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Bucks’ Blockbuster Moves: Lillard’s Contract, Turner’s Signing, and Assets with BrewHoop’s Van Fayaz



Bucks’ Blockbuster Moves: Lillard’s Contract, Turner’s Signing, and Assets with BrewHoop’s Van Fayaz

Got some clarity on the offset language, the contract for Damen Lillard. What are the Bucks on the hook for? What does that cap look like? And more in a busy offseason coming up next on Locked on Bucks. You are Locked on Bucks, your daily Milwaukee Bucks podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome in to Lockdown Bucks. I’m Justin Garcia. You can hear me throughout the season on the Bucks Radio Network. Bonus edition coming your way today as we’re joined by Van Fias of Brew Hoop. Um to try to dig into what Camille and I talked about on the show Friday with Damen Lillard’s deal being uh what offset and joining the Portland Trailblazers. So, we think we have the answer. had to lean on Van and Bobby Marks and a few others for this, but uh we think we have the clarity now and it’s basically what we assumed. Am I right there, Van? And what Frank kind of talked about too. Well, actually, no. So, it it’s yes and no. It kind of covers both. So, it is actually a $20.2 $2 million cap hit that it will become, but that’s not until uh is it the new season begins next year, the new league year or after the regular season ends, I know Bobby Mark said. So, it’s not immediately like it doesn’t turn right now into a $20.2 million cap hit, right? It’s well, it is $22.5 million now and it will be through next June as I understand it after talking to Bobby a little bit today. Um, basically the reason is, um, if he were to get waved, then there would by Portland, um, and and stretched like the Bucks did to him, which isn’t going to happen, but if that did happen, there would be another calculation that would have to be done. But essentially uh at the end of I guess the league year after the regular season um that’s usually when tax payments are are well tax payments are calculated based on a team’s salary at the very end of the regular season. So in April and the this calculation is made sometime around then too but the adjustment won’t happen until June because there’s still a waiver period I believe that goes like after the end of the regular season 2 and then waiverss kind of close. Um, regardless, uh, he will be the for the cap hit for Dame is going to be the $22.5 million that we had previously figured out because, um, that split the 112.6 million in two years left on his now previous deal. Uh, that was being waved and stretched over five seasons. Now, uh, it’s going to be 22.5 until June and then it’s getting reduced to 20.2 too. And it’s going to be that until 2030. So essentially like if the Bucks were to finish like against the tax line or an apron or something which is I don’t think is even remotely right now in in February. Right. Exactly. I I don’t know how they would at this point be able to add enough salary to get even close to um a tax line. I’m not sure if it’s it’s even legal by the salary matching rules. But let’s say somehow they did um they if they were over the tax by like a million or two million bucks then this calculation would happen and they would go under or an apron or something like that. So ultimately it doesn’t really it doesn’t do anything like you and Camille were saying as far as their roster building abilities. It’s just some money that they save over I think the course of the the waved and stretched period. um they’re saving it amounts to about 11.5 million bucks over that uh original span of of 5 years through uh 2030. So that might come in handy in a future season. Um, I don’t expect the Bucks are going to be paying the tax uh next season either in 2026 27 because uh not not because they’re not close or they’re far away from the um the threshold, but because if they’re not paying the tax this season and they don’t pay the tax next season, then the repeater count is is reset. you have to finish below the tax in at least three of the previous four seasons in order to not face repeater penalties. So they could then go into the tax in 2027 28 and they wouldn’t pay the repeater penalties which is something they’ve been doing now for I guess five years because they’ve been in the tax since they the first time they went the tax was right after they won the championship because it triggered some unlikely benefits I think in Drew Holidayiday’s contract. Yeah. Anyway, so it might come in handy uh to get them under an apron or something in the future, but um probably not prior to 2027. Yeah. So, we should also point out today’s episode brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use the code locked on NBA for $20 off your first purchase. our friends over at Game Time presenting today’s show. Um, yeah, I mean, look, every little bit counts and helps, but as as we were talking about before, and I think Camille and I mentioned on the show prior to this as well, I mean, 2 whatever it is, million dollars. Sure, it’s it gives you a little bit of flexibility, but that’s that’s not make or break for what the Bucks are. Oh, this opens up so many things for us now. No, the Bucks right now uh prior to this contract and right now it’s the same situation for them. Um they’ve already used their caps base that they created by waving Dame Lillard as we know to sign Miles Turner. Um and then they used part of their room exception because they didn’t get the the full midle because they created Cap Room. They got instead um 8.8 million bucks uh instead of the 14.1 you get as the mid-level. and they used um believe 5.1 of that on signing Kevin Pora Jr. So they have left on that uh about 3 six 3.7 million um and that’s like they could use that to sign a free agent. Um but that is not too much different than a lot of players minimum contracts. Um, like the if you were to sign a 10-year veteran right now uh to a minimum contract, the Bucks would only be paying him 2.3 million because that’s the portion that’s not reimbursed by the league. By the league. Yeah. Right. Exactly. But then, you know, that player is actually going to be making like 3.3 3.6 million uh depending if they’re like nine, 10 years of service on up. Um so really just amounts to kind of a minimum deal. And that was the same thing before this this signing or this uh this Portland signing I should say. Yeah. So really nothing has changed here as far as what the Bucks can do this off season in the 202526 season. Um really at any point uh in the foreseeable future. It doesn’t make a true difference. It’s just a little bit more uh relief from dead salary each year between now and 2025 or I’m sorry 2020 2030. That’s what it is. Yeah. Uh it just makes it easier to spend. Instead of rounding up to roughly $25 million in dead cap space, you can now say, “Hey, uh it’ll be 20.2 months from now, it’s $20 million in in dead cap space that we have.” So there’s for Dame, but they still have they still have some for me too. So yeah, for the next couple of years, it’s and it’s going to end up around 20.8 million and then it’ll be 20.2 the following two years. So, uh, I do want to I don’t want to turn this totally into Dame Lillard. Um, but it it was interesting to see his landing spot. So, I want to get your thoughts on that. We haven’t talked on the pot at least since the Miles Turner signing. So, I know you guys covered that at Brew Hoop, but get your reactions to that. And one interesting tidbit that came out in the afternoon on Friday as well, not necessarily sourced reporting, but a couple of uh NBA media figures saying, you know, if I was Cam Thomas, I’d target these two teams. So, we’ll get into that conversation coming up after this. This next segment of Locked on Bucks is brought to you by Game Time, and we’ve all been there. Logging on early, waiting forever for concert tickets to go on sale. Remember back in the day when you had to actually go to a physical storefront and then you lose your spot in line physically or online and you miss out on the tickets to the event you were dying to see? Live music should be about making memories and those memories should not be dealing with the stress it took to get those tickets. That’s where game time comes in. Game time makes getting concert tickets faster and easier than ever. The prices actually drop as it gets closer to showtime. And you can save up to 60% off with their killer lastminute deals. If you’ve grown tired of endless scrolling trying to find the best deal, well, Game Time’s zone deals. Pick the best seats for you in your section. And maybe you wondered what the venue is going to look like before you buy those tickets. Well, their app shows you a panoramic seat view so there’s no surprises come showtime. And