Haynes: Giannis, Bucks Meeting Next Week to Discuss the Direction of the Team

[Yank3525]

What's there to discuss? The team is on a downward trajectory and they're moving fast. Milwaukee isn't a Free Agent destination, their only trade asset is Giannis, there is no path to improve.

The best thing for the Bucks is to trade Giannis and move on

Yup. It is over. This reminds me so much of KG and Minny circa 2006/07.

[NyKnicks1714]

Let's say OKC goes out in this round to Minny (I'd say it's almost 60-40 that OKC will win, but not a huge upset if they lose)

Chet/Dieng/Topic is about $26 million
Kenrich/Dort is the rest, plus the #15 and 5 future picks? The picks could be next year's Philly pick (top 4), next year's Clipper pick (no protection), 2027 Den pick (top 5), 2028 Dallas pick (no protection) and 2029 Den pick (top 5)
Milw could also move Dort to a 3rd team for another pick (or Caruso instead of Dort)

OKC goes with
SGA/Wallace
Caruso/Joe
JWill/Wiggins
Giannis/#24
Hart/JWill

Win or lose they should just keep their team intact. They're young and only getting better. That said I don't know who they'll be able to afford to retain come 2026.

[RRyder823]

What's there to discuss? The team is on a downward trajectory and they're moving fast. Milwaukee isn't a Free Agent destination, their only trade asset is Giannis, there is no path to improve.

The best thing for the Bucks is to trade Giannis and move on

They are going to end up trading Giannis, because he probably wants to be traded, but the ideal scenario for Milwaukee would be keeping him and retooling around him as best they can, even if that doesn't lead to contention. When you're one of the less attractive free agent destinations and you have a Top 3 player who the fans love, and you're in the playoffs every year, you hold on to that.

I don't think he's gonna request a trade but I'd like to show appreciation for someone actually pointing out the obvious that a team like Milwaukee shouldn't want to trade him even if there isn't a clear path to a championship

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[GiannisAnte34]

What's there to discuss? The team is on a downward trajectory and they're moving fast. Milwaukee isn't a Free Agent destination, their only trade asset is Giannis, there is no path to improve.

The best thing for the Bucks is to trade Giannis and move on

Yup. It is over. This reminds me so much of KG and Minny circa 2006/07.

Except the Bucks won a title and have made big swings to bring in All-Star and All-NBA teammates (Holiday and Lillard)

A lot of bad trades and draft picks in there too. Crowder, Thon over Sabonis, and Donte for Ibaka stick out especially

[NyKnicks1714]

What's there to discuss? The team is on a downward trajectory and they're moving fast. Milwaukee isn't a Free Agent destination, their only trade asset is Giannis, there is no path to improve.

The best thing for the Bucks is to trade Giannis and move on

They are going to end up trading Giannis, because he probably wants to be traded, but the ideal scenario for Milwaukee would be keeping him and retooling around him as best they can, even if that doesn't lead to contention. When you're one of the less attractive free agent destinations and you have a Top 3 player who the fans love, and you're in the playoffs every year, you hold on to that.

I don't think he's gonna request a trade but I'd like to show appreciation for someone actually pointing the obvious that a team like Milwaukee shouldn't want to trade him even if there isn't a clear path to a championship

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Yeah not every franchise can afford to adopt an all-or-nothing approach. If Milwaukee tries to rebuild they run the risk of being in a really bad place for many years. Perennially in the playoffs, elite player...that's a no-brainer to me.

[Texas Chuck]

What's there to discuss? The team is on a downward trajectory and they're moving fast. Milwaukee isn't a Free Agent destination, their only trade asset is Giannis, there is no path to improve.

The best thing for the Bucks is to trade Giannis and move on

Yup. It is over. This reminds me so much of KG and Minny circa 2006/07.

Except the Bucks won a title and have made big swings to bring in All-Star and All-NBA teammates (Holiday and Lillard)

A lot of bad trades and draft picks in there too. Crowder, Thon over Sabonis, and Donte for Ibaka stick out especially

And didn't foolishly pay Joe Smith under the table costing them draft picks.

It's not at all the same really. Doesn't mean Giannis won't decide to move on, but worth noting if we are going to cite KG, he really didn't want to leave either, but they pretty much forced his hand with their incompetence.

[Rafael122]

I have a couple of thoughts:

- This might be one of the rare instances where trading a generational, franchise player might be beneficial for all involved: fans, ownership, player. Fans got a ring out of it. It'd be one thing if he's bolting b/c he has no chance at a ring, but they got one and that memory will last forever for a generation of fans. Ownership doesn't have to be the bad guy here and can reset the franchise, even though ownership/GM/scouts have basically done a horrible job drafting over the last handful of years and are in this position because of it. And player, he's not going to get booed when he goes back to Milwaukee as someone on the opposing team.

