Way too early trade suggestions (7 Viewers)

[SharpesTriumph]

Exactly. It's kind of a Catch-22 - if we DO trade the picks to the Bucks, they will tank and make them good. If we don't, they'll target players in return for Giannis that will help them NOT tank. In other words, if we keep them, they probably won't be good. It's kind of the opposite of sour grapes.

In theory you can say this about acquiring ANY draft pick.

The thing is sometimes even when teams try to win they don't. The Pelicans have zero incentive to tank this year - how'd that winning work out?

The Bucks thought Miles Turner and Kyle Kuzma would be key starters to win with Giannis. I have little faith their front office even if making efforts to acquire winning players will executive that strategy and avoid the lottery.

Also we saw with the Mavs last year and many other times have seen how a team at any spot in the lottery can get a top4 pick. The Blazers having three years to roll the dice on the Bucks lottery luck while working to win themselves is a rare situation teams hardly ever get the chance to pursue in the NBA. While I'm not 100% holding onto the Bucks picks no matter what - I would want a hell of a good return to consider handing those over.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Yeah, I said before, the best value of those picks is in the Bucks' possession. They're looking at a top 10 pick this year, and whatever they get for Giannis potentially. And then no incentive to tank, if we have their picks. And Atlanta has their '27. Could be a top pick, but they won't aggressively tank like other teams. So it's likely a 8-12 spot jump in the draft. Still great, and I like the option. But their value, like a stock, is inching towards its peak, IMO

Atlanta only has the 2027 Bucks pick if its outside the top4 - if its top4 then the Pelicans have it.

Thats another reason we're the #1 team the Bucks will explore having in a Giannis trade. They can't even go to any other single team to get one year of their picks back, let alone the three years we fully control.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Would you pay Milwaukee's picks back to get Bam?

Something like - Giannis and MT to the Heat, Bam and Rozier to Portland, Grant, RW3, Rupert, Jaquez, Jaquisions and the Milwaukee picks + whatever picks Miami has to the Bucks.

So the Heat plan to pair Giannis with Hero? LMAO not happening.

Their going to require Bam stay on the squad if acquiring Giannis.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Yeah, I said before, the best value of those picks is in the Bucks' possession. They're looking at a top 10 pick this year, and whatever they get for Giannis potentially. And then no incentive to tank, if we have their picks. And Atlanta has their '27. Could be a top pick, but they won't aggressively tank like other teams. So it's likely a 8-12 spot jump in the draft. Still great, and I like the option. But their value, like a stock, is inching towards its peak, IMO

But overall yes you are probably right those Bucks picks are worth more to the Bucks than any team. Probably the same argument for any teams picks. But it often doesn't really matter much unless a team has a chance to be in the lottery. But if it gets to that point it flips from something teams like to hold onto to a desperate desire to reacquire their own pick.

I will say getting the two Bucks swaps has worked out beautifully. At the time of the Dame trade those weren't thought of very highly. Now they probably have more value than a top8 protected FRP.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[andalusian]

So the Heat plan to pair Giannis with Hero? LMAO not happening.

The Heat already do not play Ware and Bam together (*), that way they have Giannis with Ware and they still keep Norman Powell and Herro.

You really can't expect Miami to get Giannis without giving some value - and let's face it, Herro is not the key return of a superstar trade. Miami tried that and it did not work for them. This way they get off the Bam / Ware duo that they do not seem to like playing together anyway and upgrade Bam to Giannis for a relatively small price of a couple of role players and picks.

Their going to require Bam stay on the squad if acquiring Giannis.

If that's what they want, they do not get Giannis. No-one is giving them a superstar for a poopoo platter. Did not work before, will not work now. They need to match salaries - and a package based on Herro is not going to cut it.

(*)

 

[SharpesTriumph]

The Heat already do not play Ware and Bam together (*), that way they have Giannis with Ware and they still keep Norman Powell and Herro.

You really can't expect Miami to get Giannis without giving some value - and let's face it, Herro is not the key return of a superstar trade. Miami tried that and it did not work for them. This way they get off the Bam / Ware duo that they do not seem to like playing together anyway and upgrade Bam to Giannis for a relatively small price of a couple of role players and picks.


If that's what they want, they do not get Giannis. No-one is giving them a superstar for a poopoo platter. Did not work before, will not work now. They need to match salaries - and a package based on Herro is not going to cut it.

(*)

You answered your own question on Ware/Bam. Miami can send out Ware, Jacquez, most of their picks, Hero. That is what they'd try to do. Maybe it won't be enough - but they're not sending out Bam.