with Game Time, the price you see is the price you pay. No hidden fees or sticker shock once you get to checkout. Take the guesswork out of buying concert tickets and show tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use the code locked on NBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem that code locked on NBA for $20 off. Download the Game Time app today. Lastm minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Um, Damen Lillard going back to Portland. I know we all kind of talked about it at the time when he was waved and stretched and said, “Yeah, I I I well, I shouldn’t say all of us. I know I felt this way and a few others, too. Um, I just hope he goes back to Portland. Like, finish it there. be around your family, have the the prodical son returns, and that’s what happened. Um, the mid-level exception is basically what he got. And I think the interesting thing that Camille and I touched on is I still think, and I’m curious your thoughts, the wave and stretch is going to become more common. then it’s not necessarily every team’s going to do it um every year or every other year, but it’s not I think it’s not going to be like no team does that. I I think you’re going to start to see like we have the dead cap conversations in the NFL. I think this is going to become a thing under this CBA. But it is worth noting, I mean, Bradley Beal and Dame are the two big ones. these guys aren’t signing for minimums, which everybody tossed out there of like, well, he’s already getting paid, so if he can sign for the minimum, why not? Uh, that’s the interesting part. So for Dame to go back to Portland and get basically the mid level for a team that already has a credited backcourt, already brought in a veteran that people kind of questioned of, wow, this is an interesting move in the back court, and now you’re adding one more into the mix for a player that they’ve all but said is not going to play this season between, I think Windhorse pointed out, between DeAndre Aton and Dame, the Blazers are going to have over $40 million in money tied up to guys not playing for them or at least not playing this season. As much of a good story as it was, were you surprised at all for those reasons that he still wound up back in Portland? No, I wasn’t too surprised. Um, we knew he he still made his home there. His family was still there, his kids and everything. Um, I figured he was going to be spending like all of next year just rehabbing. Um, yeah. And, uh, it sounded like even if the Bucks had, uh, wanted to retain him, they were actually going to allow him to do that, too. Um, there were some there were there there were some people who were saying they that he wasn’t going to be allowed to do that, but then Dame himself came out and said, Dame himself said, “No, not true.” Right. Right. Right. Right. Yeah. Uh, so it’s it’s a great situation for him, obviously. Um, yeah. I think as far as how it looks for for Portland, I mean, yeah, I don’t know exactly how much they have. Uh I didn’t I didn’t see exactly how much they have uh for uh in dead money for for Eightton right now, but they didn’t have to stretch that out because his contract was expiring. So, this is just kind of a one-year thing for them. Yeah. So, uh not such a big deal. It’s not like they’ve um they’ve got his salary stretched out over a bunch of seasons after this. So, uh and for them, you know, they they were uh well under the the tax. Um even with this signing, they’re well under the tax. And big deal right now if you’re an upand cominging team in the West, having to pay 40ome million bucks for two guys who aren’t playing for your team. One of them is on your roster, the other one is on the Lakers. Uh I think with the state of that franchise um being one of the up and cominging teams in the west, it’s really not that big a deal. Uh their cap sheets are going to be clear. Uh yeah, by the time they might want to, you know, use that flexibility uh to make a big move. Um but they’re probably not there yet, right? Well, the conversation is next year with what do we do now with the Drew Holiday contract because it’s not pretty. Um, but you know, the Dame for a number of reasons. Obviously, his his ties to the community team and fan base, which is kind of funny. Look, I get it’s not an applesto apples comparison, but it is funny to see this being championed from the same group of people that are saying, “Well, Giannis needs to leave Milwaukee.” Um, but next year is going to be the interesting part. And what do they do with Drew Holiday? And you know, also Blazers are up for sale. And Adam Silver, I don’t remember if he bluntly said, he at least tiptoed around it in his most recent press conference, they need a new arena. How do you continue to drum up fan interest? Well, let’s bring back arguably the greatest player in franchise history. We have him back here. That’s a great arena. I’ve been there. It’s It’s a fantastic arena. It’s just from, I guess, like 1995 or something, which, you know, you and I were around then. we’re we’re we’re we’re going to get replaced too under the current uh like the current state of the NBA. Uh regardless, um I I I think it’s it’s it’s great. It’s it’s a great situation for Portland obviously because like they have now recouped they they trade away Damen Lillard. They got they got a first from the Bucks, two swaps from the Bucks. They got those swaps with the Miles Turner inclusion edition. Now, who knows? But you still at least have that lottery ticket, right? You at least you have a first, too. Yeah. Yeah, they could. So, that that’s a possibility for them. But they got a first and then they tra they turned around and trade Drew Holiday for uh Robert Williams. And did they get two firsts out of Boston for that or is it just one and a swap? I can’t remember. I don’t Yeah, I don’t remember. Regardless, they got a bunch of draft assets. And draft assets, you get Drew Holiday, you get and turn that into Robert Williams, you get some money. Laura. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. To and Kumar, too. To Mike Kumar, too. Yeah. I forgot about him. It’s like you’ve you’ve um and you get Drew Holiday back, too, right? It’s like you get both players just two years later when they’re older. One of them has a new contract which is not so good, but uh you’ve got all of this other um draft capital that you you you received for kind of taking that on. And Williams, they could turn around and trade for something, too. I think he’s in the last year of this contract as well. Um, and of course they’ve got uh now uh Yang Hansen and and Donovan Klingan there in the front court. Um, so I I imagine that will be uh it’ll be a gift that keeps on giving for them. Um, if not assets from the Bucks, it will be assets from someone else. Yeah, it’s interesting for Scoo Henderson who’s in the uh final year of his end of the deal. have a team option for him for next season. I’ll pick that up, I’m sure. Yeah, I would assume. But it is probably a little discouraging of like, okay, I got the rationale for Drew Holiday, but now you’re bringing in and he’s not going to play next year, but now you’re bringing in another guy in Damen Lillard for me back there in the back court. Um yesterday a lot of the chatter was around well certainly the Blazers would be looking to move on from Drew Holiday then because it’s about $105 million that’s owed to him over the course of the next three seasons. Um again Dame I don’t think they said this bluntly but they all but said Dame is not going to play this year and he’s just going to use the year to rehab. So this isn’t like we got to get rid of Drew Holiday now. any movement there I would assume would be next summer. Um, for all the calls of if the Blazers move on from him, bring back Drew Holiday. I loved Drew Holiday as much as everyone else here and and recognize how impactful and important he was to that championship. But the edict all off season from Camille and I and a lot of us that have covered this team is Giannis should probably be the oldest player on this team. Next year, Drew Holidayiday will be 36 years old and has already started to show some signs of decline. If you could get him for the minimum, that’s a different discussion, but as we touched on earlier, I know it’s not a huge sample size, but you’re not seeing guys bought out take the minimum because that’s basically um a double whammy there that you’re wearing the scarlet letter of waved and stretched and now you’re you’re making yourself a minimum player, right? And it’s worth pointing out that like Bradley Beal not he had to give up a bunch of money in this buyout and even be under the 15%. Right. Exactly. So like the the Suns had some dead money on their their um coffers already I think prior