Around The NBA

[Chi town]

As for the Jrue deal...

Those swaps won’t happen as Bucks will be contenders for next 4 seasons. Those 1sts will be late 20s.

Not if Giannis walks

He won’t now.

More like if Giannis gets hurt which Bud would still get them in the playoffs.

[TheStig]

That's some haul for Holliday. I wonder what Zach would fetch in this market.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

The amount of potentially desperate teams with assets is dwindling.

Boston
Philly
Brooklyn
Denver
Dallas
Utah

Hard to make deals with those teams unless you really like LeVert, MPJ or Josh Richardson.

I'd be down for LeVert, picks and swaps for Zach.

[TheStig]

As for the Jrue deal...

Those swaps won’t happen as Bucks will be contenders for next 4 seasons. Those 1sts will be late 20s.

I think he'll ask for a trade in a couple of years when they start losing in the semis again. Lopez and Holiday are already over 30 and Middleton is 29. In a couple of years they will be a washed out playoff team with a horrendous cap when they pay Holiday. A maxed out Holiday on a 5 year deal won't age well IMHO.

[MGB8]

I don't think it really does. I think the Bucks have been working this masterfully. There will be plenty of minimum guys who can play spot minutes around the starters. Meanwhile, their top 5 is now Holiday-Middleton-Bogdanovic-Giannis-Lopez. Yeah, they basically have nothing beyond those five - Giannis' older brother, who can barely play, and no one who is currently signed. But look at what the Lakers were able to do with minimums and exceptions. Then go look at what current FAs are available - either already or planning to opt out, or not being QO'd.

Point being that the Bucks will likely be able to find 3 quality NBA backups for relatively cheap, and deep rotation level reserves are a dime a dozen

Except they had two players on the level of Giannis instead of one. We, from all teams out there, should know the difference it makes one very good player playing together with one of the best...

And context matters. Let's see how Durant comes back and where Harden lands. The Bucks might not even be the best team on the East at the start of this season...

Not to mention they're the Lakers in LA and not the Bucks in Milwaukee. Something to be said about playing in SoCal for the most prestigious franchise in the league.

The Bucks just last season had Wes Matthews at the minimum and Robin Lopez very cheap. Matthews is going to try to recoup some of that this season, just like Rondo is after playing for the Lakers for very little (and Avery Bradley, too), but there will be other guys. I'm sure that Giannis has friends, as do Middleton, Holliday, etc.

Justin Holiday - to play with his brother? Paul Millsap - to be able to take a shot at a ring from the East? Or Derrick Favors for the same purpose? A reunion with Jabari Parker as a reserve (if he opts out)? Evan Turner? Courtney Lee? Kent Bazemore? Dion Waiters? Jeff Green? DeMarre Carroll? Yogi Ferrell? Jahil Okafor? Brandon Knight? Noah Vonleh? RHJ? Dellavadova? Etc., etc.

The bottom line is that you have another 40 or so players coming into the NBA's limited spots via draft picks and new to the league FAs - and only so many retirements. There is only so much cap to go around, and the Bucks exceptions and minimums will be much more attractive to a lot of players than comparable offers in all but 2-4 teams.

[TheStig]

Except they had two players on the level of Giannis instead of one. We, from all teams out there, should know the difference it makes one very good player playing together with one of the best...

And context matters. Let's see how Durant comes back and where Harden lands. The Bucks might not even be the best team on the East at the start of this season...

Not to mention they're the Lakers in LA and not the Bucks in Milwaukee. Something to be said about playing in SoCal for the most prestigious franchise in the league.

The Bucks just last season had Wes Matthews at the minimum and Robin Lopez very cheap. Matthews is going to try to recoup some of that this season, just like Rondo is after playing for the Lakers for very little (and Avery Bradley, too), but there will be other guys. I'm sure that Giannis has friends, as do Middleton, Holliday, etc.

Justin Holiday - to play with his brother? Paul Millsap - to be able to take a shot at a ring from the East? Or Derrick Favors for the same purpose? A reunion with Jabari Parker as a reserve (if he opts out)? Evan Turner? Courtney Lee? Kent Bazemore? Dion Waiters? Jeff Green? DeMarre Carroll? Yogi Ferrell? Jahil Okafor? Brandon Knight? Noah Vonleh? RHJ? Dellavadova? Etc., etc.

The bottom line is that you have another 40 or so players coming into the NBA's limited spots via draft picks and new to the league FAs - and only so many retirements. There is only so much cap to go around, and the Bucks exceptions and minimums will be much more attractive to a lot of players than comparable offers in all but 2-4 teams.

