ATL - NBA to investigate Lowry/Ball deals for tampering, pg. 81

[MikeIsGood]

A healthy Nets team and a young/up-and-coming Hawks team also give the Bucks permission to "reload" I think.

I know the spacing issues, I know his short circuiting with FGA, but I like the idea of maybe the three best perimeter defenders in the league on the same team when you're going up against ATL and BKN, two teams loaded with offensive options.

It's intriguing. At the end of the day, defense still wins championships. If the Bucks win it this year it won't be because of their amazing offense.

You guys are short-circuiting.

three best perimeter defenders in the league on the same team

Doesn't Jerami Grant make more sense then? I guess I don't know if he is still a good defender or not, but if you did Lopez, Pat and Donte going out with Grant coming back, you could roll out a Jrue, Middleton, Grant, Tucker, Giannis line up and be incredibly versatile defensively.

Makes way more sense, lol.

[BUCKnation]

Simmons would be great on Minnesota or Portland, but other than CJ+, I don't think either have enough for him. I'm not sure who does tbh.

[SupremeHustle]

three best perimeter defenders in the league on the same team

Doesn't Jerami Grant make more sense then? I guess I don't know if he is still a good defender or not, but if you did Lopez, Pat and Donte going out with Grant coming back, you could roll out a Jrue, Middleton, Grant, Tucker, Giannis line up and be incredibly versatile defensively.

Bench is already thinner than a 90s supermodel. That doesn't help.

Middleton for Simmons and Maxey could be just the thing. Makes us younger and keeps the window open longer. And you guys get to keep Donte! Yay!!!!

[ReasonablySober]

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[SupremeHustle]

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Wow. Looks like a team is going to have to make a real potential franchise-changing decision on him. Personally I wouldn't sign him to a max deal and I think he's amazing.

Wait, he is a free agent, right?

[blazza18]

Sure that was the rumour a few weeks back. Sucks for Kawhi and the Clippers, not sure what they do long term moneywise now.

[AussieBuck]

Bench is already thinner than a 90s supermodel. That doesn't help.

This is what has me most optimistic about future seasons. There's a lot of low cost potential improvement in the team if we just gain a few dudes who can play in the playoffs. Wild we've got this far with one guard.

[AussieBuck]

Partially torn can be not that big a deal, although if he's having surgery maybe not.

[DingleJerry]

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Wow. Looks like a team is going to have to make a real potential franchise-changing decision on him. Personally I wouldn't sign him to a max deal and I think he's amazing.

Wait, he is a free agent, right?

Durant got a max deal coming of Achilles at roughly the same age knowing he was gonna redshirt the next year. He could opt in and just be a FA next year, but I have no doubt someone will give him a max even knowing he'll miss a chunk of next year. If it's partial maybe he'll be ok by mid season and slowly ramp up for the playoffs. Several teams had slotted money for him and Giannis, I'm sure they'd still give it to him. I'd probably just lock in the 4-5 years now if I was him.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Who would the Sixers have to add in order for you to take Simmons for Middleton?

I thought the Bucks future salary cap looked atrocious, but my god. I might take aging Midds/Holiday in 2023/24 at 76 mil over Harris/Simmons at $77m. They also don't have any assets beside Thybulle.

To answer your question, I miiiiight consider Simmons, Hill, Thybulle and whatever picks the 6ers have for Midds just from a depth standpoint if we don't come back.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

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Wow. Looks like a team is going to have to make a real potential franchise-changing decision on him. Personally I wouldn't sign him to a max deal and I think he's amazing.

Wait, he is a free agent, right?

Durant got a max deal coming of Achilles at roughly the same age knowing he was gonna redshirt the next year. He could opt in and just be a FA next year, but I have no doubt someone will give him a max even knowing he'll miss a chunk of next year. If it's partial maybe he'll be ok by mid season and slowly ramp up for the playoffs. Several teams had slotted money for him and Giannis, I'm sure they'd still give it to him. I'd probably just lock in the 4-5 years now if I was him.

KD somehow has less baggage and also got you Kyrie. IDK he relies a lot more on athleticism and will be 31 when he comes back. Some team will definitely do it but dear god that takes balls unless there is a package deal to go with it or a year of tanking to get him another top pick to either keep or trade for a second star.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I think Simmons on what he might end up going for will potentially be a steal, but Giannis is the worst superstar to try to pair him with.