to the waiting stretch for for Beal. So, they had to get him to give up, I think it was something like uh 3 to4 million uh off of whatever he had left on his deal. I think it was about the same as what Dame had left. Um like two years 15 million bucks somewhere in that range. Yeah, they were they were already close to like 4 million because they waved and stretched Nir Little and then EJ. That’s what they had. That’s what they had. Oh, EJ Liddell. watch out for him in summer league right now. Um, but that’s another story. I think yeah, like these guys aren’t going to be signing minimum deals uh if they’re having to do that because like for Beal, he gets the taxpayer mid-level from LA. So, he’s going to get 11 million uh out of that. But I think actually, you know what, I think it was like three to four million per year. And it was like he I I I remember tweeting about this a couple weeks ago saying like I don’t think that the Bucks are going to be able to to sign him. Um because there were a lot of rumors that you know the Bucks were interested in him and I think I think they’re I think it would have been an interesting fit but um the Bucks would have only been able to give him uh that 3.6 3.7 million that we had talked about earlier. And the most uh you could give him in the following year after that on a raise is going to be about 3.8. So like we’re looking at like a a 7.5 to8 million deal uh for Bradley Beiel over two years. And he’s giving up like 13 or so um on the total remaining value of his deal. like even with signing that contract in Los Angeles, he’s he’s uh in the red here compared to right compared to what he had he not agreed to a buyout and he just said to to Phoenix, screw you. Like you’re paying me my my salary. Um even if I’m not playing for you, uh he would have made more money. Now Dame on the other hand, it’s different. like he he’s giving back money uh because I mean in a way it’s not like he’s having to actually give up money in this deal but the Bucks won’t be paying him they’ll be paying him you know 11 million uh less over the rest of this fiveyear stretch period. Um but he so instead of getting that 112.6 6 million he would have on the the previous uh waved and stretched contracts. Uh right now he’s going to get more like 101, but you add in he’s getting a three-year $42 million contract on it. He’s going to get, you know, 143 million between now and 2030. Um in the first three years, he’s going to be getting uh 13 to 14 million from the Blazers. So he comes out just fine. He’s not getting 70 million this year to not play. Right. Well, it’s more like I think uh 35 or so. It’s it’s like 30 33 34. Uh but still like pretty good deal, right? Um he’s not getting he’s just not getting um I guess would have been 145 million because he, you know, yeah, 42 million on top of the 112 or 40 43 whatever on top of the 112 he was already owed. So he’s getting a little bit less than that, but he’s doing fine. Um, and I can imagine like he wouldn’t have accepted a minimum in this situation because his um his even though like the calculation I won’t bore you with how that set off is is calculated um as far as like how it’s determined that the Bucks are paying 11.5 million less. Basically, they pay 2.3 million a year, but that all depends on what salary he’s getting from Portland. And let’s say he didn’t take 13 million and he took instead five million, then that set off is is going to be lower. Um, and he’s he’s even though Milwaukee will be paying him more because the set off is lower, he’s not making as much money. Uh, because like that $42 million isn’t it’s not getting him all the way to, you know, the what I sayund 40 or 42 prior to that. Yeah. Like this works out better for him this way. Um, so the big the big splash tied to the Dame Wave and Stretch, the signing of Miles Turner. Your thoughts on that move, the roster that we’ve seen assembled here for John Horse, some other things that he had to say to Eric Name in his interview with him and uh we’ll check in on Cam Thomas as well. We’ll do that next. This next segment of Lockdown Bucks is brought to you by Open Phone. If you’re running a business, you know that every missed call is money left on the table. Think about the last time you had an urgent need. Maybe you needed a plumber or some other service provider. If the first person you called didn’t answer, you probably didn’t wait. You moved on. And that’s why you need Open Phone. Open Phone’s the number one business phone system built to streamline and scale your customer communications all from an app on your phone or computer. It lets you manage business calls and texts from a single app. have a shared inbox feature that proves to be a gamecher. Your team can jump into any conversation instantly without missing a beat. And their AI agent handles after hours calls, answers common questions, and captures leads so you never miss a customer. Open Phone is offering our listeners 20% off for your first 6 months at openphone.com/lockedonba. That’s openphone.com/lockedonba. And if you have existing numbers with another service, Open Phone will port them over at no extra charge. Open Phone, no missed calls, no missed customers. So, uh, let’s go back what, it’s July 18th. So, however many days ago, two and a half weeks ago already when 18 days. Yeah. you you see the the tweet come through. The Bucks are signing Miles Turner to a four-year deal. And um I just remember getting several messages that were all basically, wow, and thinking, okay, who just signed somewhere? and then seeing that news come about and I mean my immediate thought was wow so they’re s they’re doing a signing trade with Indiana and then moments later we get the Dame news. Um again not to get into comparing things we talked about the optics around great story for Dame to be back with the team he should be with but same people pushing for Giannis to leave Milwaukee. Similar conversation too of reeks of desperation. Why are the Bucks carrying that much dead space? And well, the Suns had to do it to avoid the tax and get some more flexibility. Um, look, I I I don’t think either of us are going to deny there’s a decent chance this comes back to bite you in the last two years, three years maybe even of this. Well, two years we’ll say, because it’s a three plus one. So, um, there’s a decent chance this comes back to bite you. But for the here and now, this I do believe was the only way the Bucks could have gotten significantly better. And I also think, you know, looking at this move and looking at some of the comments that John Horse said where Camille called this out too, he said, “We came into the offseason feeling like it was pretty much just us, the Nets, and the Pistons that were going to have the most flexibility in the league.” So that tells me this wasn’t a, oh, we think we got a chance at Miles. How are we going to get there? And kind of a, oh, this came about quickly to wave Dame. They had already set up their their their mind. They were moving on from him. And I think that kind of reaffirms, too, if there’s no injury, what we all assume Damen Lillard is is not on the team next year, and there’s a trade that’s worked out. I I I disagree with that last part. I don’t think that if he was injured, they would have been moving on from him. I I don’t paying 50 million to someone who, you know, is is hurt is not a good situation. Yeah. I don’t mean Yeah. Go ahead. Sorry. Well, I was just going to say I didn’t know if that was where you were taking it. I I don’t mean they would would wave and stretch him. I mean, they deal you would you would trade him. Yeah. I mean, I I don’t Yeah, I don’t I don’t think that necessarily because uh if like I I think the team, as much as people wanted to push back on it, it it worked when the two were together well enough. It just didn’t have to didn’t happen in the playoffs. Well, just and yeah, there were there were other issues, right? Um and like I said, injuries prevented us from seeing the at least the actualized version of Damon Yiannis in the postseason, but if they had if if he had if he hadn’t gotten injured. I don’t necessarily think they’re going to like move on from him and trade him into like, you know, a bunch of like smaller contracts. Maybe they look to to acquire someone like who’s making a bit more money and becomes a three-way deal where Drew Holiday gets rerouted to the something like that, right? Um, but when he was injured, I think they probably realized, okay, you know what? We could create cap space this off seasonason by waving and stretching him. Who are some guys we could sign with cap space with the amount that we would be able to open up? They look at what they can open up. They say, “Okay, well, the most we can um do here in terms of cap