Indiana Pacers Draft Pick Watch Thread

[midranger]

**** I just remembered we drafted Johnny O'Bryant

Andre Hutson says hello

[Beorn]

This side of the ocean, from the Urals to the foggy town of Kozani, none approves Andre Hutson slander sir

[coolhandluke121]

Doesn't make sense for them to trade DJ, esp if it costs a draft pick to do that.

Right, you move a Tony Snell contract (2 years, 23.5 Million) with a late first, not DJ.

Sorry but that's a terrible comparison.

First off, as mentioned many times, the market is nowhere near what it was when they traded Snell. There were more teams like Detroit looking to take on bad salary in exchange for assets because they knew nobody good would sign with them, while there were fewer teams with bad contracts because so many teams had spent years protecting their cap space for last summer's bonanza. Even if not for the pandemic, the sheer amount of teams that went on a spending spree last summer changes the market dramatically for clearing salary. Throw in probably the most dramatic one-year revenue loss in the history of sports and it's a whole different animal. And it was a pretty dumb trade by Detroit, so it's hard to use that as a baseline.

Secondly, they took on Jon Leuer's $10m salary in that deal as well. Do know how much the Bucks are paying Jon Leuer this year and each of the next two seasons because they had to cut him and stretch his salary? It's over $3m each year. Not exactly the same as clearing Snell's $23.5m, is it?

Lastly, the Bucks did not receive anything from Detroit in that trade besides Leuer and his big salary, but all the proposals mentioned here included something like a 2nd-round pick or a guy like Svi coming back to Milwaukee.

I've seen so many people react negatively to this suggestion, and I don't think they've taken into account the Bucks' full situation. First off, people suggesting it don't necessarily want it to happen, but it seems very plausible. Let me ask you this: if the reports about teams being interested in selling picks to mitigate huge financial losses are true, whom do you think that applies to if not the Bucks?? They have probably the most unhealthy payroll to revenue balance in the entire NBA, they have had the best record in the NBA for two years in a row, they don't have a title for nearly 50 years, and a last first-rounder probably doesn't help them win next year when they're desperately trying to convince Giannis to stay.

It's not a rhetorical question. What teams do you think are interested in selling their picks if not the Bucks? I actually think using it to unload DJ and get a 2nd-rounder in return and spending the savings on guys like Pat C and Marvin would be a pleasant surprise. I fear they are considering selling the pick outright and not paying anyone any more than the minimum - and maybe not even the veteran minimum, but the Frank Mason young-player minimum based on much less experience than Marvin or Wes.

[coolhandluke121]

DJ's contract next year is higher than a vet minimum, but it's a decent-sized expiring for the first year of Giannis's super max extension. Between DJ, Ersan, and Robin, that's $16.6mil. Added to Giannis's 2020-21 $27.5mil, that's cap room of about $44mil. That's just about Giannis's salary for the first year of the contract extension (under the projected cap, which may come down).

Cap room? I don't think you understand how this works. They went way over the cap to give Khris a raise and sign RoLo/Wes. Giannis's cap hold will be higher than his salary next year. There will be cap holds on all the empty roster spots for those expiring contracts.

The Bucks have the 5th-most guaranteed salary in the NBA next year. They spent roughly $300m to pay Khris, Brook, and Bledsoe last year, and they are hoping to pay Giannis nearly that much by himself. Does that put in perspective what their payroll situation really is? There is little relief in sight unless Giannis leaves, which would be a disaster.

I certainly hope they keep the pick and all their rotation players, but I consider that extremely unlikely because they have made it very clear they don't want to pay the tax. I am expecting them to spend on maybe two assets, whether that's Mason + Marvin or Pat C + the pick Marvin + another ring-chaser or whatever. I am bracing myself for the possibility that they will prioritize just one of those assets. I think anyone should be very happy if they spend on 3.

[BucksFanSD]

I still don't think trading the pick is wise to remove DJ's 4.5M expiring (historical trades show there are better options) even if get a 2nd rounder back. I still think moving Bledsoe is the way to go to solve salary and it wouldn't surprise me if that were to happen.

[coolhandluke121]

I still don't think trading the pick is wise to remove DJ's 4.5M expiring (historical trades show there are better options) even if get a 2nd rounder back. I still think moving Bledsoe is the way to go to solve salary and it wouldn't surprise me if that were to happen.

It depends on the return with Bledsoe. Trading your starting PG on a team with great chemistry is risking with Giannis's free agency looming. The way guys get along is a big part of the draw for retaining everyone. A downgrade would be foolish, but an upgrade would be very difficult. He's been really good for two years.