I'm glad someone else brought up Simmons and Middleton swap, because I've been thinking about it all day.

The thing is you could justify a version of the deal if the Bucks win the title or if they don't. If they don't you can argue they've hit their peak with the current core and they need a younger second banana. If they win, the pressure is off and reloading is on the table.

A healthy Nets team and a young/up-and-coming Hawks team also give the Bucks permission to "reload" I think.

Like do we actually believe this or just using it as propaganda to support our trades? Maybe a more experienced Hunter and Reddish take them to the next level, but don't think they are close now and will be losing Collins, Sweet Lou and Gallo won't be playable come next playoffs. Feel they could be a bigger threat in 2 years if they play their cap space right when Gallo mostly comes off the books.

[BUCKnation]

Kawhi will undoubtedly get a max. Teams are thinking about giving John Collins, who's basically a rich man's bobby portis, the max...

[emunney]

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Wow. Looks like a team is going to have to make a real potential franchise-changing decision on him. Personally I wouldn't sign him to a max deal and I think he's amazing.

Wait, he is a free agent, right?

Durant got a max deal coming of Achilles at roughly the same age knowing he was gonna redshirt the next year. He could opt in and just be a FA next year, but I have no doubt someone will give him a max even knowing he'll miss a chunk of next year. If it's partial maybe he'll be ok by mid season and slowly ramp up for the playoffs. Several teams had slotted money for him and Giannis, I'm sure they'd still give it to him. I'd probably just lock in the 4-5 years now if I was him.

I could have certainly missed some developments in the field but I don't know of any procedures to repair an ACL short of an ACL reconstruction. If that's what he got then the distinction that he "partially" tore it is academic.

[ReasonablySober]

I'm glad someone else brought up Simmons and Middleton swap, because I've been thinking about it all day.

The thing is you could justify a version of the deal if the Bucks win the title or if they don't. If they don't you can argue they've hit their peak with the current core and they need a younger second banana. If they win, the pressure is off and reloading is on the table.

A healthy Nets team and a young/up-and-coming Hawks team also give the Bucks permission to "reload" I think.

Like do we actually believe this or just using it as propaganda to support our trades? Maybe a more experienced Hunter and Reddish take them to the next level, but don't think they are close now and will be losing Collins, Sweet Lou and Gallo won't be playable come next playoffs. Feel they could be a bigger threat in 2 years if they play their cap space right when Gallo mostly comes off the books.

I think the healthy Hawks could be very good, I think the Nets are likely better, the Sixers could definitely be better depending on what they do with Simmons.

[DingleJerry]

Kawhi will undoubtedly get a max. Teams are thinking about giving John Collins, who's basically a rich man's bobby portis, the max...

Right, look at what Gordan Hayword got. Oladipo thinks he's getting 100 mil. Dipo is one I'm curious on, to me it's so obvious to not pay this guy but we'll see what happens

[SickMother]

I don't care a bit about Olympic basketball. I enjoy most of the other sports. Track for example.

BIG women's volleyball fan here.

Pulling hard for a Sweden vs Brasil final.

Ok, maybe "pulling hard" was a poor choice of words.

[paulpressey25]

Edited the thread title. Kawhi having surgery is a big deal. Assume they waited until swelling went down.

[Pachinko_]

I don't care a bit about Olympic basketball. I enjoy most of the other sports. Track for example.

BIG women's volleyball fan here.

Pulling hard for a Sweden vs Brasil final.

Ok, maybe "pulling hard" was a poor choice of words.

beach volleyball?

[H2tObes]

Who would the Sixers have to add in order for you to take Simmons for Middleton?

I thought the Bucks future salary cap looked atrocious, but my god. I might take aging Midds/Holiday in 2023/24 at 76 mil over Harris/Simmons at $77m. They also don't have any assets beside Thybulle.

To answer your question, I miiiiight consider Simmons, Hill, Thybulle and whatever picks the 6ers have for Midds just from a depth standpoint if we don't come back.

Simmons is such a bad fit on the Bucks, it's a non starter. Picks nearly irrelevant with a prime Giannis locked up. Thybulle is nice but it's just diminishing returns because Bucks should have near the best defense in the league already. Just makes no sense any way you try to slice it