OKC has to pursue Giannis right??!!!

[Raps in 4]

It's much easier and safer to tell Chet Holmgren to man up then trade a quarter of your roster/picks and gamble if Giannis Antetokounmpo only fits but is healthy

The problem isn't mental with Chet. He's weak and slow and unskilled.

[GiannisAnte34]

They need to not overreact. They just took a 62 win Spurs team clicking on all cylinders to 7 games without their 2nd best player and 2nd or 3rd best offensive player.

Dort is gone for sure. I think they have to keep Hartenstein (which means Wiggins and Joe might be out the door). I'd be very surprised if they pursued Giannis.

They need to react. They should have consolidated picks two years ago, and that is still pending. They got away with it last year. This year a team caught up because they didn't do it. Eventually Presti will realize he can't have it both ways, just as Bob Myers did, and Daryl Morey should have, and on and on. It doesn't have to be for GA, but they need to spend theIr capital and improve. Because you can sure bet the Spurs and others won't sit on their heels.

They will improve. The team that lost in 7 games of the WCF will add to their roster for next season:
Jalen Williams (All Star)
Ajay Mitchell (Top 50ish player)
Thomas Sorber (15th pick)
12th pick
17th pick

I agree they need to keep trying to improve. I just disagree with pushing all your chips to the table and betting on a single proposition.

Winning a few transactions each year + strong team development culture is much better than shopping for a singular savior.

And when you run down the list of NBA Champions for pretty much any year ever… the commonality is having a top 3-5 level player. Teams that had TWO of those types of players tended to win multiple championships

[Johnny Bball]

They need to not overreact. They just took a 62 win Spurs team clicking on all cylinders to 7 games without their 2nd best player and 2nd or 3rd best offensive player.

Dort is gone for sure. I think they have to keep Hartenstein (which means Wiggins and Joe might be out the door). I'd be very surprised if they pursued Giannis.

They need to react. They should have consolidated picks two years ago, and that is still pending. They got away with it last year. This year a team caught up because they didn't do it. Eventually Presti will realize he can't have it both ways, just as Bob Myers did, and Daryl Morey should have, and on and on. It doesn't have to be for GA, but they need to spend theIr capital and improve. Because you can sure bet the Spurs and others won't sit on their heels.

They will improve. The team that lost in 7 games of the WCF will add to their roster for next season:
Jalen Williams (All Star)
Ajay Mitchell (Top 50ish player)
Thomas Sorber (15th pick)
12th pick
17th pick

I agree they need to keep trying to improve. I just disagree with pushing all your chips to the table and betting on a single proposition.

Winning a few transactions each year + strong team development culture is much better than shopping for a singular savior.

Except this is the exact problem. There is no room for 12 and 17 on a championship team unless they absolutely nail a freak accident. There should not be minutes for those guys late in the season and in the playoffs.

So I see little point in using those picks and not doing exactly as I suggested and packing them for another star player. The funny thing is, the type of player they actually need IMO, there's two of them on the next team they face in OG and Bridges, and a little bit Hart. White from the Celtics is who they could grab to play two guard and is a huge upgrade from Dort, but I think more size is necessary right now. And that means somehow upgrading Chet or Hartenstein.

They have so many picks then can burn some and barely notice.

[Dan Z]

They need to react. They should have consolidated picks two years ago, and that is still pending. They got away with it last year. This year a team caught up because they didn't do it. Eventually Presti will realize he can't have it both ways, just as Bob Myers did, and Daryl Morey should have, and on and on. It doesn't have to be for GA, but they need to spend theIr capital and improve. Because you can sure bet the Spurs and others won't sit on their heels.

They will improve. The team that lost in 7 games of the WCF will add to their roster for next season:
Jalen Williams (All Star)
Ajay Mitchell (Top 50ish player)
Thomas Sorber (15th pick)
12th pick
17th pick

I agree they need to keep trying to improve. I just disagree with pushing all your chips to the table and betting on a single proposition.

Winning a few transactions each year + strong team development culture is much better than shopping for a singular savior.

Except this is the exact problem. There is no room for 12 and 17 on a championship team unless they absolutely nail a freak accident. There should not be minutes for those guys late in the season and in the playoffs.

So I see little point in using those picks and not doing exactly as I suggested and packing them for another star player. The funny thing is, the type of player they actually need IMO, there's two of them on the next team they face in OG and Bridges, and a little bit Hart. White from the Celtics is who they could grab to play two guard and is a huge upgrade from Dort, but I think more size is necessary right now. And that means somehow upgrading Chet or Hartenstein.

They have so many picks then can burn some and barely notice.