space, we can create this much by waving dame and uh getting rid of all of our cap holds on everyone but probably Gary Trent Jr. Um, and then what kind of player can we get around that $25 million range? That should be enough for Miles Turner. And maybe, just maybe, like that’s a little too rich for Indiana’s blood. That’s what happens. Um, yeah, I think but ultimately I Yeah, in the short term, I mean, the fit’s great. like people some some of my colleagues at Bur Hoop have they’ve always kind of made fun of me in years past because I I liked Miles Turner as a fit on this team years ago for when Brook Lopez was going to leave. Um and lo and behold it happens. But you think about this in a number of ways, right? like $ 108 million contract uh or you know for four years if he opts in that last deal or just 80 for for three regardless on top of that you have another 20 to 40 million that you’re paying uh by virtue of signing this guy like you have to connect those two like the it’s it’s 50 million this contract yeah this contract doesn’t happen uh without Damen Lillard being waved and stretched is I think he wasn’t going to after he was hurt, he wasn’t going to be traded for, you know, into someone’s cab space or for any assets because they weren’t getting no no team is going to want to have 50 million in debt salary on their books for one year even even if he comes back next year and is like well for for one year and for a player that realistically by the time he plays again is 36. Yeah. coming back from a major injury where burst and things like that that you rely on your Achilles for, we still need to see how this is going to go. Yeah. Yeah. I I don’t think any team was going to give up assets for that. But then if he becomes a free agent and you look at, okay, we can give him our mid-level exception, we don’t have to give up draft picks or players to get him. The calculation is a lot different. like, yeah, we can, you know, there there’s no better player we can get on the market for this money, even if he’s not playing this year. Like, we’ll have him next year and he’ll be even if he’s 50% of what he was this past year, that’s great value for 14 million bucks. Yeah. Um, are they done? Like I know John Horst said in his interview, we did everything I forget how he worded it, but essentially we did everything human possible. Not humanly possible, impossible. Everything within human possibility. Um, you know, when this happened, I I thought really like this couldn’t be the last bullet they had in their chamber. Um, not not to and I’m not saying that, you know, Cole Anthony, Chris Livingston, um, bring back Ryan finding Gary Trent. The these these aren’t the um, these aren’t the these aren’t the moves that are going to like put them back into Yeah. Yeah. And as far as doing everything humanly possible or if this was the biggest thing they could do or if you know I think you had said earlier it’s like this is what they looked at and said this is the this is the most like this is the most realistic or the biggest splash we can make. I mean that might be true. We’ll see. I think they can you know they they they could do something with obviously the money due to Kyle Kosma. Um, you know, it’s not a great contract, but uh you put together his money with um Andre Jackson Jr. at his full guarantee and uh maybe even AJ Green in there, too. You put those three guys together, you add in what’s known as the expanded tradered player exception, you could take back for those three guys up to 35.5 million um in return in salary. Um and yeah, or if you just did Koosma, let’s say, that’s still uh just over third about 31 million that you can take back. you’re just going to have to include the 2031 first round pick and probably the 2032 first round pick swap. You want to get anything that is going to move the needle for them this year and put them into like the real uh true blue contenders among the Eastern Conference. And at this point, I know when the season off season started, I was more in the camp of like I just I don’t know who the guy is that you get. Like before we saw these moves take place, realistically I don’t know who the guy is that you can get. Um with any package that includes your 2031 that to me I would look at and say this is worth it. When Cam Johnson came up quite a bit, I just that’s on the edge for me. I I wouldn’t when I saw that fringe at best. I don’t know that he pushes things forward enough for you. I think everybody’s kind of neglecting. He’s older than you think. And that you are what you are. Yeah. And I think seeing that Denver had to include a unprotected 2032 pick. Unheard of for him, right? Um I mean and also alongside Michael Pory Jr. whose contract is not good. But uh so like that’s having to include that pick is kind of a penalty uh for that bad contract. But um when I saw that I was thinking, okay, that that’s a little too rich. Um and the only guys I could think of who would be worth including like that 2031 unprotected and also those other assets, the only guy I’ve been saying and other Bucks fans have been saying for a while is Trey Murphy from the Pelicans. Yeah. Um, and yeah, I think it’s just it’s just a matter of whether one, the Bucks are willing to give up both those picks and perhaps AJ Green, too. I I think you would have to do that. Um, alongside uh maybe Jackson and certainly Koozma, you need his salary in there. Um, so one, are the Bucks willing to do that? And two, uh, are the Pelicans interested in doing that at all, even to get those primo draft assets? Like, is that 2031 pick projects to be very good? Um, is that something they’re willing to do? Could they get something better from someone else? Uh, they’ve resigned Herb Jones now, uh, to an extension. Uh, I think they have a bunch of mouths to feed there on the wing, but still like Trey Young was their lead or not Trey Young, I’m sorry, Trey Murphy was their leading scorer last year. So, um, it might be a pie in the sky, but I just think like the the price that the Bucks would pay would be would be dear, but that’s the no pun intended, but I think that is uh I think that he’s like the only guy I could see out there being worth it and being a needle mover, too. And who knows, maybe you don’t need the 2031 first rounder. I mean, it is Joe Dumar we’re talking about. But yeah, I I I will say I I mean that’s obviously the biggest name that a lot of people have gravitated towards, but as you just said too, it’s not just Kyle Kuzman and the pick and and even Andre Jackson, like we don’t know if Andre Jackson makes the team, so I don’t know what the trade value is for him. You’re going to have to include something else in there. And that’s why AJ Green’s name had surfaced with some people over the fact that well that’s the most valuable guy in terms of the per capita with contract that he has. He’s still young. You just brought on a lot of shooting guards or combo guards to this roster and there’s been no talk yet of the extension for him. So that’s at least the interesting part there. But I I did kind of shift with the Miles Turner signing to say, you know what, I’m it’s no longer a non-starter for me. I would say yeah, I’m open to it for the right player now for that that deal to include that pick because what you did with this Miles Turner move in the Dame Wave and stretch is saying these next two years are more important than anything else that we have to field this team that we may not be viewed as favorites in the East or some of that inner circle, but we still have Giannis. We feel like we’re a better team on the floor. we have a chance to enter that conversation and get better year-over-year. So, as much as it makes the future very bleak once Giannis is gone and your assets are gone, I do think this Miles Turner move means, hey, you just at this point have to quadruple down and say, “All right, it’s on the table.” Yeah, I agree. I think a lot would have to go right with the current roster, which is 15 guys right now, for them to be, I think, the four seed. Like we’re talking like someone like Trent becomes like a 20 point a game scorer or something or or similar junior against you. Yeah, exactly. Um, that’s that’s what I think it’ll take to to get into like real like 50 win territory. But at the same time, I I don’t think that the Bucks are head and shoulders above anyone outside of well, the only teams that are head and shoulders above them in the East right now are Cleveland, New York, and maybe Atlanta or or Orlando. But I also think that if I look at it right now, there are kind of two tiers at the top of the East and like the the first two the first the first tier is obviously Cleveland and New York, but then the Bucks are sort of towards the I would say the low end of that second tier whereas