No team is going to send out their best player to acquire Giannis. That doesn't make any sense. Why would Giannis resign when his contract ends in a few months.

Only team to do something like that this century was the Mavs last year sending out Doncic. Meanwhile their GM was fired, even after getting Flag. It has gone down as the dumbest trade in the history of the NBA.

 

[andalusian]

You answered your own question on Ware/Bam. Miami can send out Ware, Jacquez, most of their picks, Hero. That is what they'd try to do. Maybe it won't be enough - but they're not sending out Bam.

No team is going to send out their best player to acquire Giannis. That doesn't make any sense. Why would Giannis resign when his contract ends in a few months.

Only team to do something like that this century was the Mavs last year sending out Doncic. Meanwhile their GM was fired, even after getting Flag. It has gone down as the dumbest trade in the history of the NBA.

No, you answered the question, Portland is not returning the picks for ware and Milwaukee is not giving Gianni’s for the poopoo platter. That’s the only way Miami can get Giannis. If they don’t do that, Portland doesn’t want to play and the bucks will look elsewhere

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Natebishop3]

I just don't see Philly making this move. Giving up VJ for two stars that can't stay healthy as your foundation....

The silly thing to me is that Giannis to Portland makes the most sense out of any of these teams. We have young talent and veterans. It's not gonna kill us if we trade the picks and Scoot.

We present the best option for him to win another ring. Better than GSW in my opinion.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Always been huge VJ fan but yea laughable to trade all those assets for him

 

[blazerfan11]

I just don't see Philly making this move. Giving up VJ for two stars that can't stay healthy as your foundation....

The silly thing to me is that Giannis to Portland makes the most sense out of any of these teams. We have young talent and veterans. It's not gonna kill us if we trade the picks and Scoot.

We present the best option for him to win another ring. Better than GSW in my opinion.

Nobody has any idea what those picks will turn into.

 

[Natebishop3]

Nobody has any idea what those picks will turn into.

Milwaukee knows. That's the whole point. If they have their picks and swaps back they can control their own destiny. They can tank if they want to. Right now tanking is kinda pointless for them.

 

[wizenheimer]

Milwaukee knows. That's the whole point. If they have their picks and swaps back they can control their own destiny. They can tank if they want to. Right now tanking is kinda pointless for them.

they aren't tanking this season...yet. But they still have the 7th worst record in the league...with a top-5 player

I think the chatter about Milwaukee controlling whether they tank or not over the next 2-4 seasons is a bit loopy. They have a bad roster and it won't get better any time soon after Giannis is traded

 

[Natebishop3]

they aren't tanking this season...yet. But they still have the 7th worst record in the league...with a top-5 player

I think the chatter about Milwaukee controlling whether they tank or not over the next 2-4 seasons is a bit loopy. They have a bad roster and it won't get better any time soon after Giannis is traded

I also don't think their GM is actually that good. A lot of his moves have been questionable at best.

 

[wizenheimer]

I also don't think their GM is actually that good. A lot of his moves have been questionable at best.

good point

I'm mostly reacting to the argument I've seen that asserts the Bucks will be motivated to be better if they don't get the pick and swaps from Portland...thus devaluing that pick and swaps....meaning that that McDaniels trade idea isn't that bad...hahaha. I don't believe Milwaukee will turn things around that fast and they still some downward slide ahead of them too, They haven't bottomed out yet

 

[SharpesTriumph]

good point

I'm mostly reacting to the argument I've seen that asserts the Bucks will be motivated to be better if they don't get the pick and swaps from Portland...thus devaluing that pick and swaps....meaning that that McDaniels trade idea isn't that bad...hahaha. I don't believe Milwaukee will turn things around that fast and they still some downward slide ahead of them too, They haven't bottomed out yet

How long did the Knicks stink even when trading away their picks? It was decades. They wanted to win every season. They had few to no rookies developing and that set them back. The Bucks similarly have basically zero rookies or players on rookie extensions from a decade of mortgaging all those picks.

Sometimes a team desire to win and desire to not tank is counter productive to winning. In the NBA you need to have some patience for young talent to develop but if your just trying to win every season it can harm the ability to win 3-4 years from now and becomes a vicious cycle. The Kings are another one that for decades have been in a rush to win and outside one year it's been a disaster. Hornets and Pistons were like this too but have been much better in recent years.

The Bucks look more like a team following that path of a team that will flirt with high lottery picks than a team like the Celtics, Heat, etc that have a track record of never sinking in the lottery.