OG, Bridges and White aren't available. Any other players that fit your criteria that OKC might be able to go after?

After this draft OKC has all their own picks plus two from Denver (2027 & 2029...both protected 1-5), a SA 2027 pick (protected...might turn into 2nds, but will probably be a late first), a swap in 2027 with the Clippers, a swap with Dallas in 2028 and 2nd round picks from various teams.

They're good to have, but most of those picks look like late firsts.

[Patches Perry]

They need to react. They should have consolidated picks two years ago, and that is still pending. They got away with it last year. This year a team caught up because they didn't do it. Eventually Presti will realize he can't have it both ways, just as Bob Myers did, and Daryl Morey should have, and on and on. It doesn't have to be for GA, but they need to spend theIr capital and improve. Because you can sure bet the Spurs and others won't sit on their heels.

They will improve. The team that lost in 7 games of the WCF will add to their roster for next season:
Jalen Williams (All Star)
Ajay Mitchell (Top 50ish player)
Thomas Sorber (15th pick)
12th pick
17th pick

I agree they need to keep trying to improve. I just disagree with pushing all your chips to the table and betting on a single proposition.

Winning a few transactions each year + strong team development culture is much better than shopping for a singular savior.

Except this is the exact problem. There is no room for 12 and 17 on a championship team unless they absolutely nail a freak accident. There should not be minutes for those guys late in the season and in the playoffs.

So I see little point in using those picks and not doing exactly as I suggested and packing them for another star player. The funny thing is, the type of player they actually need IMO, there's two of them on the next team they face in OG and Bridges, and a little bit Hart. White from the Celtics is who they could grab to play two guard and is a huge upgrade from Dort, but I think more size is necessary right now. And that means somehow upgrading Chet or Hartenstein.

They have so many picks then can burn some and barely notice.

The problem with packaging for a star player a lot of times is that those guys are actualized value and their impact is priced into their contract. The name of the game in the NBA is having a roster that exceeds its monetary value in basketball impact. The best way to do that is to have an MVP player (whose monetary value is capped) and rookie contracts. The contracts inbetween are usually of poor value, as people are now saying about Chet and Jalen.

Not to say the right deal wouldn't make sense. They cashed in a 1st rounder for McCain and he helped plug some of their injury problems. I would certainly favor a package including some combination of Dort/Wiggins/Topic/Joe/pick(s) for Trey Murphy. It just has to make sense financially and on the court (not just on paper). A lot of times trading for a star is just a paper upgrade.

[ForeverTFC]

They're not getting Giannis for Chet. Chet just became a liability with that contract. J-Dub didn't exactly help his value by being injured again.

I don't think OKC has a package to get Giannis.

Insane take. Every team would take him on this contract tomorrow. Current Chet, with all his flaws, is worth that contract. And I'd bet you he has a bigger market than Giannis.

[Castle Black]

OKC was a handful of points away from their 2nd straight Finals appearance while missing their 2nd leading scorer and a valuable bench piece. They don't "have" to do anything. They should make a couple minor tweaks to the roster and then run it back. Blowing it up for a 32 year-old Giannis with chronic calf injuries would be incredibly short-sided. Presti is highly intelligent so he won't do that.

[ForeverTFC]

OKC was a handful of points away from their 2nd straight Finals appearance while missing their 2nd leading scorer and a valuable bench piece. They don't "have" to do anything. They should make a couple minor tweaks to the roster and then run it back. Blowing it up for a 32 year-old Giannis with chronic calf injuries would be incredibly short-sided. Presti is highly intelligent so he won't do that.

They don't have to do anything, but there is a good argument that they should. They will be operating over the apron to at least begin the next league year if they do nothing on draft night. They're under the aprons and the tax this year and will remain so through the draft. So they can pull off consolidation trades that they may not be able to once the calendar flips. In that sense, I do think it makes sense for them to explore a move now, not solely because of what just happened but also (and mostly) because of the cap realities once their extensions kick in.

[Packbuckman]

People on here think Giannis has a chronic calf injury because of one year where he played a lot of basketball. He is totally healthy after having the most rest ever this offseason he won’t turn 32 till December still in his prime and arguably a top 2 or 3 player in the world. And is the most dominant inside presence in the world who Wemby will have a hard time stopping OKC would be crazy not to trade for him. As a bucks fan I rather keep him because next year expect an mvp season where ever he is.

[MavsDirk41]

It's much easier and safer to tell Chet Holmgren to man up then trade a quarter of your roster/picks and gamble if Giannis Antetokounmpo only fits but is healthy

The problem isn't mental with Chet. He's weak and slow and unskilled.