Yeah. Whereas um Orlando and and Atlanta I would say are on the the upper end of that. Yeah. So, but and to be clear, like this AJ Green stuff, it’s really just pure speculation. Like I’ve I’ve speculated about I think other people have and maybe some people have interpreted that as like yeah, the Bucks are interested in trading him. There’s been no indication of that. There’s been no reporting of that. We’re I don’t want him traded. You don’t want Nobody wants him traded. I don’t want him traded either. But I do think that the longer he became eligible for the extension on the 8th, I believe the seventh or the eth. And the longer we go without one, um, the more I’m I’m I’m skeptical he’s he won’t be traded because they won’t be able to trade him once they extend him. Um, so like they would have it would take six months and then um once he is extended the there isn’t a poison pill provision with him, but there he does have a new contract starting in the following season. So the salary matching just becomes more difficult. The main point is that he’s more valuable now as a trade piece even though he’s making only 2.3 million bucks next year because that salary is locked in for next year and the extension would start the following season. But another team would want to have the the say on what that extension is in hand and the six-month rule means that’s taking us past the trade deadline. Exactly. they wouldn’t be able to trade him this year at uh if it doesn’t happen between now and I guess it’s like the 6th or the 8th of um of February when the deadline is. So they wouldn’t if they the they if they extended him it would be like the Li marketing deal what last year if they extended him after August 8th or whatever it is they can’t trade him this year. Um, so the last thing here is similar to the AJ Green discussion. This wasn’t like sourced reporting, but just a few people started to speculate after a little bit of a spat between Cam Thomas and not even between Cam Thomas just reacting to what Zacko had said, his sources had told him. And you know, there’s a couple of interesting names that we’ve heard nothing on. Cam Thomas is one of them. restricted free agents. Jonathan Kaminga is another one. When you talk about trades and what you could piece together, the salary range that he’s looking for with those names we mentioned, the Bucks could get to that range. Um, but what would the Warriors be interested in? What’s the market for him? Are they going to sign Al Horford? And is that the hangup? Because it limits what they can actually offer him then. But Cam Thomas was suggested by Kevin O’Connor and I believe one other I forget who of you know the longer this goes on I know he’s restricted but I would take a strong interest in teams like the Nuggets and the Bucks if I’m Cam Thomas as the Bucks especially with the how many conversations have Camille and I had and you guys talk about on Brew Hoop of okay what’s the pecking order who’s the number two scorer on this team that would represent a major opportunity for Cam Thomas uh you can only be the minimum that you’re signing him to and the Nets can match it. So there’s that but you know we’ve seen before not necessarily for the minimum but feelers being put out of look I don’t want to be here don’t match this deal. I don’t think it would necessarily have to be the minimum if it was a sign and trade because yeah, the Bucks okay like we’ve been saying like and they’re in no danger of of reaching the you know being hardcapped at the first apron and having to worry about that. Well, that’s true, but um I’d have to look at the the Nets current situation because if All right, so Cam Thomas is a restricted free agent, correct? And if the Bucks were to sign him to an offer sheet, they would have to to in in order to sign him that they don’t have cap room to do that. So they would have to trade salary out. So let’s say they signed him to a $22 million offer sheet. That’s his or that’s his salary in the first year of that deal. Um the only way they could accommodate that would be like they they’re trading Kyle Kosma somewhere else. um because then that you know something around that figure would meet the salary matching requirements. Um for the Nets to be able to match that they need to either use an exception uh and like that would be more than the mid-level exception um to if it was 22 million bucks. So they could not resign him by their mid-level exception. they couldn’t match with um they could match with cap space cap space or um I I or just you know they could send out salary somewhere else maybe um so it would be possible to do it I don’t think it’s likely and moreover I just don’t really think it’s a good fit fit yeah he is like one of the great just pure scorers in the NBA right now he’s got um I mean it’s not like he’s got the best uh jumper or like he’s an elite three-point shooter, but he puts the ball through the rim better than almost anyone else right now. Um, but he’s a small guard who doesn’t play a lot of defense. Um, the Bucks waved one of those guys about 18 days ago who is nowhere near as uh like who’s much better than than Cam Thomas when he’s healthy. Um, and Thomas is going to be playing, you know, off ball. And you look at just who is in the Bucks back court right now. Kevin Porter, Cole Anthony, Ryan Rollins, these are guys who can handle and can uh at least in the case of Porter and Rollins you trust as a defender. We’ll see about Anthony. Um, Trent Green, you trust those guys off the ball and as defenders. and Gary Harris, like in theory you’re you’re trusting as a as a defender. Um maybe not so much a shooter anymore, but that I just named like six guys who are going to be in that rotation. And um only I would say Trent and Green and maybe Harris, you can play out of position at the three in small lineups. Um, so you’re looking at a three guard lineup then with a ball handler and an offball shooter like Green or or Trent or maybe even Harris or Rollins and then uh Cam Thomas. I just don’t think that’s um I don’t think that that’s enough size uh to compete in the NBA these days just because Cam Thomas is what maybe 6’2 I think 6’4 but it’s not he’s 6’4 you’re right but not a bigger wingspan bigger wingspan and and it’s the same as everyone else they have a whole bunch of it’s everybody on their team yeah like to your point they’ve then assembled a roster where you have four bigs that you feel good about and then everybody else is 6’2 to 6′ before that you have nothing in between there. And that’s why I agree. I don’t think it’s really I don’t think it’s realistic. I don’t think it’s likely. It was interesting to see a few people bring it up. Um Jonathan Kaminga has been brought up and we’ve seen the Bucks have kicked the tires and had interest on him in him. That makes more sense to me, but I also don’t think it’s likely. And I I don’t think it’s a perfect fit either because, you know, like is he young? Yeah. Is he athletic? Yeah. He’s not a great shooter and you need that around Giannis. I have always thought that Kuminga is just overrated because he’s playing on the Warriors and it’s like oh like remember remember Ton Horton Tucker on the the Lakers like he had a couple good preseason games and I was like oh the Lakers have their next star next to LeBron and AD. And then he you don’t hear much about him his rookie year because he’s a second round pick and he’s on the Lakers. Then he does some decent stuff towards the end of his second year and he gets a like a big extension and all of a sudden he’s like a bad contract and now he’s just in the wasteland that is the Chicago Bulls. I don’t think that Kuminga is is gonna follow that trajectory necessarily, but I think he is benefiting from the same sort of attention uh that that Horton Tuger did just because he’s playing for the Warriors and because he’s a young player and he was on that team when they were trying this two timeline thing which uh I I don’t think that move on from. Yeah, I don’t think that was like some like team building strategy or success. Uh, I think but like he is I’m I’m just gonna say this. I think he’s just a younger version of Kyle Kosma. Um, he’s very athletic. He can defend, but I don’t trust him offensively. And um I mean if you were like what what more um are you going to get from him? Like are is the ceiling for for Kuminga? Is it even at what Kyle Kosma was in Washington? I think that’s a a question. Um because I really don’t buy anyone who is thinking he was going to be an all-star uh at any point. I thought that was just all because he was on the Warriors and because he was a young player who looked interesting. It was just some, you know, Zack Low really loved him. So, but I think that was just all because he was on the Warriors. I just