 

[SwissBlazer]

The Stein Line

A week ago, when we printed a lengthy look at why Bucks officials were coming to terms with the reality that legitimately entertaining trade offers for The Greek Freak could no longer be avoided, we wrote a lot about the Portland Trail Blazers and their interest in joining any transaction that facilitates Antetokounmpo's exit, since the Blazers control Milwaukee's draft picks in 2028, 2029 and 2030.

The Blazers' efforts have since gone beyond that.

The Stein Line has learned that Portland has also expressed its own interest to the Bucks that it would like to acquire Antetokounmpo ... even as the Blazers realistically understand that it would be an extreme longshot to convince Giannis to sign a contract extension that keeps him in the Pacific Northwest.

The far more likely scenario remains Portland participating in such a deal as a facilitator to snag an impact veteran (or two) as part of a multi-team trade structure. It should be noted, though, that the Blazers do have Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard on their roster — two players who have maintained a closeness with Milwaukee's star.

Yet we repeat: The Blazers continue to be regarded as a plausible facilitator if an Antetokounmpo deal reaches the finish line in the next five days. As we've been reporting since last weekend, Portland has long admired the likes of New York's Mikal Bridges as a potential backcourt partner alongside Lillard and have a player in Holiday that the Knicks and other teams believe would enhance their chances of getting Antetokounmpo to their franchise if Holiday can also be acquired from Portland.

 

[SwissBlazer]

I listened to a lot of podcasts from national media (Lowe, Windhorst, KOC) and absolutely nobody speaks about the Blazers being even a potential suitor.

This may change

 

[SharpesTriumph]

The Stein Line

A week ago, when we printed a lengthy look at why Bucks officials were coming to terms with the reality that legitimately entertaining trade offers for The Greek Freak could no longer be avoided, we wrote a lot about the Portland Trail Blazers and their interest in joining any transaction that facilitates Antetokounmpo's exit, since the Blazers control Milwaukee's draft picks in 2028, 2029 and 2030.

The Blazers' efforts have since gone beyond that.

The Stein Line has learned that Portland has also expressed its own interest to the Bucks that it would like to acquire Antetokounmpo ... even as the Blazers realistically understand that it would be an extreme longshot to convince Giannis to sign a contract extension that keeps him in the Pacific Northwest.

The far more likely scenario remains Portland participating in such a deal as a facilitator to snag an impact veteran (or two) as part of a multi-team trade structure. It should be noted, though, that the Blazers do have Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard on their roster — two players who have maintained a closeness with Milwaukee's star.

Yet we repeat: The Blazers continue to be regarded as a plausible facilitator if an Antetokounmpo deal reaches the finish line in the next five days. As we've been reporting since last weekend, Portland has long admired the likes of New York's Mikal Bridges as a potential backcourt partner alongside Lillard and have a player in Holiday that the Knicks and other teams believe would enhance their chances of getting Antetokounmpo to their franchise if Holiday can also be acquired from Portland.

Its a bit hard to make the salaries work from NY end where they acquire both Giannis and Jrue.

Maybe something like the below (obviously a bunch of picks would be involved)

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Blazers get a lineup of;

Dame Scoot
Sharpe Hart
Bridges Camara
Deni
KAT Clingan

I might prefer trying to move KAT to a 3rd team but that would be nice to have such great wing depth by replacing Grant with both Hart+Bridges.

Also the Jrue+Dame+Scoot trio doesn't really make a lot of great sense next season. Trading away Scoot leaves us with PG's both 36, obviously Dame isn't going anywhere. While Jrue is nice he's really a luxury that we can part with if were getting upgrades elsewhere and the Hart+Bridges duo is a big wing upgrade.

KAT could probably play some PF next to Clingan like he did in Minnesota.

It's certainly interesting and I can see some logic for all sides.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I listened to a lot of podcasts from national media (Lowe, Windhorst, KOC) and absolutely nobody speaks about the Blazers being even a potential suitor.

This may change

Is there any team outside the top8 of their conference that is being discussed?

It makes sense the Blazers aren't discussed at all. If we were fighting for HCA it would be different. Or if Dame was returning before October.

Also the discussion is to generate likes/clicks/traffic so it always is skewed to big markets. Nobody was talking about Kawhi going to the Raptors until it was announced.

 

[RR7]

Is there any team outside the top8 of their conference that is being discussed?

It makes sense the Blazers aren't discussed at all. If we were fighting for HCA it would be different. Or if Dame was returning before October.

Also the discussion is to generate likes/clicks/traffic so it always is skewed to big markets. Nobody was talking about Kawhi going to the Raptors until it was announced.