He isnt unskilled but he is weak and looked very timid as the series with San Antonio went along. He was intimidated by Wemby maybe. But he is still skilled. He should bounce back.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I think it's more of a question if they'll overpay to move up for Boozer or Caleb Wilson

Ajay, 12, 17, and 2-3 future picks

Nobody in the top four is moving down.

He/she already explained how Herro and #13 plus a few extras is worth Giannis. Does he/she really have to explain this one to you too?

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Bucks fans gonna buck.
If OKC doesn't have a package for Giannis, then noone does right?
Both Williams and Holmgren are All NBA and All stars.
Who do you want? SGA? With 5 picks maybe?

Would you want to be the team paying Chet $50 million a year for the next five years?

This is J-Dub's injury history and he's only 25:

Bud if OKC calls you and they give you these 2 guys your GM is going to drive Giannis to the airport himself.
These players are young, are decorated and they can also be shipped elsewhere for a galore of picks, which is something your team desperately needs.

Remember this when you will eventually trade Giannis to Miami (because that's where he wants to go) for Herro, Ware and these guys.
Then come back to this post.

Yes but most proposals are only one of these guys. If it's just one, wtf does the team do with a maxed out chet as their 1a with no 1b, 2 or 3? For the next five years? Like I'm not against the value but I don't think having chet does anything for us except keep some casual fans interested for a while.

If we take the Heat deal, it is because Giannis made it absolutely clear he won't sign an extension with anyone else and agents/nba get involved behind the scenes. That offer is so bad, it's worth the risk of holding onto Giannis and dating him not to sign the super max

[Rdude22]

They will improve. The team that lost in 7 games of the WCF will add to their roster for next season:
Jalen Williams (All Star)
Ajay Mitchell (Top 50ish player)
Thomas Sorber (15th pick)
12th pick
17th pick

I agree they need to keep trying to improve. I just disagree with pushing all your chips to the table and betting on a single proposition.

Winning a few transactions each year + strong team development culture is much better than shopping for a singular savior.

Except this is the exact problem. There is no room for 12 and 17 on a championship team unless they absolutely nail a freak accident. There should not be minutes for those guys late in the season and in the playoffs.

So I see little point in using those picks and not doing exactly as I suggested and packing them for another star player. The funny thing is, the type of player they actually need IMO, there's two of them on the next team they face in OG and Bridges, and a little bit Hart. White from the Celtics is who they could grab to play two guard and is a huge upgrade from Dort, but I think more size is necessary right now. And that means somehow upgrading Chet or Hartenstein.

They have so many picks then can burn some and barely notice.

The problem with packaging for a star player a lot of times is that those guys are actualized value and their impact is priced into their contract. The name of the game in the NBA is having a roster that exceeds its monetary value in basketball impact. The best way to do that is to have an MVP player (whose monetary value is capped) and rookie contracts. The contracts inbetween are usually of poor value, as people are now saying about Chet and Jalen.

Not to say the right deal wouldn't make sense. They cashed in a 1st rounder for McCain and he helped plug some of their injury problems. I would certainly favor a package including some combination of Dort/Wiggins/Topic/Joe/pick(s) for Trey Murphy. It just has to make sense financially and on the court (not just on paper). A lot of times trading for a star is just a paper upgrade.

I think Trey Murphy is exactly the type of player you guys need but I don’t think NOP would give him away for that. Well I guess it depends on what number of picks, or all of them.

Interesting that Trey makes/will make almost half as much as Chet per year

[Daddy 801]

I was saying all year that if OKC lost to the Spurs they would get Giannis. I don’t see an answer besides him. Running it back and hoping JDub makes the difference when he has health issues doesn’t seem like a smart move. Wemby and the Spurs are just going to get better. And if OKC is pursuing Giannis I won’t be surprised if Houston tries to get in the mix. Then all of the sudden the other teams in the running are gonna have to pay more than they expected to get Giannis.

Think OKC losing was the best thing that could help the Bucks get higher value for Giannis.

[Rdude22]

People on here think Giannis has a chronic calf injury because of one year where he played a lot of basketball. He is totally healthy after having the most rest ever this offseason he won’t turn 32 till December still in his prime and arguably a top 2 or 3 player in the world. And is the most dominant inside presence in the world who Wemby will have a hard time stopping OKC would be crazy not to trade for him. As a bucks fan I rather keep him because next year expect an mvp season where ever he is.

Title runs don’t last more than 3-4 years anyway without massive shakeups, be it Bron/Wade Heatles or Steph/KD Warriors, so if you can have two “top 4” players on the same team… one 28 and the other 32… I think you gotta do it. Shouldn’t outthink yourself worrying about 6-7 years from now. Giannis is very good at basketball.