- Probably in the minority when I say this but: Giannis is the PF version of Westbrook. We see Russ' game now that his athleticism is slowly leaving him. He's a turnover machine, not a great shooter and once you strip all of that, he becomes a sunk cost. Giannis is a Hall of Famer, all world, but this man is a horrible 3 point shooter, and a below average free throw shooter. There is nothing in his bag that would suggest he has a jumper/fadeway etc to lean on once he's not able to go downhill every single time. It would actually be in Milwaukee's best interest to trade him while his value is at an all time high because his game when he's 32...33...34 years old isn't going to be so great.

[Pointgod]

What's there to discuss? The team is on a downward trajectory and they're moving fast. Milwaukee isn't a Free Agent destination, their only trade asset is Giannis, there is no path to improve.

The best thing for the Bucks is to trade Giannis and move on

They are going to end up trading Giannis, because he probably wants to be traded, but the ideal scenario for Milwaukee would be keeping him and retooling around him as best they can, even if that doesn't lead to contention. When you're one of the less attractive free agent destinations and you have a Top 3 player who the fans love, and you're in the playoffs every year, you hold on to that.

I think there was definitely a path to do this before Lillard got injured. The problem with everyone’s rush to trade Giannis is that the Bucks literally can’t rebuild because the Pelicans control their picks the next 2 years and the Blazers the next 3 years after that. So it’s not just simple as trading Giannis for picks and young players.

[Iwasawitness]

Giannis will force a trade to Knicks come January 2026 whether Knicks win the ship or lose in the ECF or Finals.

Towns plus OG for Giannis. Win win for both teams.

yes lawwwd

Why on earth would you want that trade?

[Pointgod]

Giannis should stick it out just for the lulz.

He's not going to play for the Bucks next season.

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Maybe maybe not. He still needs the Bucks to trade him right?

[sammo89]

Bucks "Look Giannis we have no assets for future trades to improve the team. But if you be patient we will have Dame coming off an Achilles injury the following season who will also be 37 years old. Just be patient and we can make you a Bucks legend in due time."

Giannis "I'm out"

Meeting done.

The meeting is just to get everything in writing

[basketballRob]

Giannis should stick it out just for the lulz.

He's not going to play for the Bucks next season.

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Maybe maybe not. He still needs the Bucks to trade him right?

He'll probably give a list of 2 or 3 teams he wants to be traded to.

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[knicksfan974]

Giannis will force a trade to Knicks come January 2026 whether Knicks win the ship or lose in the ECF or Finals.

Towns plus OG for Giannis. Win win for both teams.

yes lawwwd

Why on earth would you want that trade?

Love to hsve KAT and OG on the roster but damn, Giannis is a legit top 3 player in the league and it's not everyday a super talent like him is available.

[thamadkant]

Hopefully he wants to stay in the east

He'd be dumb to go out west. It's a gauntlet out there. LeBron would have 2 less titles if he wasnt in the cupcake east most of his career

The two teams that give him the best chance to win the title (OKC and SAS) are out West though. I don't think any East team even has the pieces to trade for him.

Bucks can't rebuild while Lillard is there.

Bucks more likely to continue to hunt the playoffs until 2028.

Giannis and filler for Towns and OG works for both teams. Knicks can afford to lose both for Giannis without really losing offense and defense.

[basketballRob]

Suggs, Cole, Isaac, and 4 picks.

Black
Franz
Paolo
Giannis
Wendell

FA
KCP
Da Silva
Moritz
Goga

Harris
Cojo
Caleb Houstan
Jett
2nd round pick

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[Raps in 4]

He'd be dumb to go out west. It's a gauntlet out there. LeBron would have 2 less titles if he wasnt in the cupcake east most of his career

The two teams that give him the best chance to win the title (OKC and SAS) are out West though. I don't think any East team even has the pieces to trade for him.

Bucks can't rebuild while Lillard is there.

Bucks more likely to continue to hunt the playoffs until 2028.

Giannis and filler for Towns and OG works for both teams. Knicks can afford to lose both for Giannis without really losing offense and defense.

I can't imagine a scenario where the Bucks turn down Harper + picks or Chet/JDub + picks for a chance to make the play-in for a few years.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Bucks actually in a good position be a bit active this offseason.

Are they?

Outside of Giannis, they have no one with any real value on their roster.

[bledredwine]

Giannis will force a trade to Knicks come January 2026 whether Knicks win the ship or lose in the ECF or Finals.

Towns plus OG for Giannis. Win win for both teams.

yes lawwwd

Jalen Brunson and Giannis force a trade to the Bulls come January 2026!

[Clemenza]

What's there to discuss? The team is on a downward trajectory and they're moving fast. Milwaukee isn't a Free Agent destination, their only trade asset is Giannis, there is no path to improve.

The best thing for the Bucks is to trade Giannis and move on

Draft well, develop players, and make good trades. The unrestricted star free agent is pretty much a thing of the past. Any star worth a damn is under a contract and it takes a trade to acquire them.

[mademan]

If MIL thinks Giannis has another 5-7 years of great play in him and that he'll age like Lebron, then you keep him. He's a far worse shooter than even young Lebron was and doesnt have nearly the same durability so im not sure how you'd make that assesment. Sentiment aside, I cant see an argument for keeping him...they have the unique opportunity in this league to sell high on a top tier asset...how do you pass that up?