I know people don't want to trade the pick, and I don't want to either. I'm not saying it's wise, but I'm not the one who has to worry about the bottom line. I just keep trying to explain why I think it has a good chance of happening, and people keep saying they don't want it to happen without refuting anything I'm saying, which is completely missing the point. Consider this conversation:

"I think that guy is going to run the red light. He's going pretty fast and there's a storm coming so he might be in a hurry."
"It would be really stupid of him to run the red light."
"I know, of course it would, but I see several reasons to think it's going to happen."
"That's dumb. It would be terrible if he ran the red light. Someone could get hurt."
"I know. I'm not saying it would be a good idea. I'm explaining why I think it's likely to happen."
"Running the red light would be a bad idea."
"Are you even listening to what I'm saying?"

There are rumors of teams looking to unload picks to save money and the Bucks are arguably the #1 candidate to be the subject of those rumors. They probably have more reasons than any team to be considering it, considering their financial situation and Giannis's upcoming free agency. If you don't think the Bucks are one of the teams rumored to be discussing it, then who do you think is?

[emunney]

I didn't watch any Zaragoza this year but this Czech kid Vit Krejci looks like he can hoop. Skinny as hell but doesn't back down. Yo what do we have here

Watch on YouTube

[Chuck Diesel]

Was just thinking about how good the Czech national team was at the World Cup and past few FIBA tournaments. Low key very solid hoops country.

[Beorn]

Krejci was more than solid in the few Zaragoza games I caught in the post-quarantine ACB tournament, still a long way to go though.

Czechs have BCL-level talent beyond Sato and Vesely, what makes them ok is the fact that almost everyone plays for the same club (Nymburk, the eternal NBL champion) which gives them an advantage in homogeneity, which is important in tournaments.

p.s.
They have 1.5 OK tournament runs in their history, I don't know which "few FIBA tournaments" are you talking about Chuck

[Chuck Diesel]

Krejci was more than solid in the few Zaragoza games I caught in the post-quarantine ACB tournament, still a long way to go though.

Czechs have BCL-level talent beyond Sato and Vesely, what makes them ok is the fact that almost everyone plays for the same club (Nymburk, the eternal NBL champion) which gives them an advantage in homogeneity, which is important in tournaments.

p.s.
They have 1.5 OK tournament runs in their history, I don't know which "few FIBA tournaments" are you talking about Chuck

I had it in my mind they gave Serbia a hell of a game in the knockout round of 17 but after looking it up that was indeed 15. Still last summer I thought they were one of the hardest playing, most well coached teams in China despite missing one of their two stars. They overcame a significant talent gap and were a tough out for whoever they played. They battle.

[Beorn]

They were the biggest overachievers last year, a really well-coached, hard and likable bunch.

[BroncoBuck]

I’d give up a future first to move up and grab Maxey.

I really think he’s the gem of this year’s draft. He was primed to have a big tournament performance and drastically improve his stock.

[Fotis St]

Was looking for shooters in the 2020 Draft Class , especially at the PG and SG position... We really need a consistent backcourt threat. So SG Desmond Bane looks like a "Brogdon" type of player . I will keep him in mind.

Watch on YouTube

[tedbrogen]

One thing to keep in mind is that I believe it has been mentioned by the billionaires with a B and Horst that the Bucks know full well they are going into the luxury tax as soon as Giannis' supermax extension kicks in (season after next), but they are actively trying to stay below it until then to avoid starting the multiple repeaters tax earlier than they have to.

So, the Bucks will very likely make any moves necessary this offseason to stay below the tax threshold for one more season. So maybe draft picks will be traded to save money if they can't give away DJ Wilson or don't need him as part of a larger trade package. However, the most sensible path is to let any of Pat, Wes, Rolo, Marvin, Korver, and Sterling walk if they are getting more than minimum salary offers. (Although Wes and Rolo can opt in to above minimum salaries with their player options) Chances are a couple of them will stick around to ring chase at minimum salaries (not Sterling obviously). Ersan is non-guaranteed, so they probably have to cut him and obviously DJ is gone no matter what. Fill out the rest of the roster with other minimum salary ring chasers, hopefully the Pacers pick, Reynolds, and FMIII.

All that said, there might be nothing they can do if the salary cap and luxury tax are drastically reduced. As others have mentioned, they have a ton of money tied up in Bled, Midds, Giannis, Hill, Brook, and dead cap next season. Can't really do a lot about that if they want to contend.

[Fotis St]

SG Sam Merrill
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4066757/sam-merrill

Watch on YouTube

[crkone]

SG Sam Merrill
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4066757/sam-merrill

Watch on YouTube

He's like a shorter Middleton.

[emunney]

Merrill is a pretty good candidate for that "next Duncan Robinson" slot, but he was a much better all-around NCAA player than Robinson, who has pretty much always been a specialist.

[SupremeHustle]

SG Sam Merrill
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4066757/sam-merrill

Watch on YouTube

He's like a shorter Middleton.

Seems more aggressive than Khash. I like what I see.

[SupremeHustle]

SG Sam Merrill
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4066757/sam-merrill

Watch on YouTube

He's like a shorter Middleton.

Seems more aggressive than Khash. I like what I see.

He's 24? I'm good. Nevermind.

[BucksFanSD]

Merrill did a two year mission before Utah State. Fun player to watch.