Mavericks Players

[jbk1234]

I think he’s hoping Turner become available in a mid season blow up for the bucks .

I'm not hoping for that, but the Bucks have to improve their backcourt and their options for doing so aren't that attractive with Giannis as a flight risk.

I could see the Bucks turning Kuzma into Simons.

I don't see the Celtics going for that absent strict orders from ownership to shed more salary this season.

[toooskies]

I'm not hoping for that, but the Bucks have to improve their backcourt and their options for doing so aren't that attractive with Giannis as a flight risk.

I could see the Bucks turning Kuzma into Simons.

I don't see the Celtics going for that absent strict orders from ownership to shed more salary this season.

If they aren't a contender there is little reason to stay in the tax when they're likely just going to let Simons expire and leave anyway.

[Texas Chuck]

but there is reason not to take on Kuz future money like that

[redslastlaugh]

Boston is about $12 million too much money over the tax line.

Kuzma ($22.4) is only a $5.3 million savings over Simons ($27.7) this season
&
then you have Kuz's money in 2026-27

So Boston is adding money overall without getting out of the tax for this season

I could see the Bucks turning Kuzma into Simons.

I don't see the Celtics going for that absent strict orders from ownership to shed more salary this season.

If they aren't a contender there is little reason to stay in the tax when they're likely just going to let Simons expire and leave anyway.

[Golabki]

but there is reason not to take on Kuz future money like that

Simons for Kuz makes sense to me, but obviously the Celtics need to get something back (like a protected first).

The Bucks would have to conclude that Simons is a big upgrade on Anthony/Porter/Rollins, and that Kuzma is totally cooked. I believe both those things to be true, but it might take the Bucks a few months to come to the same conclusion.

For the C's you cut money this year and then next year Kuz is a big expiring you could use in a trade, which isn't based because they aren't going to have a ton of cap space either way.

Another thought is to expand it to Kuz + a couple filler salaries (Porter and Harris) + a pick for Simons and Hauser. With Hauser they'd have an unbelievable amount of shooting around Giannis.

[gswhoops]

but there is reason not to take on Kuz future money like that

Simons is better and is owed less money overall. Pretty hard to see a reason for Boston to do it absent some serious incentive.

It would maybe be worth discussing if Simons for Kuzma got them out of the tax completely this year but it doesn't.

[redslastlaugh]

but there is reason not to take on Kuz future money like that

Simons for Kuz makes sense to me, but obviously the Celtics need to get something back (like a protected first).

Milwaukee just doesn't have anything to trade for this type of transaction. Based on how both players looked last year, Simons is the better player. Simons is on an expiring contract, and Bucks don't have 2nd round picks. The Bucks basically have the draft rights to Markovic, Andre Jackson Jr ... and no assets beside from that
???

Bucks have nothing to trade to offset that this trade doesn't accomplish anything for Boston except lower the tax bill a little bit in 2025-26 while making but that's no benefit because Kuz's money makes Boston's tax bill worse in 2026-27

Edit: The only thing that would make it interesting from Bostons perspective is the MIL's 2031 or 2032 first round pick, which is too much value coming to Boston to just flip Simons for Kuzma.

I'd suggest an amended trade of Boston sends Simons, a lottery protected 2027 BOS 1st and two 2026 2nds (likely NOP & MIL 2026 second) and Milwaukee sends back 2031 first (unprotected) and Kuzma.

[toooskies]

I didn't spell out the whole idea but a variety of third teams could work to make the Kuzma/Simons framework work. From Milwaukee's perspective it's Kuzma into Simons, with Milwaukee taking on some other salary or expense along the way.

If the Celtics want to get all the way out, send Kuzma to PHX (who needs a forward) and send Grayson Allen to the Celts. Or send Kuzma to Charlotte with Sexton going to Boston, which gets Boston within sending out a minimum + cash for a top 55-protected 2nd (and then signing a guy off the street) away from being fully out of the tax.

