Bucks News, Trade Ideas, Transactions - Rollins Back, 3/$12 million

[theFireBlanket]

I don’t see much difference between ChatGPT and Shams to be honest.

The 4D chess move by the Bucks is that they are feeding Shams and Windy Giannis BS and that Giannis is monitoring and not satisfied yet....

Knowing the false reports will piss Giannis off, making him want to stay...

I could see the Haynes thing right after being a ruse

Haynes is connected to Giannis & Dame. It's possible that Giannis is actually upset about the way this happened or possibly trying to save face with Dame.

Hopefully they aren't done making moves. Acquiring Wiggins using Kuzma would be definitely be some Wizardry. Sign me up for that one.

Are they going to keep Micic? I've wanted them to go after him for years. Maybe he finally finds a good NBA situation here.

[Licensed to Il]

If we used cap space to sign Turner (or anyone else), which I think is a pretty safe assumption at this point, we immediately lost access to the Bi-Annual Exception and the Mid-Level Exception. In that case, the only way we can give KPJ the number we reportedly are giving him is via (part of) the ($8.791M) Room Exception. Unless I'm missing something and we somehow had his Early Bird Rights, but I don't see how that's possible.

That leaves us with just the remainder of the Room Exception, Bird rights, and minimums.

A fun potential wrinkle that I don't think is super likely, but you never know...

John Hollinger thinks there's enough incentive for the Pacers to turn the Myles Turner deal into a sign-and-trade that they should consider sending us compensation to make it happen (he suggests a second-round pick). The incentive for the Pacers is that they'd generate a $24.5M trade exception, assuming no salary is coming back to them.

If that were to happen, I believe there's a path to bringing the Bi-Annual Exception and the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception back into play, using the Bi-Annual Exception for KPJ's deal (sorry Bobby Marks), and having the whole Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception available still.

But that path may be too complicated and unrealistic to make happen. Among other details around careful ordering of moves, I believe it would require turning the sign-and-trade into a 3+ team trade with us sending out "matching" salary to a third team (not truly matching, but meeting certain rules from CBA Article VII Section 6(j)(1)(iv) - it would pretty much have to be Kuzma). I don't know why any third team would sign up for that without significant compensation, so this will most likely not happen. Fun exercise though.

This is like the answer to the question in Billy Madison where the moderator says “we’re all dumber for having heard that” but the exact opposite. I just learned so much! (No sarcasm, that truly was insightful).

[skbucks1985]

Occam's razor about Giannis being unhappy about the Dame news is him expressing empathy for Dame on a personal level about getting waived and that being misconstrued, intentionally or unintentionally, as unhappiness about the move itself.

[Jez2983]

I was bored so I told ChatGPT to predict the 2026 NBA Playoffs and this was the results:

2026 Playoffs Bracket Prediction

Western Conference
1. Thunder vs. 8. Warriors
2. Nuggets vs. 7. Lakers
3. Rockets vs. 6. Timberwolves
4. Grizzlies vs. 5. Clippers

Thunder beat Warriors (experience + star power)

Nuggets take Lakers (depth vs. new chemistry)

Rockets edge Timberwolves (Durant & Capela)

Grizzlies upset Clippers (defensive grit)

West Semis:

Thunder def. Grizzlies

Nuggets def. Rockets

Western Finals: Thunder over Nuggets (SGA vs Jokic rematch, edge to OKC)

Eastern Conference
1. Bucks vs. 8. Celtics
2. Heat vs. 7. Kings
3. Pacers vs. 6. Nets
4. 76ers vs. 5. Hornets

Bucks over Celtics (Giannis & Turner chemistry)

Kings surprise Heat (Schröder improves offense)

Nets beat Pacers (MPJ+Cam Johnson)

76ers over Hornets (depth & experience)

East Semis:

Bucks def. 76ers

Nets def. Kings

Eastern Finals: Bucks over Nets

NBA Finals: Thunder vs. Bucks
Champion: Thunder in 6 games

SGA’s stability + OKC depth vs. Giannis + new Buck core

OKC’s chemistry gives them the edge in Game 7


I would be very happy with this, although not as happy as beating OKC in Game 7

Unfortunately we lost to the Knicks in the Conference Finals on my go

[Daddy 801]

Jazz fan coming in peace. Loving the Turner trade. I have you guys as the surprise/darkhorse coming out of the east next season. Really don’t think it is that big of a gamble though considering Gianni’s just needs competent players around him in a depleted east to make it to the finals.

