You thought it wouldn't happen again but... (Rockets/Bucks/Lakers)

[JayMKE]

Luka would force a trade or opt out next year if he landed in Milw. There is not much of path to build around him there. LAL are going to be challenged to build around Luka properly, but they have advantages that Milw don't have.

Doesn’t change that Luka is better than what Houston is offering up(roleplayers, busts, and FRP)

Can Amen make a leap to #1 option?

Houston has become insanely overrated after having a decent season. Does anybody seriously think they’re going to be winning the west with that roster?

Does anyone see the Lakers winning the west with that roster?

Does anyone see the Bucks winning the east with that roster?

Luka and Giannis must be incredibly overrated.

lol nobody doubts Luka and Giannis of top 5 if not top 3 players in the world.

What I said about Houston’s roster is totally reasonable and true if you are honest with yourself. Unless you think Amen and Sengun are going to turn into Giannis and Jokic, I am just not seeing it.

[LarsV8]

lol nobody doubts Luka and Giannis of top 5 if not top 3 players in the world.

What I said about Houston’s roster is totally reasonable and true if you are honest with yourself. Unless you think Amen and Sengun are going to turn into Giannis and Jokic, I am just not seeing it.

Correct, but that doesn't change the fact that just having a top 5 or top 3 player in the world isn't enough.

[JayMKE]

lol nobody doubts Luka and Giannis of top 5 if not top 3 players in the world.

What I said about Houston’s roster is totally reasonable and true if you are honest with yourself. Unless you think Amen and Sengun are going to turn into Giannis and Jokic, I am just not seeing it.

Correct, but that doesn't change the fact that just having a top 5 or top 3 player in the world isn't enough.

It’s enough for me and a better building block to build around than what is being offered. The Bucks probably have a better chance coming out of a weaker east than the current Houston configuration.

[LarsV8]

It’s enough for me and a better building block to build around than what is being offered. The Bucks probably have a better chance coming out of a weaker east than the current Houston configuration.

Looks like blind optimism to me, and seemingly oblivious to the repercussions of repeatedly going "all in"

4 and 12 in the last three years in playoff games, in a incredibly weak Eastern Conference. No real ways to improve existing roster over the next two seasons, so I predict more of the same outcome. I would expect the curse of hopelessness to set in on the players, less effort, less winning 50/50 plays, guys just showing up for a paycheck, and a slippery slope of even less success.

No draft picks to trade for the most part...unless you are looking to move the 31 pick, maybe the 33 pick, two years from now. Essentially kicking the invoice down the road with more and more interest piling up.

No real young guys who can organically grow.

I guess you have a cap space window, two years from now, you could trade that 33 pick, and sign maybe a couple vets. Assuming Giannis sticks around, you now are extending him for absurd contract value, all while he is declining. At that point, his trade value will basically be nothing, and the only lifeline you have left will be gone. Don't see any real path to any form of success there, so at that point you start paying the invoice. Its 2028, the team is at best a 1 and done. You then have about 5 years of absolute misery before you can hope to get your first high draft pick, because of your pick debt.

But hey, maybe I am missing something. Walk me through the three year plan which justifies the 5 misery years that will follow.

[facothomas22]

Luka to the Rockets is very interesting. My question is would the Rockets be able to clear enough cap space to sign Luka straight up next off season without moving half of the team? That will determine the value. If the answer is yes, then there's no reason for the Rockets to give up anything of value at all. If the answer is no, then I think this is close to fair value for all sides, tho I question why Giannis would want to go to the Lakers to play with a old Lebron.

[facothomas22]

That's beyond terrible for Houston.

The Lakers can pay Luka.
No thanks.

Unless the Rockets can find a way to sign Luka into cap space without blowing up their team, this is likely going to be somewhat close to the asking price in any trade that involves a top 5 player in the NBA

[Kiss of Death]

That's beyond terrible for Houston.

The Lakers can pay Luka.
No thanks.