I think the ring chasers will go to the LA teams or Brooklyn first. Milwaukee just isn't as good a contender or major market.

And Robin Lopez came there to play with his brother.....

[MGB8]

Not to mention they're the Lakers in LA and not the Bucks in Milwaukee. Something to be said about playing in SoCal for the most prestigious franchise in the league.

The Bucks just last season had Wes Matthews at the minimum and Robin Lopez very cheap. Matthews is going to try to recoup some of that this season, just like Rondo is after playing for the Lakers for very little (and Avery Bradley, too), but there will be other guys. I'm sure that Giannis has friends, as do Middleton, Holliday, etc.

Justin Holiday - to play with his brother? Paul Millsap - to be able to take a shot at a ring from the East? Or Derrick Favors for the same purpose? A reunion with Jabari Parker as a reserve (if he opts out)? Evan Turner? Courtney Lee? Kent Bazemore? Dion Waiters? Jeff Green? DeMarre Carroll? Yogi Ferrell? Jahil Okafor? Brandon Knight? Noah Vonleh? RHJ? Dellavadova? Etc., etc.

The bottom line is that you have another 40 or so players coming into the NBA's limited spots via draft picks and new to the league FAs - and only so many retirements. There is only so much cap to go around, and the Bucks exceptions and minimums will be much more attractive to a lot of players than comparable offers in all but 2-4 teams.

I think the ring chasers will go to the LA teams or Brooklyn first. Milwaukee just isn't as good a contender or major market.

And Robin Lopez came there to play with his brother.....

I'm not sure that they will go to Brooklyn first - Brooklyn's roster is pretty packed right now, and Kyrie and Durant aren't considered the best teammates. Lakers, sure. But I did say "after 2-4 teams."

[MrSparkle]

I think a Harden trade (to the East) will happen, and it'll have a domino effect on the Eastern Conference, Beal and LaVine.

SG talents "available:"

1. Harden
2. Beal
3. LaVine
4. Oladipo

Teams that really want to upgrade SG:

1. Sixers (Harden, Beal, LaVine)
2. Nets (Harden, Beal, maybe LaVine)
3. Wolves (Beal, maybe LaVine)

Contenders that are "1 player" away and in good position to trade:

1. Sixers (Simmons, Thybulle)
2. Nets (LeVert, Dinwiddie, Allen)
3. Heat (Herro, Iguodala)

If DC changes its mind and decides to sell Beal, the MIN offer of #1/Culver/JJ/future-FRPs would be appealing. Anyway, I think if Harden AND Beal get moved, the teams left in the dust might be willing to offer whatever needs be done to grab LaVine.

[sco]

I think a Harden trade (to the East) will happen, and it'll have a domino effect on the Eastern Conference, Beal and LaVine.

SG talents "available:"

1. Harden
2. Beal
3. LaVine
4. Oladipo

Teams that really want to upgrade SG:

1. Sixers (Harden, Beal, LaVine)
2. Nets (Harden, Beal)
3. Wolves (Beal)

Contenders that are "1 player" away and in good position to trade:

1. Sixers (Simmons, Thybulle)
2. Nets (LeVert, Dinwiddie, Allen)
3. Heat (Herro, Iguodala)

Yeah if Harden goes to BKN, Heat and Philly need to step up. Unless Philly is giving up on Simmons, I don't see what they can offer to nab an elite guard, although Dipo could probably be had for some combo of Richardson/Harris. I think MIA could come up with a deal for Zach with Herro/Robinson/Pick.

[TheStig]

The Bucks just last season had Wes Matthews at the minimum and Robin Lopez very cheap. Matthews is going to try to recoup some of that this season, just like Rondo is after playing for the Lakers for very little (and Avery Bradley, too), but there will be other guys. I'm sure that Giannis has friends, as do Middleton, Holliday, etc.

Justin Holiday - to play with his brother? Paul Millsap - to be able to take a shot at a ring from the East? Or Derrick Favors for the same purpose? A reunion with Jabari Parker as a reserve (if he opts out)? Evan Turner? Courtney Lee? Kent Bazemore? Dion Waiters? Jeff Green? DeMarre Carroll? Yogi Ferrell? Jahil Okafor? Brandon Knight? Noah Vonleh? RHJ? Dellavadova? Etc., etc.

The bottom line is that you have another 40 or so players coming into the NBA's limited spots via draft picks and new to the league FAs - and only so many retirements. There is only so much cap to go around, and the Bucks exceptions and minimums will be much more attractive to a lot of players than comparable offers in all but 2-4 teams.