I came to ask a question to just Bucks fans to get your perspective. I was very confident the Jazz and Bucks were going to be trade partners. I really thought the Jazz would send Collins and Sexton for Dame and your 31st pick. It just seemed like the perfect fit. My suspicion is your front office would have done it and it was ours that didn’t do it to have cap space next season. I think the Jazz are stupid to have refused the offer if it was on the table considering I think we are now in year two of the actual rebuild.

That’s a long way of saying knowing what you know now (extending Dame) if that offer was discussed (and I know it had to be because our local radio announcer has a podcast and projects what the front office are thinking all the time) would you guys have taken that offer over extending Dame?

Yeah a 31 unprotected pick sucks to lose. But in a depleted east if you guys also had Collins and Sexton on your roster next season with the addition of Turner I think you would be clear favorites to win it. Maybe not the regular seasons as it takes a minute for teams to get use to playing each other. But both Turner and Collins space the floor and no one can stop Giannis with open driving lanes. And you would have had three large big guys who can defend and rebound on defense. Plus a great fire cracker in Sexton either starting or as the perfect sixth man.

I guess I am just pissed we both didn’t trade as a Jazz fan we need to collect assets, and I truly wanted to see Collins and Sexton next to Giannis and be successful on a winning team.

Anyways…that’s my rant. Wish you guys the best. Rooting for you to come out of the east even if we didn’t make the trade. Peace.

I don't think the Bucks would entertain any offer that nets them expiring contracts at the expense of their 31st, and I'm not even someone who thinks that pick has any kind of exceptional value.

Interesting. If I was on the other side as a bucks fan I would be all over bringing in two efficient rotation players for Dame vs extending him.

But thanks for responding.

[tedbrogen]

If we used cap space to sign Turner (or anyone else), which I think is a pretty safe assumption at this point, we immediately lost access to the Bi-Annual Exception and the Mid-Level Exception. In that case, the only way we can give KPJ the number we reportedly are giving him is via (part of) the ($8.791M) Room Exception. Unless I'm missing something and we somehow had his Early Bird Rights, but I don't see how that's possible.

That leaves us with just the remainder of the Room Exception, Bird rights, and minimums.

A fun potential wrinkle that I don't think is super likely, but you never know...

John Hollinger thinks there's enough incentive for the Pacers to turn the Myles Turner deal into a sign-and-trade that they should consider sending us compensation to make it happen (he suggests a second-round pick). The incentive for the Pacers is that they'd generate a $24.5M trade exception, assuming no salary is coming back to them.

If that were to happen, I believe there's a path to bringing the Bi-Annual Exception and the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception back into play, using the Bi-Annual Exception for KPJ's deal (sorry Bobby Marks), and having the whole Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception available still.

But that path may be too complicated and unrealistic to make happen. Among other details around careful ordering of moves, I believe it would require turning the sign-and-trade into a 3+ team trade with us sending out "matching" salary to a third team (not truly matching, but meeting certain rules from CBA Article VII Section 6(j)(1)(iv) - it would pretty much have to be Kuzma). I don't know why any third team would sign up for that without significant compensation, so this will most likely not happen. Fun exercise though.

If any team would take Kuz for whatever compensation they are willing to pay to turn it into a S&T, which then allows the Bucks to get access to the MLE again, I think you do it.

That or if they want to give comp for a direct S&T, even if you don’t unlock the MLE, I think you do it as it’s more ammo for a Kuz/AJJ/26swap/31/32swap deal.

It’s basically a free asset or two in exchange for them getting a TPE. Which is fine because they probably won’t use it since their cheap owner will never go into the tax.

[tedbrogen]

Jazz fan coming in peace. Loving the Turner trade. I have you guys as the surprise/darkhorse coming out of the east next season. Really don’t think it is that big of a gamble though considering Gianni’s just needs competent players around him in a depleted east to make it to the finals.