And nobody discussed Lillard to Milwaukee before that deal happened.

 

[PCmor7]

Always been huge VJ fan but yea laughable to trade all those assets for him

It's an intriguing idea, but I, too, think the Blazers give up way too much to get a guy who either might not be a fit or might be a redundancy.

It's different than trading Brogdon who we knew was going out along with a couple of mid-1R for Deni, when we needed a forward (and one that could also initiate the offense or bring the ball up court). The Blazers would be giving up a PG who could turn out to be really good and potentially three picks in the top 10 for a player who has a lot of overlap with Shaedon and is two years younger.

Vecenie, like some here, pushes the argument that "Well, the Blazers don't know where those Bucks picks are going to land," and "The Bucks will have no incentive to tank." Yeah. But the Bucks might not have have to try to be really bad to be really bad without Giannis. Other than Giannis, what assets exactly are they going to use to get them out of the lottery? What's making them better? What players are being attracted to sign with the Bucks or mention Milwaukee as a preferred trade destination?

I don't think there are many.

And Vecenie's argument that two of those Bucks picks are pick swaps doesn't mean a lot to me because the Blazers most likely are going to finish with a better record than the Bucks without Giannis, so, yes, while it's not an absolute, I think those pick swaps are very valuable.

Of course, those three picks could end up 8, 9 and 11. You can still get very valuable players at 8, 9 and 11. But those picks also could be in the top four --- all or any of them could be in the top four. That's why I'm not eager to trade any of them, let alone all of them, for VJ Edgecomb.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Can VJ and Shae play together? I think if Deni is on the floor, the trio would be exciting as hell. I do love his game, and he is only 20.
I would not hate it, but we could certainly end up regretting it if just one of those picks ended up being a star. Can we make the picks conditional? (top 3 protected)

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I'd certainly explore getting VJ as outside Flagg he might be the best rookie. But the reason to pull the trigger is if you think he can improve to a whole nother level. Kind of like the Thunder getting a rookie SGA from the Clippers.

I doubt Philly makes him available but if he is of course you listen. I bet it's just smokescreens from Morey.

Outside a top stud young player or a Giannis level star I'm not giving up those Bucks picks. Last two champs won titles holding other teams unprotected picks.

Just keeping those Bucks picks might ultimately be a better path to a title than trading for a Giannis level star.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Its a bit hard to make the salaries work from NY end where they acquire both Giannis and Jrue.

Maybe something like the below (obviously a bunch of picks would be involved)

View attachment 80511

I do have a feeling that we will end up with Towns.

 

[MickZagger]

The Stein Line

A week ago, when we printed a lengthy look at why Bucks officials were coming to terms with the reality that legitimately entertaining trade offers for The Greek Freak could no longer be avoided, we wrote a lot about the Portland Trail Blazers and their interest in joining any transaction that facilitates Antetokounmpo's exit, since the Blazers control Milwaukee's draft picks in 2028, 2029 and 2030.

The Blazers' efforts have since gone beyond that.

The Stein Line has learned that Portland has also expressed its own interest to the Bucks that it would like to acquire Antetokounmpo ... even as the Blazers realistically understand that it would be an extreme longshot to convince Giannis to sign a contract extension that keeps him in the Pacific Northwest.

The far more likely scenario remains Portland participating in such a deal as a facilitator to snag an impact veteran (or two) as part of a multi-team trade structure. It should be noted, though, that the Blazers do have Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard on their roster — two players who have maintained a closeness with Milwaukee's star.

Yet we repeat: The Blazers continue to be regarded as a plausible facilitator if an Antetokounmpo deal reaches the finish line in the next five days. As we've been reporting since last weekend, Portland has long admired the likes of New York's Mikal Bridges as a potential backcourt partner alongside Lillard and have a player in Holiday that the Knicks and other teams believe would enhance their chances of getting Antetokounmpo to their franchise if Holiday can also be acquired from Portland.

He lost me as soon as he said, “to pair with Lillard”

He’s full of shit if thinking our personnel decisions are based on Lillard. That ship sank years ago.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'd certainly explore getting VJ as outside Flagg he might be the best rookie. But the reason to pull the trigger is if you think he can improve to a whole nother level. Kind of like the Thunder getting a rookie SGA from the Clippers.

I doubt Philly makes him available but if he is of course you listen. I bet it's just smokescreens from Morey.

The prospect of VJ becoming the next SGA is, IMO, precisely why Philly won't part with him. But as you said, you HAVE to listen of it's a possibility.