I mean I I I I don’t think he’s gonna just magically develop into some good fit with Giannis, like learn how to shoot. um despite being able to be a good defender and um you know maybe be able to score in some other ways. Yeah. I just don’t like it. I mean I I think his ceiling was 2020 playoff Kyle Kosma is is what I honestly Yeah, that’s probably right. And you know, I’m I’m glad you you brought that up because to just close it out with the horse comments, I took the everything humanly possible as we kept all the important guys where the the guys that we deemed the most important. We brought in Miles Turner and created flexibility to do that and we tried some other things that ultimately fell apart or didn’t work that we were trying for something else. Now, I think everybody’s going to assume and for the reasons that you outlined too with the contract figures, it’s probably one guy there, but I’m very curious in what version of Kyle Kosma you get this year because his value is at an all-time low after the playoffs and the way that it it fit last year that on the one hand, you’re probably better served not trying to shop him after that and and at least hope and see is it better than this that either it fits and it works out for us for two years or it at least raises the value if we get a full season of him and offseason with him he bounces back from whatever it was uh maybe it wasn’t a thing maybe that’s who he is but if he bounces back from last year that let’s just do that instead of selling really low on him yeah and then line if he’s looking better in the regular season or potentially even next summer. Then you have another first round pick you can trade and he’s an expiring contract. Um yeah, I I I think you’re right on that his value is will will just get higher. Um even even if even even if he’s not as good and it becomes contract it’s an expiring contract, right? like right now in order to just move him you would have to attach an asset but um I don’t think the Bucks want to just get off his contract and have to give up a first round pick to do it. The Bucks want to get better. Um yeah so they Yeah, if if what you’re saying, you know, they tried everything humanly possible. Um, I think that was basically just like we are trying maybe to trade Kyle Kosma, not like we’re trying to get better and use Kyle Koosma as salary matching. We’re just maybe seeing what we can get just for him and they didn’t like the offers. Yeah. And you know I I don’t we talked about this and wondered is this something they would look into for what you just said about Cal Kosman and Pat Conetan in that you’re going to need to attach assets to it. Now in the case of Pat Conetan you found the right target of hey Vasamich is going back to play overseas so let’s let’s target this guy and create some cap space but you’re going to need some assets to attach this. It it was second round picks with Pat Coneton. But I know one of the big talking points was knowing that should you do what Phoenix did and basically turn a dollar into three quarters and trade that first rounder for multiple and now as we’ve seen the off season unfold and saw what the Bucks have done. Again, I don’t know that that was ever even considered by John Hen Company. I’m led to believe no looking at this off season. But you’re more thankful that they did not and instead viewed that as if we trade that 2031, we have to get value for it. It’s not we’re getting picks that we can attach to something to get rid of. We have to get something that makes us better. Yeah. And how many of those picks has been used right now? Um and they got these picks were not good to be clear. So And one was this year, wasn’t it? Yeah. Um one one was I think the 28th pick or something. Yeah. Yeah. Um and it wasn’t Yeah, because the the one they got um to draft um Malocks was from uh was from the Kevin Durant trade. It was Houston’s pick. Um or it was someone else’s pick that Houston had. Uh yeah, I I don’t think that’s a good idea for the Bucks that like the the Suns were in a maybe even they were in a pretty desperate situation, right? Um and they needed first to attach to some stuff to help them. um they thought but you know well their desperation too was purely financial right whereas the the Bucks was they didn’t make the playoffs the Bucks at least made the playoffs right and and their desperation was financial to say I mean does it make sense for a team that’s probably not going to make the playoffs to be in the second apron and paying out luxury tax the Bucks desperation was we have the best player in the conference and one of the, you know, three best players in the league. That is zeroing in on free agency. So, like, it’s that time of the the cadence again where we got to do something to make him stay here. Every two years, every two years, we need to make some sort of a big splash and we have to move our first round picks um in future years in order to prove to him like, yeah, we’re trying to surround you with the best possible talent. And I mean, if he signs another extension like he did the last two times, okay. Uh yeah, I I just ultimately think like yeah, that 2031 pick like taking that what the what the Suns did, I think that is going to be a valuable pick for them too. At least the when they traded it, it looked like you know, okay, the Suns are in 2031 like what what are what are they going to be? They’ve traded all their first round picks between now and then. Um KD is old and probably leaving. This whole thing didn’t work. um that that pick looks really nice and they trade it for a bunch of like late first round picks in the interim and that’s going to be potentially like a very high lottery pick. I look at the Bucks the 2031 pick the same way and if the Bucks were to trade that it’s like I think you know the expression it’s like you trade like it’s not even a dollar for like four quarters it’s like you know for two quarters or something. No. Yeah. I I mean, if if it’s a dollar, like you’re you’re getting instead of three quarters, you’re maybe getting three dimes. Or maybe if you’re getting three quarters, you’re actually giving up $5 or something for it. I just don’t think that’s a good idea for the Bucks to do. Hold on to that pick uh until you can use it for someone who like is a true difference maker. Yeah. I mean, and look, even if I mean, it’s a totally different conversation if Giannis isn’t on the team, but even if Giannis rides it out with the Bucks, when 2030 rolls around, he’s 35 going on 36 that it’s a much different player at that point. So that’s why we keep pointing to that 2031 firstrounder and saying like this is maybe the most valuable asset that’s out there because that component with Giannis, the fact that uh the Bucks are only signing guys to one plus one. So who knows what the roster is going to look like even next year that there could be a lot of change good or bad for this team over the course of the next three to five years. So that’s what makes that pick even more uh valuable and and why yeah I think it increases the chances of now we like we are only trading this pick for something that immediately makes us marketkedly better. Yeah. Ultimately I think with um that pick you know it’s yeah like you said Giannis is going to be 36 by the time it’s made. like Giannis probably doesn’t care about that pick uh like about what will h happen to the Bucks at that point. Um but if the I think the the gamble that was made at the trade deadline was it wasn’t all about getting under the second apron off season. Um it was I mean it was but like you were saying all right we’re gonna we’re gonna trade Chris Middleton. Um, so in the off season we can trade what we got back for Chris Middleton, which they decided, okay, that’s going to be Kyle Kosma, plus the first round pick picks that we’ll be able to trade now because we’re under the second apron. Yeah. And I think it’s TBD if that was the right uh gamble to make. Um because it’s going to deter it’s going to be be determined by like what the value they can get back for the package that the Chris Middleton trade opened up for them to send out whenever they tried to do it. And if they don’t like if they decide not to cash in that package, then I mean I you can probably call the trade a loss, right? Um just because like you unless you somehow get some really good onc court value from KSMA in the next year or two. Yeah. I mean the interesting thing with that is um people are going to view the trade deadline always as one for the book. So you look at two guys that are still here in Jericho Sims and Kevin Porter Jr. and in the case of Kevin Porter Jr. taking on what we think is an expanded role where I would assume is an expanded role with no Damen Lillard and oh by the way too the