I came to ask a question to just Bucks fans to get your perspective. I was very confident the Jazz and Bucks were going to be trade partners. I really thought the Jazz would send Collins and Sexton for Dame and your 31st pick. It just seemed like the perfect fit. My suspicion is your front office would have done it and it was ours that didn’t do it to have cap space next season. I think the Jazz are stupid to have refused the offer if it was on the table considering I think we are now in year two of the actual rebuild.

That’s a long way of saying knowing what you know now (extending Dame) if that offer was discussed (and I know it had to be because our local radio announcer has a podcast and projects what the front office are thinking all the time) would you guys have taken that offer over extending Dame?

Yeah a 31 unprotected pick sucks to lose. But in a depleted east if you guys also had Collins and Sexton on your roster next season with the addition of Turner I think you would be clear favorites to win it. Maybe not the regular seasons as it takes a minute for teams to get use to playing each other. But both Turner and Collins space the floor and no one can stop Giannis with open driving lanes. And you would have had three large big guys who can defend and rebound on defense. Plus a great fire cracker in Sexton either starting or as the perfect sixth man.

I guess I am just pissed we both didn’t trade as a Jazz fan we need to collect assets, and I truly wanted to see Collins and Sexton next to Giannis and be successful on a winning team.

Anyways…that’s my rant. Wish you guys the best. Rooting for you to come out of the east even if we didn’t make the trade. Peace.

I don't think the Bucks would entertain any offer that nets them expiring contracts at the expense of their 31st, and I'm not even someone who thinks that pick has any kind of exceptional value.

Interesting. If I was on the other side as a bucks fan I would be all over bringing in two efficient rotation players for Dame vs extending him.

But thanks for responding.

Bucks already have Collins and Sexton with Bobby and KPJ. And of all those guys KPJ is the only one with any upside.

We just saw how little value Sexton had in his trade…

Also Giannis is better than Karl Malone.

[DingusBojangles]

If we used cap space to sign Turner (or anyone else), which I think is a pretty safe assumption at this point, we immediately lost access to the Bi-Annual Exception and the Mid-Level Exception. In that case, the only way we can give KPJ the number we reportedly are giving him is via (part of) the ($8.791M) Room Exception. Unless I'm missing something and we somehow had his Early Bird Rights, but I don't see how that's possible.

That leaves us with just the remainder of the Room Exception, Bird rights, and minimums.

A fun potential wrinkle that I don't think is super likely, but you never know...

John Hollinger thinks there's enough incentive for the Pacers to turn the Myles Turner deal into a sign-and-trade that they should consider sending us compensation to make it happen (he suggests a second-round pick). The incentive for the Pacers is that they'd generate a $24.5M trade exception, assuming no salary is coming back to them.

If that were to happen, I believe there's a path to bringing the Bi-Annual Exception and the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception back into play, using the Bi-Annual Exception for KPJ's deal (sorry Bobby Marks), and having the whole Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception available still.

But that path may be too complicated and unrealistic to make happen. Among other details around careful ordering of moves, I believe it would require turning the sign-and-trade into a 3+ team trade with us sending out "matching" salary to a third team (not truly matching, but meeting certain rules from CBA Article VII Section 6(j)(1)(iv) - it would pretty much have to be Kuzma). I don't know why any third team would sign up for that without significant compensation, so this will most likely not happen. Fun exercise though.

If any team would take Kuz for whatever compensation they are willing to pay to turn it into a S&T, which then allows the Bucks to get access to the MLE again, I think you do it.

That or if they want to give comp for a direct S&T, even if you don’t unlock the MLE, I think you do it as it’s more ammo for a Kuz/AJJ/26swap/31/32swap deal.

It’s basically a free asset or two in exchange for them getting a TPE. Which is fine because they probably won’t use it since their cheap owner will never go into the tax.

Agree all around.

[Daddy 801]

I don't think the Bucks would entertain any offer that nets them expiring contracts at the expense of their 31st, and I'm not even someone who thinks that pick has any kind of exceptional value.

Interesting. If I was on the other side as a bucks fan I would be all over bringing in two efficient rotation players for Dame vs extending him.

But thanks for responding.

Bucks already have Collins and Sexton with Bobby and KPJ. And of all those guys KPJ is the only one with any upside.

We just saw how little value Sexton had in his trade…

Also Giannis is better than Karl Malone.

