Bucks/NOP/Raptors

Tripod · Post #1 » by **Tripod** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 1:38 pm

Thought I would bring this idea to the main boards to get feedback from everyone. Don't be too harsh...lol

Is there a deal where:

Bucks get their swap and pick back from NO in 2026 and 27 plus get Zion, and some 1st from Raps including #9.

NOP get Barnes for those picks/swap and wipe their hands of Zion.

Raps get Giannis

Bucks get to tank and control their draft the next 2 years especially with 2026 looking like there could be 3/4 great top end picks. And they get Zion as the wildcard. They can choose to walk away from him anytime given how his contract is. Or maybe his value gets rebuilt and they are able to move him for more assets later on. Or let him walk and create cap space. Lots of options...but still have the "upside" of what Zion could be. And would get #9 this year and say 1 more 1st from Toronto.

NOP gets the guarantee of Barnes instead of a "possibility" of picks that could be in the 15 range if the Bucks kept Giannis and essentially walk away from Zion which they have discussed doing before. They get to add a 24 year old signed long term for his prime years.

Raps obviously upgrade from Barnes to Giannis

This would be the core of the deal and obviously there might be other additions...maybe Dick to NOP for example.

Most people agree trading Giannis and getting a bunch of picks back means those picks are likely not going to be that good. This deal gives them much better picks that THEY control the fate of(lottery fate aside). Plus get #9 to start things rolling. So that's likely 3 top 10 picks with 2 likely top 5. That has more value than 5-7 picks that are in the 20's.

Go easy...appreciate ideas of tweeks.

Post #2 » by **Texas Chuck** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 1:41 pm

This is unclear, but it sounds like your offer from Toronto is just Barnes/#9? If so, I don't believe that to be a serious offer at all. Toronto would need to add all the unprotected 1sts they could and possibly some swaps.

The gap between Giannis and Barnes is so much bigger than 9. And you seem to think that adding in the Pels adds value to the Bucks which is fine, but Toronto needs to pay that value, not New Orleans who is not getting Giannis.

But maybe you also mean Toronto is going to add in all their future picks and just didn't make that clear?

Godaddycurse · Post #3 » by **Godaddycurse** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 1:41 pm

think bucks would prefer barnes over Zion... or i would at least.

jakecronus8 · Post #4 » by **jakecronus8** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 1:41 pm

Tripod wrote:Thought I would bring this idea to the main boards to get feedback from everyone. Don't be too harsh...lol

Is there a deal where:

Bucks get their swap and pick back from NO in 2026 and 27 plus get Zion, and some 1st from Raps including #9.

NOP get Barnes for those picks/swap and wipe their hands of Zion.

Raps get Giannis

Bucks get to tank and control their draft the next 2 years especially with 2026 looking like there could be 3/4 great top end picks. And they get Zion as the wildcard. They can choose to walk away from him anytime given how his contract is. Or maybe his value gets rebuilt and they are able to move him for more assets later on. Or let him walk and create cap space. Lots of options...but still have the "upside" of what Zion could be. And would get #9 this year and say 1 more 1st from Toronto.

NOP gets the guarantee of Barnes instead of a "possibility" of picks that could be in the 15 range if the Bucks kept Giannis and essentially walk away from Zion which they have discussed doing before. They get to add a 24 year old signed long term for his prime years.

Raps obviously upgrade from Barnes to Giannis

This would be the core of the deal and obviously there might be other additions...maybe Dick to NOP for example.

Most people agree trading Giannis and getting a bunch of picks back means those picks are likely not going to be that good. This deal gives them much better picks that THEY control the fate of(lottery fate aside). Plus get #9 to start things rolling. So that's likely 3 top 10 picks with 2 likely top 5. That has more value than 5-7 picks that are in the 20's.

Go easy...appreciate ideas of tweeks.

Zion is maybe the least movable contract in the league as of today and this is a really weak Giannis offer that is easily bested by multiple teams.

Tripod · Post #5 » by **Tripod** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 1:49 pm

Godaddycurse wrote:think bucks would prefer barnes over Zion... or i would at least.

But my thinking is that they value getting control of their drafts the next 2 years over Barnes.

