most people's hatred of him), but I'm just not willing to give up that 1st round pick essentially unprotected for that swap. I also abhor Marcus Smart as a player so that doesn't help my feelings about that trade lol.

I do like the free agents you have us grabbing. I probably have other guys I'd prioritize over Yabu, but those three are all on my shortlist of players that I'd be interested in.