Bucks News, Trade Ideas, Transactions

[Ron Swanson]

People really seem to have bought into this idea that you can just plug any 6'8 or taller forward that can shoot a lick and "go small" while barely sacrificing anything defensively, but just looking at the last several championship teams kind of destroys that whole notion with guys like Marc Gasol and Dwight Howard. Rim protection is still the most important focus of defense and you lose so much by not having Brook out there. Playing Giannis at Center also takes him away from what he does best, and that's roaming and as an elite help defender. And that's not even getting into the fact that Brook is both incredibly underpaid relative to what he provides, and is an actual offensive big who can "create his own shot" and not some Luke Kornet or DeWayne Dedmon one-dimensional pick & pop guy.

[Beorn]

According to his agent, Elijah Bryant declined an offer from the Bucks, electing to stay in Maccabi for the rest of the season

Makes sense. No chance to make the roster and Maccabi is already paying him.

My understanding was that he was approached before we ran out of money/roster spots.

Better player than Pat and probably Forbes too, had everyone been in the same situation contract-wise, I easily pick Elijah.

[emunney]

People really seem to have bought into this idea that you can just plug any 6'8 or taller forward that can shoot a lick and "go small" while barely sacrificing anything defensively, but just looking at the last several championship teams kind of destroys that whole notion with guys like Marc Gasol and Dwight Howard. Rim protection is still the most important focus of defense and you lose so much by not having Brook out there. Playing Giannis at Center also takes him away from what he does best, and that's roaming and as an elite help defender. And that's not even getting into the fact that Brook is both incredibly underpaid relative to what he provides, and is an actual offensive big who can "create his own shot" and not some Luke Kornet or DeWayne Dedmon one-dimensional pick & pop guy.

I don't know that Dwight Howard is a shining example of how you still need bigs, particularly to get past small ball teams. He racked up DNPs against Houston, sucked when he didn't. Spot minutes in the Finals.

He was also a minimum salary pickup, and was again this offseason. He's a much better example of how low value part-time 'true' centers are, how replaceable they are.

We'd miss Brook's shot creation to the extent that we used it (not much) and to the extent that it wasn't replaced directly or indirectly.

[machu46]

People really seem to have bought into this idea that you can just plug any 6'8 or taller forward that can shoot a lick and "go small" while barely sacrificing anything defensively, but just looking at the last several championship teams kind of destroys that whole notion with guys like Marc Gasol and Dwight Howard. Rim protection is still the most important focus of defense and you lose so much by not having Brook out there. Playing Giannis at Center also takes him away from what he does best, and that's roaming and as an elite help defender. And that's not even getting into the fact that Brook is both incredibly underpaid relative to what he provides, and is an actual offensive big who can "create his own shot" and not some Luke Kornet or DeWayne Dedmon one-dimensional pick & pop guy.

Unless you hit on a draft pick (my personal choices in this year's draft would have been Jalen Smith, who ended up going very early obviously, and Xavier Tillman, who was probably attainable if we wanted him), you'd definitely have to sacrifice something in trying to replace Brook. None of the super cheap options are going to give you the combo of rim protection, 3 point shooting, post offense, and team rebounding that Brook provides.

I don't think I would have opted for undersized shooters as a replacement for him personally. I probably would lean towards someone like Nerlens Noel in conjunction with a rookie like Xavier Tillman.

Again though, it only makes sense to do something like that if the guard/wing you're getting for Brook is a major upgrade. Oladipo could theoretically be a major upgrade but is too risky for my blood.

[LUKE23]

I still feel Brook is a perfect fit (even moreso if he gets back to roughly .360 from 3) because he keeps our rim D elite while not putting all the burden on Giannis there. The key in utilizing Giannis at C lineups is what the other team does with the opposing C. If there is a finesse, floor spacing big out there, we should be playing Giannis at C, as we gain advantages at both ends. A more traditional protect the basket big, Lopez out there makes more sense as he can theoretically pull that guy out of the lane and allow Giannis to attack. It's nice to have both and to not put all of the C pressure on Giannis. It's something that should be used based on matchups, not as a full bore thing. Either way, Lopez isn't getting traded.

[RogerMurdock]

I don't know, guys, I think the Bucks could easily get rid of Lopez and plug someone in an NBA All-Defensive Second Team center. No problem.

[buckboy]

I think pacers like DDV and will eventually accept a deal for dipo (expiring) involving DDV. Brook would have to be included to make the contracts work. Yeh he's not as mobile as Turner but he's stronger. Turner can't defend someone like Embiid. Eventually he'll be moved. This will leave us naked at the 5 but I'm sure we can find a cheap replacement. Also incentive to go with Giannis at the 5, whilst we add another good guard an iso guy for the playoffs.

This sounds completely and utterly terrible.

I'm intrigued by the thought of adding Oladipo for Brook, but it's hard to find a fit given we're hard capped and need to have at least 13 guys on the roster. We're at 14 and at least 3 would have to go out for Oladipo.