Zion is just the wildcard that that they can use to re-hab value, still be a "name" for fans to still come to games, etc... or he'll, cut ties completely in 2 years fir cap space when other big named UFA's could hit the market.

Tripod · Post #6 » by **Tripod** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 1:51 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:This is unclear, but it sounds like your offer from Toronto is just Barnes/#9? If so, I don't believe that to be a serious offer at all. Toronto would need to add all the unprotected 1sts they could and possibly some swaps.

The gap between Giannis and Barnes is so much bigger than 9. And you seem to think that adding in the Pels adds value to the Bucks which is fine, but Toronto needs to pay that value, not New Orleans who is not getting Giannis.

But maybe you also mean Toronto is going to add in all their future picks and just didn't make that clear?

I had said #9 and another 1st...and mentioned Dick to NOP so maybe he goes to the Bucks.

I think Masai would still want to keep some pick options because he is still going to have to likely do some follow up moves.

facothomas22 · Post #7 » by **facothomas22** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 2:08 pm

I don't see anyway the Bucks would accept the package as is. The main draw to this trade is that they get to tank for the next 2 years. No blue chip prospects and no additional high picks. Most Bucks fans have turned down much stronger offers than this in the past. The Raptors would need to add a lot more to the trade to make this feasible for the Bucks.

Mrakar · Post #8 » by **Mrakar** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 3:37 pm

Barnes is on fun max right now, but when it finally cones to serious basketball ppl will start noticing how bad that contract is. In new CBA contenders cant pay non-max players, max money....

Saints14 · Post #9 » by **Saints14** » Mon Jun 2, 2025 3:57 pm

This kind of feels like on one side you're valuing Zion highly enough where he's a sufficient partial return for Giannis but on the other side low enough where NOP would dump two valuable picks to get rid of him for Barnes. I kinda like the idea for MIL where if they're going to trade Giannis, getting their picks back is critical and taking a swing on Zion getting a fresh start where if it doesn't work out they'll have their own high picks. But I agree with the above that Toronto would have to add picks, and I'd route them to NOP

YayBasketball · Post #10 » by **YayBasketball** » Tue Jun 3, 2025 10:16 am

Nice OP framework, I've been thinking of this, too. Regarding Zion, could you imagine the PR hit trading away the franchise's living legend Giannis for an injury-prone, unprofessional, negative-headline magnet like Zion?! It sucks, but I think there's a real possibility his contract is just waived for more flexibility.

So would Bucks trade Barnes for: '26 swap rights extinguished + '27 MIL/NOP 1st best of?

Barnes would be a fun replacement to turn the chapter on the Z era for the Pels. But important to keep in mind that the '27 1st is best of Pels/Bucks, with ATL owning the rights to the lesser pick. So to include that would be pretty risky for the Pels. Will a Barnes/Murphy combo have them out of the lotto in 2027? Eh, that's a tough gamble. I'd still probably do it just have a fun, young defensive team to root for.

----
MIL sends: Giannis, Kuzma
MIL gets: #7, '26 MIL swap extinguished, '27 MIL/NOP 1st best of, '26 TOR 1st, '27 TOR swap, '28 TOR 1st, '29 TOR swap, '30 TOR 1st, Barrett, Gradey, McCullom, Matkovic

TOR sends: Barnes, Barrett, Gradey, Mogbo, #9, '26 TOR 1st, '27 TOR swap, '28 TOR 1st, '29 TOR swap, '30 TOR 1st
TOR gets: Giannis, Kuzma

NOP sends: #7, '26 MIL swap extinguished, '27 MIL/NOP 1st best of, McCullom, Matkovic
NOP gets: #9, Barnes, Mogbo
---
Bucks get a rebuilding package highlighted by 7th pick and control of their next 2 draft picks, plus TOR's future picks and swaps. Expiring in CJM, Fliers on Gradey, Matkovic, swap Kuzma for the more positive Barrett.

Raptors get Giannis, take on Kuzma to help value.

Pels get Barnes, waive Zion. They get a fun, young defensive team with Herb/Murphy/Barnes/Missi, add BPA/shooting with pick #9, add in free agency, develop Hawkins.