[JordansBulls]

after that loss, they need to reload... this reminds me of 2016 Cavs Warriors when Cavs made the 3-1 comeback and then GSW reloaded to get Durant... I really think we are about to see part 2 of this...

Jaylen Williams
Ajay Mitchell
some picks

for Giannis


they need to make a decision on Chet... that was a bad performance... what do you think OKC should do here??

If the suspension to Draymond hadn't happened they would have won in 5 and been back to back champions. They wouldn't had gone for KD then.

[cgf]

People on here think Giannis has a chronic calf injury because of one year where he played a lot of basketball. He is totally healthy after having the most rest ever this offseason he won’t turn 32 till December still in his prime and arguably a top 2 or 3 player in the world. And is the most dominant inside presence in the world who Wemby will have a hard time stopping OKC would be crazy not to trade for him. As a bucks fan I rather keep him because next year expect an mvp season where ever he is.

Title runs don’t last more than 3-4 years anyway without massive shakeups, be it Bron/Wade Heatles or Steph/KD Warriors, so if you can have two “top 4” players on the same team… one 28 and the other 32… I think you gotta do it. Shouldn’t outthink yourself worrying about 6-7 years from now. Giannis is very good at basketball.

Giannis is still really difficult to build around because he needs the ball, you have to space for him from the 5, he's a diva, and he's always injured.

[JBreezeNY]

OKC needs more shooting not less.

[Johnny Bball]

They will improve. The team that lost in 7 games of the WCF will add to their roster for next season:
Jalen Williams (All Star)
Ajay Mitchell (Top 50ish player)
Thomas Sorber (15th pick)
12th pick
17th pick

I agree they need to keep trying to improve. I just disagree with pushing all your chips to the table and betting on a single proposition.

Winning a few transactions each year + strong team development culture is much better than shopping for a singular savior.

Except this is the exact problem. There is no room for 12 and 17 on a championship team unless they absolutely nail a freak accident. There should not be minutes for those guys late in the season and in the playoffs.

So I see little point in using those picks and not doing exactly as I suggested and packing them for another star player. The funny thing is, the type of player they actually need IMO, there's two of them on the next team they face in OG and Bridges, and a little bit Hart. White from the Celtics is who they could grab to play two guard and is a huge upgrade from Dort, but I think more size is necessary right now. And that means somehow upgrading Chet or Hartenstein.

They have so many picks then can burn some and barely notice.

OG, Bridges and White aren't available. Any other players that fit your criteria that OKC might be able to go after?

After this draft OKC has all their own picks plus two from Denver (2027 & 2029...both protected 1-5), a SA 2027 pick (protected...might turn into 2nds, but will probably be a late first), a swap in 2027 with the Clippers, a swap with Dallas in 2028 and 2nd round picks from various teams.

They're good to have, but most of those picks look like late firsts.

Yeah, that's why I mentioned OG and Bridges, because they have to play them and they aren't available, and they would be a great fit. Irony. And its what the Knicks went out and did.

[Rdude22]

People on here think Giannis has a chronic calf injury because of one year where he played a lot of basketball. He is totally healthy after having the most rest ever this offseason he won’t turn 32 till December still in his prime and arguably a top 2 or 3 player in the world. And is the most dominant inside presence in the world who Wemby will have a hard time stopping OKC would be crazy not to trade for him. As a bucks fan I rather keep him because next year expect an mvp season where ever he is.

Title runs don’t last more than 3-4 years anyway without massive shakeups, be it Bron/Wade Heatles or Steph/KD Warriors, so if you can have two “top 4” players on the same team… one 28 and the other 32… I think you gotta do it. Shouldn’t outthink yourself worrying about 6-7 years from now. Giannis is very good at basketball.

Giannis is still really difficult to build around because he needs the ball, you have to space for him from the 5, he's a diva, and he's always injured.

I hear ya, but let’s say it was Chet + picks for Giannis,

Shai/Giannis/Dubb is your core. Giannis likes the ball in his hands but Shai also likes sitting in the corner watching someone else create when he’s not iso’ing. I think they would mismatch hunt teams to death with their two man game then take turns iso’ing whoever has the better matchup.

Everyone else… Dubb moreso scores downhill as a kick out swing swing recipient. Caruso, Cason, JWill, McCain are all spot up shooters. Ajay is a capable spot up shooter.

The only logjam issue is Hartenstein, who is a lob threat, but again there’s JWill for spacing.

He is a diva, but so was Shaq. Better a diva than a pansy (Chet).