Unless the Rockets can find a way to sign Luka into cap space without blowing up their team, this is likely going to be somewhat close to the asking price in any trade that involves a top 5 player in the NBA

The Lakers just traded a 32-year-old injury prone player, a role player and a first round pick for him.

I think the Rockets are just fine staying the course with their current core players, rather than going the ‘let’s trade every asset we have for one player’ route.

Ask the Suns, Clippers, Nets, etc… how that worked out.

[Xman]

Jay and others have made it clear they believe Giannis is too valuable to be traded for. That no package is enough so you have to give everything you have. No one is going to give everything because then they won’t be able to win anyway. Would just be trading places.
Someone will offer a lot. Maybe a young star or a pile of picks. But, not many teams have a lot to offer. SA, OKC, and Houston are loaded with picks and prospects. Not many others with ability to deal.
Swap Luka for Giannis- not making much change to mil future due to the hole they dug trading picks and lillard cap suck. Just like phoenix.
If Giannis decides to go, which team makes the best offer where he’s willing to go. OKC, SA, and Houston know they are bidding against each other but don’t need to pay a gargantuan price.
Six firsts, two lottery and four probable lottery, is a lot of value. Two former third overall picks is value.

[Xman]

OKC, SA, and Houston are all probably happy keeping their current course. Getting Giannis on would be great but not worth gargantuan sacrifice.

[JayMKE]

Jay and others have made it clear they believe Giannis is too valuable to be traded for. That no package is enough so you have to give everything you have. No one is going to give everything because then they won’t be able to win anyway. Would just be trading places.

That’s how the Kobe to Bulls trade didn’t happen, eventually Kobe realized he couldn’t dictate the return and didn’t want to be in Chicago if they had to send Luol Deng to the Lakers. The Bucks need to demand everything from the other team, it’s not being difficult for the sake of it.

Oklahoma City and perhaps San Antonio I can buy standing pat since they have their superstar MVP guys they want to build around but Houston lacks talent to be a real contender as of right now. I can’t see that team making it out the west with all the other talent in the conference.

Just because Dallas traded Luka doesn’t mean top 5 players are worth only that much now. Wanting something for nothing or very little of consequence is normal, just don’t get it in your head that is now a good deal. Bucks fans are pretty universal in their feelings and don’t care what you think the ceiling on the team is. Trading Giannis would be devastating to the franchise and city, it would be basically deleting Milwaukee from the NBA for the next decade. The pain after Giannis leaves will happen regardless, I’d rather put it off as long as possible.

[Xman]

[quote="JayMKE"][quote="Xman"]Jay and others have made it clear they believe Giannis is too valuable to be traded for. That no package is enough so you have to give everything you have. No one is going to give everything because then they won’t be able to win anyway. Would just be trading places. [/quote]

That’s how the Kobe to Bulls trade didn’t happen, eventually Kobe realized he couldn’t dictate the return and didn’t want to be in Chicago if they had to send Luol Deng to the Lakers. The Bucks need to demand everything from the other team, it’s not being difficult for the sake of it.

Oklahoma City and perhaps San Antonio I can buy standing pat since they have their superstar MVP guys they want to build around but Houston lacks talent to be a real contender as of right now. I can’t see that team making it out the west with all the other talent in the conference.

Just because Dallas traded Luka doesn’t mean top 5 players are worth only that much now. Wanting something for nothing or very little of consequence is normal, just don’t get it in your head that is now a good deal. Bucks fans are pretty universal in their feelings and don’t care what you think the ceiling on the team is. Trading Giannis would be devastating to the franchise and city, it would be basically deleting Milwaukee from the NBA for the next decade. The pain after Giannis leaves will happen regardless, I’d rather put it off as long as possible.[/quote]

Between Milwaukee and Phoenix both being schmoozed for the next two years by cap and longer pick wise, Giannis or Booker give Houston two big swings. No rush either, can see how the guys continue to develop. No reason to box themselves in like others have (mil phx Mia lac etc).