Personally, I don't like the fit of Oladipo, not to mention that he would be a 3rd guy that needs a big new contract in summer. Also, the thought of replacing Brook with "cheap replacements" means either revamping the defensive system entirely, or hoping the cheap replacement can anchor the defense as well as Brook does (seemingly unlikely).

Also, I love DDV.

[emunney]

I don't know, guys, I think the Bucks could easily get rid of Lopez and plug someone in an NBA All-Defensive Second Team center. No problem.

Who would we be trading him for?

[Fotis St]

People thinking that Brook is replaceable have me wondering what the hell they've been watching the last 2 years.

We are watching a "Taller Monroe" just clogging the lane on D as his coach sets him up. He is good BUT the Defensive Stats are inflated cause of Bud System and Giannis just intimidating the opponents with his presence and being elite at help defense. Totally replacable by a coachable big. His true impact was on his 3p% at a high volume 2 seasons ago, last season no , he was an ice cold mountain. Put Banes instead of the Brook (the brick version) and we are still winning the same games, and Giannis has less rebounding responsibilities.

[LUKE23]

A taller Monroe? LOL.

[Ron Swanson]

People thinking that Brook is replaceable have me wondering what the hell they've been watching the last 2 years.

We are watching a "Taller Monroe" just clogging the lane on D as his coach sets him up. He is good BUT the Defensive Stats are inflated cause of Bud System and Giannis just intimidating the opponents with his presence and being elite at help defense. Totally replacable by a coachable big. His true impact was on his 3p% at a high volume 2 seasons ago, last season no , he was an ice cold mountain. Put Banes instead of the Brook (the brick version) and we are still winning the same games, and Giannis has less rebounding responsibilities.

Amazing how consistently wrong your comparisons are, but dammit, I have to admire how you say them with such confidence.

[LittleRooster]

Brook is so damn important to this team. I also am amazed how undervalued he is. He’s also a great teammate


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[msiris]

In the playoffs vs Miami Brook was preety much useless

[LUKE23]

In the playoffs vs Miami Brook was preety much useless

Miami is a team he's a bad matchup against. You either have Bam, a crazy mobile athlete, or Olynyk, a great shooting seven footer, at C. Giannis should have been at C whenever Olynyk was in the game, and if they are going to keep Lopez out there when Bam is in, they need to feed the post. Bam is a great defender but he's still giving up three inches and 25+ pounds to Lopez.

You need Lopez against Philly. Boston added Tristan Thompson who is a non floor spacing big. Indy uses Myles Turner who is 6-11/250.

A big key for Lopez is getting that three point stroke back, as I mentioned. Pulling any kind of shotblocking threat out of the lane basically means nobody is stopping Giannis in the paint without double or triple teams.

[GoldenAntlers]

I don't know, guys, I think the Bucks could easily get rid of Lopez and plug someone in an NBA All-Defensive Second Team center. No problem.

Who would we be trading him for?

He's joking.

[paulpressey25]

Understand the desire in our message board discussions wanting to upgrade every position.

At the same time, here were our centers before Brook Lopez arrived:

John Henson
Greg Monroe
Miles Plumlee
Thon Maker
Tyler Zeller

For good measure, here were the PG's before we got Eric Bledsoe:

Jerryd Bayless
Greivis Vasquez
Matthew Dellevadova
Brandon Jennings
Jason Terry
Gary Payton, JUNIOR
Michael Carter Williams
Tyler Ennis
Brandon Knight
Jorge Gutierrez
Kendall Marshall

I'll stop now. But Bledsoe and Brook have been damn studs for us the past couple seasons. With Jrue you actually did upgrade, but at a massive price. Good luck with easily replacing what Brook does!

[SirChurros]

Nothing like a Jorge Gutierrez name drop on a Monday morning.

[emunney]

I don't know, guys, I think the Bucks could easily get rid of Lopez and plug someone in an NBA All-Defensive Second Team center. No problem.

Who would we be trading him for?

He's joking.

I'm responding to the joke's implications.

[emunney]

Understand the desire in our message board discussions wanting to upgrade every position.

At the same time, here were our centers before Brook Lopez arrived:

John Henson
Greg Monroe
Miles Plumlee
Thon Maker
Tyler Zeller

For good measure, here were the PG's before we got Eric Bledsoe:

Jerryd Bayless
Greivis Vasquez
Matthew Dellevadova
Brandon Jennings
Jason Terry
Gary Payton, JUNIOR
Michael Carter Williams
Tyler Ennis
Brandon Knight
Jorge Gutierrez
Kendall Marshall

I'll stop now. But Bledsoe and Brook have been damn studs for us the past couple seasons. With Jrue you actually did upgrade, but at a massive price. Good luck with easily replacing what Brook does!

IMO this describes institutional incompetence under Hammond -> Kidd more than it describes actual scarcity at either of these positions league wide.

[raferfenix]

Where are the Bucks projected to be in relation to the luxury tax?

We have limited means to improve the team during the season. But one way could be taking on more / longer term salary.