But that has nothing to do with the Mavericks players, so let's make it a 4-way where Milwaukee gets Simons, Boston gets Gafford + Prosper, Phoenix gets Kuzma, Dallas gets Grayson Allen. Milwaukee compensates Phoenix as necessary.

[daoneandonly]

I didn't spell out the whole idea but a variety of third teams could work to make the Kuzma/Simons framework work. From Milwaukee's perspective it's Kuzma into Simons, with Milwaukee taking on some other salary or expense along the way.

If the Celtics want to get all the way out, send Kuzma to PHX (who needs a forward) and send Grayson Allen to the Celts. Or send Kuzma to Charlotte with Sexton going to Boston, which gets Boston within sending out a minimum + cash for a top 55-protected 2nd (and then signing a guy off the street) away from being fully out of the tax.

But that has nothing to do with the Mavericks players, so let's make it a 4-way where Milwaukee gets Simons, Boston gets Gafford + Prosper, Phoenix gets Kuzma, Dallas gets Grayson Allen. Milwaukee compensates Phoenix as necessary.

I think Bos should have to eat Hardy instead of Omax if they're upgrading from Gaff to Simons. And Mil would have to pay something significant to make that swap.

But thank you for bringing the Mavericks back to a thread about Mavericks players.

[Golabki]

but there is reason not to take on Kuz future money like that

Simons for Kuz makes sense to me, but obviously the Celtics need to get something back (like a protected first).

Milwaukee just doesn't have anything to trade for this type of transaction. Based on how both players looked last year, Simons is the better player. Simons is on an expiring contract, and Bucks don't have 2nd round picks. The Bucks basically have the draft rights to Markovic, Andre Jackson Jr ... and no assets beside from that
???

Bucks have nothing to trade to offset that this trade doesn't accomplish anything for Boston except lower the tax bill a little bit in 2025-26 while making but that's no benefit because Kuz's money makes Boston's tax bill worse in 2026-27

Edit: The only thing that would make it interesting from Bostons perspective is the MIL's 2031 or 2032 first round pick, which is too much value coming to Boston to just flip Simons for Kuzma.

I'd suggest an amended trade of Boston sends Simons, a lottery protected 2027 BOS 1st and two 2026 2nds (likely NOP & MIL 2026 second) and Milwaukee sends back 2031 first (unprotected) and Kuzma.

I agree, an unprotected first from the Bucks is too much for Simons/Kuz, but the rest of the "assets" that the Bucks have a not enough. From the Celtics side, adding some lesser assets like this to get a high upside pick would be ideal (that's part of the rationale to add Hauser as well), and it gives the Bucks some deal making flexibility as well. Some protections on the pick would be the other way to make it work.

[toooskies]

I didn't spell out the whole idea but a variety of third teams could work to make the Kuzma/Simons framework work. From Milwaukee's perspective it's Kuzma into Simons, with Milwaukee taking on some other salary or expense along the way.

If the Celtics want to get all the way out, send Kuzma to PHX (who needs a forward) and send Grayson Allen to the Celts. Or send Kuzma to Charlotte with Sexton going to Boston, which gets Boston within sending out a minimum + cash for a top 55-protected 2nd (and then signing a guy off the street) away from being fully out of the tax.

But that has nothing to do with the Mavericks players, so let's make it a 4-way where Milwaukee gets Simons, Boston gets Gafford + Prosper, Phoenix gets Kuzma, Dallas gets Grayson Allen. Milwaukee compensates Phoenix as necessary.

I think Bos should have to eat Hardy instead of Omax if they're upgrading from Gaff to Simons. And Mil would have to pay something significant to make that swap.

But thank you for bringing the Mavericks back to a thread about Mavericks players.

Boston can't eat Hardy and stay under the tax, and they'd rather take Allen than Klay. Maybe Hardy + Cody Martin, depending on how you feel about that salary, but Martin is buried pretty deep on the depth chart.