I think the ring chasers will go to the LA teams or Brooklyn first. Milwaukee just isn't as good a contender or major market.

And Robin Lopez came there to play with his brother.....

I'm not sure that they will go to Brooklyn first - Brooklyn's roster is pretty packed right now, and Kyrie and Durant aren't considered the best teammates. Lakers, sure. But I did say "after 2-4 teams."

Brooklyn is gonna move most of those guys for a 3rd star.

[MrSparkle]

I think a Harden trade (to the East) will happen, and it'll have a domino effect on the Eastern Conference, Beal and LaVine.

SG talents "available:"

1. Harden
2. Beal
3. LaVine
4. Oladipo

Teams that really want to upgrade SG:

1. Sixers (Harden, Beal, LaVine)
2. Nets (Harden, Beal)
3. Wolves (Beal)

Contenders that are "1 player" away and in good position to trade:

1. Sixers (Simmons, Thybulle)
2. Nets (LeVert, Dinwiddie, Allen)
3. Heat (Herro, Iguodala)

Yeah if Harden goes to BKN, Heat and Philly need to step up. Unless Philly is giving up on Simmons, I don't see what they can offer to nab an elite guard, although Dipo could probably be had for some combo of Richardson/Harris. I think MIA could come up with a deal for Zach with Herro/Robinson/Pick.

Simmons/Harden is a no-brainer in my book, but for whatever reason those two sides denied any interest in moving those two. I think HOU is just being salty about Morey. I don't know what the Nets trade would do for them other than tread-mill. I don't see the appeal of taking the #8 seed Nets core with a skewed FRP situation. If you get Simmons, you lock in a young top-15 talent and have many years to build around him.

I really like Herro for what he is (a very good 20yo), but I don't want to be the victim of Riley's sell-high schemes. I fight LaVine's style of game, but imagining him with Riley's oversight, Spoelstra, Jimmy, Bam... he'd become the best version of himself.

But I'd at least consider Olynyk, Herro, #20, two FRPs for Zach. It'd sure give MIA more confident fire-power. We get picks and a better system player with plenty of rookie salary cushion.

MIA maintains S&T flexibility with Iguodala. I think they're gonna bank on that Iguodala contract for any FA '21 plans, because they can't afford to let all their soon-to-be FAs walk (Dragic & Crowder become unrestricted, Nunn & Duncan need extensions), so they won't exactly be under the cap anyway. Bam also needs an extension next summer, and Giannis/Davis/Kawhi/Lebron probably stand pat, so the 21 UFA plan isn't looking tangible. They probably need to get active on the trade market.

Another scenario would be a S&T for Goran ("Bulls looking for a veteran guard"). Otto would be a good fit. I don't know how to make the salaries work though; wouldn't want to take Dragic on a $27m deal (maybe 60/3 front-loaded and player option).

[cjbulls]

I think a Harden trade (to the East) will happen, and it'll have a domino effect on the Eastern Conference, Beal and LaVine.

SG talents "available:"

1. Harden
2. Beal
3. LaVine
4. Oladipo

Teams that really want to upgrade SG:

1. Sixers (Harden, Beal, LaVine)
2. Nets (Harden, Beal)
3. Wolves (Beal)

Contenders that are "1 player" away and in good position to trade:

1. Sixers (Simmons, Thybulle)
2. Nets (LeVert, Dinwiddie, Allen)
3. Heat (Herro, Iguodala)

Yeah if Harden goes to BKN, Heat and Philly need to step up. Unless Philly is giving up on Simmons, I don't see what they can offer to nab an elite guard, although Dipo could probably be had for some combo of Richardson/Harris. I think MIA could come up with a deal for Zach with Herro/Robinson/Pick.

Simmons/Harden is a no-brainer in my book, but for whatever reason those two sides denied any interest in moving those two. I think HOU is just being salty about Morey. I don't know what the Nets trade would do for them other than tread-mill. I don't see the appeal of taking the #8 seed Nets core with a skewed FRP situation. If you get Simmons, you lock in a young top-15 talent and have many years to build around him.

I really like Herro for what he is (a very good 20yo), but I don't want to be the victim of Riley's sell-high schemes. I fight LaVine's style of game, but imagining him with Riley's oversight, Spoelstra, Jimmy, Bam... he'd become the best version of himself.

But I'd at least consider Olynyk, Herro, #20, two FRPs for Zach. It'd sure give MIA more confident fire-power. We get picks and a better system player with plenty of rookie salary cushion.