news I don’t think Camil and I got to that the league determined four game suspension for Kevin Porter Jr. but decided it has already been he already served it because he didn’t play at all for an entire year. So, all the chatter at at the time of the deal of, well, the league absolved him of charges, they did not. They determined it was worthy of a four-game suspension and his time out of the league was time served on that suspension. Um, I’m going to leave that there with no commentary. Another can of worms. I I think uh people are going to be inclined to view the trade deadline as one fell swoop with all three of those names. The reality is each of those other two moves they could have done without doing the Chris Middleton deal. But even if it doesn’t work out with Kyle Kuzman, the version that you got in the playoffs is who you get, let’s say, for two years that he stays in Milwaukee under contract there. I still think it was at the very least a wash in the deal and a move you had to make for flexibility and I mean you can say you know don’t do you feel like you owe it to yourselves of we we just got to see Chris and Damon Giannis together in the playoffs. I understand that but also what’s the definition of insanity because how many years are we continuing to have this conversation? I think that was the bigger part is we need flexibility, but also we just don’t feel like we can rely on Chris anymore. And he even made the comment of they were on a different timeline than me and they needed me a little sooner than I could have been there. Right. Maybe a better way to to think about it then is to think that like the the package that they were that they were that was opened up to them because of the Chris Milton trade at the deadline. Like could they have gotten that same sort of flexibility if they had traded Chris Middleton this off for something else like or if they had done it this offseason with him as an expiring contract because they could have gotten if they had done that trade sometime prior to June 30th if they had traded Chris Milton they could have got under the second apron and then opened up those first round picks uh in the future to be traded. So uh ultimately we won’t know. Um and I I don’t know. I mean, Chris Chris Milton’s still on the Wizards right now. We’ll see how long that lasts. I think I mean, I would assume until the trade deadline, right? Like, if he stays on the Wizards until next year, the trade deadline, then that may have been the right call. Like, because if the Wizards aren’t able to trade him this off season, you have to think they’re looking at trading him right now, seeing what they can do with that expiring salary. But I guess no one’s fighting. Yeah. I mean, I’m not surprised because I think if Kurt Middleton looks fine to start the season, there’s going to be a market for him at the trade deadline. But it’s been, you know, kind of it’s been an annual discussion in these parts of the health of Chris Middleton and the league is certainly aware of that. So, you’re going to have teams that are saying even though he’s an expiring, like we’re not giving up a ton like we’re not really giving you assets for this. We’ll give you matching salary and maybe a low-end asset, but like we don’t know this guy’s health situation. We need to see that. Yeah. I think it’s probably the what probably will happen is he wherever he goes at the deadline, he’s going to get bought out. Um yeah, and hey, good news is that because the Bucks are under the first well the year has passed and the Bucks could at that point sign him because as long as it’s after I guess the 6th of February um then he would be eligible like the Bucks are eligible to to bring him back um with a contract. But he is making more than the mid-level exception next year. And if you’re a team that’s over the I forget if it’s the first or the second apron, you can’t sign a guy who’s making more than 14 million bucks. And the Bucks aren’t over that apron. So, they could be they could be in the running for a bought out Chris Middleton in February or March of 2026. Yeah, it’s going to be interesting to keep an eye on the Wizards this year with uh a roster full of veteran expiring contracts. Marcus Smart, too, right? Marcus Smart. Yeah. and of course everybody’s favorite AJ Johnson and and see what develops there. We’ve gone very long. One last thing as we wrap here to ask um so I asked before, do you think the Bucks are done? And I don’t think we ever finished that conversation. So they currently have 15 guys under contract. Are the 15 that they have right now the 15 that they will have under contract um when the regular season starts? No. I I I think I can confidently say that when you ask if like when you first ask if the Bucks are done, I think it’s like are they done making moves, substantial moves? Yeah. Well, moves period because I think um you know moving the guarantee back for Andre Jackson opening night like that that tells me okay if they can’t find some way to trade him and get some value for him they will wave him at some point between now and I guess the end of October mid-occtober whenever it is and then they’re going to signass a deakmpo uh whenever they can do that. uh whether or not so so no I don’t think this is the roster they’re gonna go into opening night with whether or not they have another like significant move left in them like especially something to address the three the small forward spot which uh is the big talking point around the team right now um that I’m less confident in but surprised yeah I I but I still think I still think it could happen I just I guess I wouldn’t bet on it right now just because um I feel like if I mean the The the one thing I I guess I I I’ll say is like, yeah, maybe you you think, well, they’ve tried to do that already by now or they’re not willing to do that. But, you know, uh two years ago this time, Damen Lillard only wanted to go to the Heat. And no one was thinking around the Bucks, like or at least, you know, Bucks fans or media that they could acquire him because he wanted to go to the Heat and the Bucks didn’t have the assets for it. Yeah. Um, and then they swoop in right before training camp and they get the deal done. Uh, maybe I I it’s like did did Dame’s value come down at that point or was it just that Miami didn’t want to give up what it took to get him? It probably both. But combination two of Portland just as we’ve started to hear, we’re not dealing with Miami. Right. Who else wants this guy? Right. Right. Right. So, um, could that happen again this off seasonason? Maybe maybe there is someone that horse is waiting uh to to see if the the asking price comes down on because they had been calling about Damen Lillard for years with Portland. And I have to imagine when he requested a trade right before free agency in 2023, like late June of 2023, they made another call. Shut off and text him. Just making sure you saw our call. Yeah. we’re we’re we’re still we’re still interested in him. Um and they said, you know, we’re we’re working with some other teams right now, maybe, but then two months later, 3 months later, it worked out. Yeah. I uh I think we’re pretty aligned. I don’t think they’re done. I don’t think it’s anything substantial. I’d be very surprised if uh if that’s the case, but we’ll see. I won’t be shocked. I won’t be shocked. I’ll put it that way. I think it could happen. You won’t be shocked if they do something of substance. I No. No. I won’t be shocked. I’ll I I I I won’t I won’t be surprised if they don’t do anything and I won’t be flabbergasted if they do something big. That make sense? Yeah. I wouldn’t be stunned. Like I wouldn’t be like the feeling we had when they signed Miles Turner. I wouldn’t have that feeling if they if they did something big, but I just don’t anticipate it uh happening. Well, um, we started this to to try to find some clarity on the Dame contract wave and stretch situation. I think we got that and then touched on a number of other things that I know we’ve talked about quite a bit on the show throughout the course of the summer and I think you and I and Yumi and Camille have talked about it offline, but we haven’t had a chance to do it on the podcast here so far. And now we’re going to release this and something of substance will end up happening later that day or a couple of days later. Well, I’ll be here if you want to talk about it. Thanks for having me, man. Vanfias, always good to catch up with you. That’ll do it for this bonus episode over the weekend. We’ll be back on uh Monday. We may have Frank with us on Monday to share his thoughts on Summer League and a couple other guests coming up next week as well. That’ll do it for today. We’ll talk with you once again next week on Locked on Bucks.