Hahaha. Damn, you just wants to go for the jugular. I appreciate the brutality of your comment. Have a good one you vicious Bucks fan!!

[tedbrogen]

Is it possible the Bucks are feeding Shams this BS to try and drive up perception on the '31 pick for our last big trade that's still coming?

I hope so. Just need Dumars to think it’s a great pick to steal Herb or Murphy.

[Dick Tate]

I’ve seen a lot of Sexton and Collins TIs on here over the years. Never liked any of them.

[tedbrogen]

I’m at the point where it’s MacGruber ripping throats for anymore references to those awful Collins/Sexton trade ideas. If those two players were any good, the Jazz wouldn’t have been awful.

[Baddy Chuck]

something about stretching Dame and essentially paying Myles Turner $50 million a year to upgrade from Brook seems off.

You are assuming it was ONLY done because of Turner. Plan may very well have been to waive Dame either way given Horst comment about moving money. I think what this tells me is that Giannis wasn’t having the ‘gap year’ that fans expected. From that context netting Turner is a win. There is an alternate Horstiverse where we extended Brook, Bobby, Sims, KPJ, GTJ and Prince and ran it back with Dame soaking up 50M to rehab before opting out to go wherever he wanted to.

I tend to believe Turner was seen as an almost unthinkable get and that this wouldn't have been done for Quentin Grimes or something, maybe it would've been on the table in the future though if there was another guy. I'm just not like super high on Turner so in a vacuum I just look at it and think, MLE on some dudes to round out the roster, or 50 million for Myles Turner and I could tell myself the former is where I woulda leaned. Deading Dames deal is kinda whatever. If this works out we won't care, if this doesn't work out we also won't care about the money on the books because Giannis will be gone anyways. If it's just another show of faith to Giannis who wants to stay here forever with the best team we can put by him every year, **** it, do what you gotta do. The team should be pretty fun and not terrible if things fall our way a bit and after the past couple seasons that's something to grow on. How we move on from here with trading Kuzma is biggest question mark.

[humanrefutation]

The thing about these Shams tweets about Giannis isn't that they're flat out wrong, but that they give no information. It's like asking Giannis whether he's considered whether to demand a trade. He can't say no because by virtue of answering that question, he's considered it, and Shams can report it as such.

[tedbrogen]

I think the Bucks also set themselves up well if Giannis doesn’t extend next offseason. Tons of player options that they could let guys not worth it walk and the only two long term signings were Bobby and Turner, who will be very tradeable or are not an awful front court if you don’t want to tank because you don’t own your own picks.

Now if they pull off a move that trades the 2031 pick, then you know Giannis already said he’s signing the extension next October.

[paulpressey25]

Read on Twitter

Whenever something like this happens, the knives eventually come out from both sides since the player is no longer with the team. We’re going to get more stories regarding Dame coming out in the days ahead.

[paulpressey25]

Chris Paul would have a shot at his ring if he came here. Suns can’t contend. Clippers always depend on a healthy Kawhi

Read on Twitter

[old skool]

On NBA Radio this afternoon, Suns TV Analyst said that after the move to waive Lillard and sign Turner that he "guarantees that Giannis will be out of Milwaukee by February".

The program hosts Justin Termine and Amin El Hassen could not understand what the Bucks were doing with those moves. Most of their angst was over ruining the team's future by adding $22.5-mil in dead money every year for the next half-decade.

[soxperry]

Chris Paul would have a shot at his ring if he came here. Suns can’t contend. Clippers always depend on a healthy Kawhi

Read on Twitter

CP3 is completely washed, right?

[tsamo]

On NBA Radio this afternoon, Suns TV Analyst said that after the move to waive Lillard and sign Turner that he "guarantees that Giannis will be out of Milwaukee by February".

The program hosts Justin Termine and Amin El Hassen could not understand what the Bucks were doing with those moves. Most of their angst was over ruining the team's future by adding $22.5-mil in dead money every year for the next half-decade.

Do people realise how hard it is to draft a top 20 all time player and have him actually want to stick around especially in a small market like ours? We may literally never again have a similar chance.

Also do they not realise that as the cap gets bigger every year, the dead money will be a smaller hit percentage-wise every year?