MIA maintains S&T flexibility with Iguodala. I think they're gonna bank on that Iguodala contract for any FA '21 plans, because they can't afford to let all their soon-to-be FAs walk (Dragic & Crowder become unrestricted, Nunn & Duncan need extensions), so they won't exactly be under the cap anyway. Bam also needs an extension next summer, and Giannis/Davis/Kawhi/Lebron probably stand pat, so the 21 UFA plan isn't looking tangible. They probably need to get active on the trade market.

Another scenario would be a S&T for Goran ("Bulls looking for a veteran guard"). Otto would be a good fit. I don't know how to make the salaries work though; wouldn't want to take Dragic on a $27m deal (maybe 60/3 front-loaded and player option).

Miami is not doing that. They love Herro, perhaps too much, but they were rumored to scoff at the idea of adding Herro to acquire Beal. Then you're throwing in 3 FRPs. They aren't MKE desperate, they have a good trade asset and max cap room next year.

[othawhitemeat]

Nice deals for Bucks, but this will not get them over the top. Also they lost some good bench guys.. Which they need to fill out smart now.

This along with Bogan sign and trade could be close to moving the needle. Jrue and Middleton are both 3A type players or 2b. They need some playmakers off the bench but the starting lineup is dangerous.

[PhilLeotardo]

Lmao the nets are such a joke of a franchise. What horrible ownership. Marks did a good job with those Atkinson teams & was building a culture, but their clown shoes owner d*cked all of his hard work up.

lol @ handing over big money to a 30+ yr old with a blown Achilles, whose days as an elite player in the NBA have *been* over, and another guy who’s played a grand total of 147 games over the past 3 seasons combined, and has never done a single thing of relevance on any team that didn’t have a prime LBJ on it, haha!

Also LOL @hiring Steve Nash as their “head coach”!

[kulaz3000]

I don't know what all the fuss is about Harden going to the Nets.

If I'm the Lakers, Bucks, or Heat, I just watch and observe to see how they pan out first.

KD is coming off one of the most debilitating injuries a basketball player can have. Kyrie though talented, is a questionable leader. And then throw in a player who has been the head of the snack for so long, and will be asked to be a third wheel. We are talking about three players who a relatively strong headed.

It's going to be hilarious.

[MrFortune3]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

Woj with the backhanded compliment on the King's return

Bucks ain’t **** around. Damn.

[MrFortune3]

He is younger but he's worse and will get paid CP3 money next year. CP3 can run the offense down the stretch and is clutch both things Milwaukee really needs. CP3 also only took 1 pick. Not 3 picks and 2 swaps.

CP3 is 35 and grates on his teammates nerves pretty frequently.

He seemed fine in OKC. And he's 35 but he made all nba. Jrue has never done that. He's over 30. And next year you're gonna pay him CP3 money for 32-36.

OKC was young and rebuilding. He does fine there. It’s when you start chasing titles when he rubs his teammates the wrong way.

[MrFortune3]

Meh, Jimmy threw his fit because they wouldn't pay him and KAT and Wiggins were lazy. Harden and Westbrook are on supermaxes and run the team. Unless they get a ransom for Harden, I don't see why they'd move him now. Westbrook isn't getting any value, so he's kinda stuck.

Melo, Dwill, Jimmy, AD...

Jimmy was the only one with real drama and that had to do with them not paying him.

No, Melo forcing a trade to the Knicks was the ultimate drama. Dwill and Utah was also worse than Jimmy.

[TheStig]

CP3 is 35 and grates on his teammates nerves pretty frequently.

He seemed fine in OKC. And he's 35 but he made all nba. Jrue has never done that. He's over 30. And next year you're gonna pay him CP3 money for 32-36.

OKC was young and rebuilding. He does fine there. It’s when you start chasing titles when he rubs his teammates the wrong way.

Could be Harden. It didn't work with Howard or CP3 or Westbrook.....

[JordansBulls]

We should get Harden. Trade Lavine and the pick for him. This draft will be like the Marcus Fizer draft.

[MrFortune3]

He seemed fine in OKC. And he's 35 but he made all nba. Jrue has never done that. He's over 30. And next year you're gonna pay him CP3 money for 32-36.

OKC was young and rebuilding. He does fine there. It’s when you start chasing titles when he rubs his teammates the wrong way.

Could be Harden. It didn't work with Howard or CP3 or Westbrook.....

CP3 had issues with DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin and Doc Rivers... it's not just Harden in that scenario.