Milwaukee’s roster reshaping continues with game-changing acquisitions and strategic financial maneuvers. Justin Garcia and Van Faez break down Damian Lillard’s complex contract situation, exploring its $22.5 million impact on the Bucks’ salary cap. The duo analyzes the Myles Turner signing, dissecting how it bolsters Milwaukee’s championship aspirations. Kyle Kuzma’s trade value and the significance of future draft picks take center stage, with insights on holding onto the coveted 2031 first-rounder. Are the Bucks done making moves, or is another surprise in store before the season tips off?

Tune in for expert analysis on Milwaukee’s roster construction and how these moves position them in the Eastern Conference hierarchy.

0:00 Intro: Damian Lillard contract clarity
5:17 Game Time sponsorship and Lillard’s new deal
10:21 Lillard returns to Portland on mid-level exception
17:24 Analyzing the Myles Turner signing for Bucks
23:38 Jon Horst’s comments on offseason moves
29:39 Evaluating potential Cam Thomas acquisition
35:34 Discussing Jonathan Kuminga trade possibility
41:13 Kyle Kuzma’s value and future with Bucks
47:50 Importance of 2031 first-round draft pick
54:59 Long-term outlook for Bucks and Giannis
1:02:33 Predicting Bucks’ final roster moves

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24 Comments

  1. Kuz & Green yes you can get a good player for that, Green isn't untradable when it comes to the Bucks needing a 2nd scorer

  2. justin's wrong you dont need shooting around Giannis, you need D players that get rebounds and can slash and take it to the hole which is why Kuminga would be perfect

  3. Miller park opened in 01 .. that’s only 6 years older than what Portland plays in. Imagine ripping that down in 5 or 6 cause it’s “too old.”

  4. I really don’t think y’all watch enough jk to say at his best he would be a okay roll player he played great with minutes last year playoffs especially

  5. Take out Greek and this isn’t even a play in team WITH GREEK they are just a 7th seed Cleveland knicks Atlanta Magic 76ers Boston Miami

  6. The Dame contract is the single worst move in NBA history.
    The rest of this pod is nonsense.
    I presume Justin means the waive and stretch of BIG contracs (numerous contracts are waived and stretched every year, you just don't hear about it because they are fringe moves for chump change).

    The Bucks have made a precent setting move, and I would disagree with Justin because I think that you will now likely see a couple of teams each year utilize this move to get out from under egregious contracts. It was obviously unbelievably smart (despite the narrative from the NBA hierarchy, who want Giannis out of MKE so they can exploit him for more money).

  7. AJ Green should get locked up for as long as possible in the 10 or under range. He will be invaluable.
    And plan for Porter to earn a big money deal.

  8. I think the goal for kuz is to have a functional 18 minutes a game with giannis not on the floor. And then maybe 5 minutes with a giannis/kuz lineup

  9. 49:52. Guys, lets review the statement on Kuzma. What you just said has been true of every season of his career. His rookie year he was going to be better than Giannis. Remember? Giannis but can shoot. Remember? Then the year went on and its okay, he can be like a giannis. Then its okay he can be our 6th man. Then we dont want him. Then he was on washington where even as the defacto best player teams largely ignored kuzma anywhere further than 5 feer from the rim. He has never improved his value from the yeae prior and in fact has always had less value than the year before. His value will get no higher.

  10. Hey Van if your hair bothers you so much that you're constantly having to play with it during the pod it might be time to either put a hat on maybe a ponytail or a haircut It's kind of painful to watch you do it throughout the entire pod

  11. I wouldn’t say the Knicks and Cavs are above the Bucks. All three teams were sent home by the Pacers. So how can you even say who’s better?

  12. I wonder if jrues wife going to blast the Celtics the same way she did the bucks when we traded him smh

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