Swap Jokic and Giannis, which team gets better or worse?

[Peregrine01]

These two are widely thought of as the two best players in the world around these parts so I thought it'd be interesting to do a thought experiment if you swapped the two. How would Jokic on the Bucks look like? How would Giannis on these Nuggets? Would the respective teams improve or get worse?

[falcolombardi]

Jokic and lopez would be an awkward fit as both are strictly drop back bigs so jokic would need to be the one outside the paint.

Giannis would also be somewhat misutilized as denver primary rim protector (he works better as a roamer with lopez being the primary line of defense at the rim) but his chemistry in the pick and roll with murray would keep denver offense afloat imo

[CharityStripe34]

I think both teams would struggle for a bit to adapt to two very different styles of superstar. Lineup tweaks would have to be made. Denver would become a really interesting team in transition with Giannis leading the break. The Bucks half-court offense should improve, but their 3pt shooting can be suspect (for spacing). Eventually I think both teams would figure it out and still be successful.

[Peregrine01]

Edit: included a poll.

Some questions to consider:

Bucks: 15th in ORTG, 1st in DRTG
Nuggets: 3rd in ORTG, 28th in DRTG

Given that the relative strengths of the two are: Jokic on offense and Giannis on defense, how would the above change? And how woul it look on balance?

[70sFan]

Edit: included a poll.

Some questions to consider:

Bucks: 15th in ORTG, 1st in DRTG
Nuggets: 3rd in ORTG, 28th in DRTG

Given that the relative strengths of the two are: Jokic on offense and Giannis on defense, how would the above change? And how woul it look on balance?

I don't see Giannis doing nearly as well in Denver as Jokic offensively. I don't like his fit with most Nuggets players and he's just worse offensive player in my eyes. He'd definitely improve their defense, that's a given.

Jokic on defense in Milwaukee would be awkward. On one hand, Bucks are so talented that they should do well regadless. On the other... Jokic next to Lopez is a horrible pairing and Bucks without Lopez would collapse...

Not sure about Bucks offense with Jokic. Again, Lopez would be reduced, Jrue isn't a perfect fit either. They'd do well overall on offense though.

[Duke4life831]

I dont think either team gets better. But if I were to choose which team decreases the least, I would say the Bucks with Jokic. Milwaukee has a good mix of perimeter defenders and shooters. Offensively I think they would be better, the problem is defensively. One of the reasons they're so good defensively is because of Lopez and I dont see Lopez and Jokic working. So they take a big step back there.

I think Denver would be worse off because I just think its a worse fit for Giannis. That team is very dependent on Jokic running that offense, Giannis isnt as good as Jokic at running an offense. Then defensively, I dont want Giannis as the starting 5, which would mean Jordan getting more minutes and thats never good.

But ya I think both teams are built very well around their current stars and would take a small step back if you were to switch them.

[OhayoKD]

I dont think either team gets better. But if I were to choose which team decreases the least, I would say the Bucks with Jokic. Milwaukee has a good mix of perimeter defenders and shooters. Offensively I think they would be better, the problem is defensively. One of the reasons they're so good defensively is because of Lopez and I dont see Lopez and Jokic working. So they take a big step back there.

I think Denver would be worse off because I just think its a worse fit for Giannis. That team is very dependent on Jokic running that offense, Giannis isnt as good as Jokic at running an offense. Then defensively, I dont want Giannis as the starting 5, which would mean Jordan getting more minutes and thats never good.

But ya I think both teams are built very well around their current stars and would take a small step back if you were to switch them.

Fwiw, in 2020, the bucks with giannis and without brook were still the best rim-protecting team in the league(8 points below average I think). They were alot worse at protecting the rim when you had brook and no giannis. Giannis is probably a better rim protector than Brook honestly. Why wouldn't' you want him at the 5 on d?

Not sure I agree with the defensive drop off being smaller than the offensive drop-off. Bucks offense centers around gianni's inside gravity which jokic outright can't replicate. Offense probably gets better but something is lost in translation. On the other hand Giannis cleanly improves their defense and the nuggets don't lack the personell for drive and kick even if it's not as effective as what came before.

As you've highlighted brooks outright is a bad fit with Jokic as both suffer from a lack of mobility, does Giannis have something similar to worry about?

[falcolombardi]

Is not as ideal as the duo he makes with brook, but u think giannis can handle the 5 just fine