OKC 2025-2026 Games Thread; "The Title Defense"

[Zagor]

I don't really know how the Cavs can afford to get Giannis without getting rid of way more than just Mobley

Well, some teams may offer better packages for Giannis, but there aren't many of them who are ready to win now.
Mobley's salary is 46m and Giannis is 54m. They just need to include Lonzo Ball contract and the salaries match. Add couple of picks and that's very decent offer.

No team can offer better player than Mobley.

[Kizz Fastfists]

The Bucks need to hit the reset. They have so much dead cap tied up in Lillard over the next several seasons they can't maximize around a new roster. Replacing Giannis with Mobley doesn't make them better and since the Bucks don't own their own picks for several years they can't effectively tank. Their plan A should be the Spurs for Castle, filler and picks. It would be similar to when OKC traded PG13 for SGA. The Spurs won't do it as they know their young core will be ready to contend next season with a much higher ceiling over a much longer timeline than if they give up that much for a 30 year old Giannis. If Giannis were 27 that would be a different situation.

Atlanta and NOLA are both interesting options because they own the Bucks draft picks and have young pieces that could start a rebuild. It would need to be a three team trade with Giannis to ATL and Trae to NOLA for it to really make sense, but NOLA is so bad they really need to just keep rebuilding. Giannis to LAL could be interesting with LeBron going to a 3rd team for youth and picks that go to the Bucks. The Bucks did this to themselves by stretching Lillard instead of just eating a down season and regrouping next year so I hope they end up getting stuck having to take back players from the NYK and getting no real draft compensation. Then trying desperately to trade off the player(s) they get while still failing to make the playoffs.

[Zagor]

The Bucks need to hit the reset.

But you clearly said they can't effectively tank because they don't control most of their picks.

Their plan A should be the Spurs for Castle, filler and picks.

Yes, Spurs can offer the most, but I don't think they will give Bucks what they want. Harper should be included in every offer. If I'm Bucks, I don't start talking without Harper included in deal.

Atlanta and NOLA are both interesting options because they own the Bucks draft picks and have young pieces that could start a rebuild. It would need to be a three team trade with Giannis to ATL and Trae to NOLA for it to really make sense, but NOLA is so bad they really need to just keep rebuilding. Giannis to LAL could be interesting with LeBron going to a 3rd team for youth and picks that go to the Bucks. The Bucks did this to themselves by stretching Lillard instead of just eating a down season and regrouping next year so I hope they end up getting stuck having to take back players from the NYK and getting no real draft compensation. Then trying desperately to trade off the player(s) they get while still failing to make the playoffs.

There is no way Giannis would go to NOP. ATL is interesting option but it's also questionable that Giannis would want to go there.

ATL could offer Jalen Johnson, NOP pick and two future FRP's. Keep in mind that Bucks are getting least favourable 2026. pick between them and Pelicans.
Depending on the lottery, Bucks could end with something like 2nd and 4th first round pick in excellent 2026. draft.
But I'm pretty sure Giannis doesn't want to go to Atlanta.

That's why I mentioned Orlando, Cleveland and Toronto. They check both conditions, they can give Bucks very good player and they have rosters ready to win.

Bucks will probably keep their 2026. first round lottery pick. And with Mobley or Barnes or Banchero, that's something to build for future. Keep in mind that they will hold most of their future picks if they are better than Portland.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Bucks will probably keep their 2026. first round lottery pick. And with Mobley or Barnes or Banchero, that's something to build for future. Keep in mind that they will hold most of their future picks if they are better than Portland.

The Bucks do not own their 2026 pick. They get the least favorable between Atlanta, NOLA and Milwaukee. Right now that would be Atlanta and if they win the play-in that is not a lottery pick. They have no pick in 2027 and 2029 and I'm not even trying to figure out what pick they'll end up with in 2028 with all the possible ways they end up with a pick in the 20s there. The Bucks are not going to be competitive for a long time. Replacing Giannis with Mobley doesn't make them better and with no tradable picks, until 2031, and limited cap space they aren't in a position to get better any time soon.

[bbms]

i'm skeptical on the viability of giannis getting traded. a way too hard logjam to solve. if they don't set their draft pick debt they'd need to have a haul of young players in return that, honestly, hard to see giannis' destination being competitive.

only okc, rockets and spurs could manage that trade imo and be competitive. and they didn't pull the trigger.

[Xatticus]

I do expect Giannis to be traded but I'm just unsure the entire mechanics of this deal. I had a 'crazy trade idea' preseason that was LeBron/Giannis and one of Miami or Cleveland as the 3rd team. Would be a salary clearing deal with one of the 3 teams to basically get LeBron for one year, and picks and players to the Bucks of a healthy variety. The costs match pretty close but Cavs are a 2nd apron team so it's a complicated thing.

what is everyone else's crazy idea for this ?

Regardless, I do think teams have to inquire, ATL, HOU, SAS, POR maybe.... NOLA, maybe.... East teams like NYK, ORL, might not have picks to do it. CLE is messy as stated above. All these East teams would be good and their picks would harder for the Bucks to maximize. They are kind of in a tough spot but hold a good hand with Giannis anyways, he's still a top-5 player to me. NYK is his preferred location I would garner but who knows, if you're the Bucks are you accepting Towns and pieces, or OG and pieces for Giannis ? Unsure it gets it done.

OKC has picks and using Hartenstein +extra as salary it basically can happen, but I just don't see us doing such a deal after winning it last year. Bucks surely are asking for Holmgren or Jdub as a part of this deal, because X draft picks are just chances, they'd need a real player too. Also, our future cap sheet with GA, whew.

Orlando for Banchero. It won't happen, but I think it would make them a title contender. It's a strong defensive team with high-level complementary pieces. Banchero sucks as an offensive engine.

The tricky thing with Giannis is that it is tough to play alongside him, so I don't know how he fits with another elite offensive player. I'm really not concerned by the noise as I think we are heavy favorites regardless of where he goes.

[Zagor]

The Bucks do not own their 2026 pick. They get the least favorable between Atlanta, NOLA and Milwaukee. Right now that would be Atlanta and if they win the play-in that is not a lottery pick. They have no pick in 2027 and 2029 and I'm not even trying to figure out what pick they'll end up with in 2028 with all the possible ways they end up with a pick in the 20s there. The Bucks are not going to be competitive for a long time. Replacing Giannis with Mobley doesn't make them better and with no tradable picks, until 2031, and limited cap space they aren't in a position to get better any time soon.

No, read here again
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/teams/Milwaukee-Bucks/16/draft-picks

Less favorable of MIL and NOP then other to ATL (via NOP swap for MIL)

In 2026. they will probably keep their pick. ATL will take NOP pick.