I'm guessing that it means in 2028 and 2030 if the Blazers end up with lower first round draft picks than the Bucks we automatically swap pick position (or that we have that option). Am I wrong? If that's the case, what are the implications if the Bucks don't have the pick? Say they end up trading it, does that mean the Blazers have dibs on that pick no matter who ends up with it? Also, is it limited to the first round? I'm assuming we don't get to snag those picks for second rounders. If anyone has insight on the details it would be appreciated.
No, you have it backwards. With no protections, if the Bucks finish with a lower pick than Portland, Portland can swap it with their pick. For example, if in 2028, the Bucks end up with the #1 pick and Portland has the 30th pick, the Blazers can swap picks with the Bucks. The Bucks can't trade those picks out from Portland either.
We have the right to switch 1st round picks with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030, if we want to. In more simple terms: If Milwaukee has a better pick than Portland in the 28 or 30 draft, the Blazers will get the Bucks pick and the Bucks will get the Blazers pick.
The Bucks would not be able to trade those picks because they can’t trade two picks back to back, per the Stepien Rule. They can wait until making the pick and then trading the player, but by then, the swap would have already conveyed to Portland if Milwaukie has the lower pick. The idea is that Portland has control over three of the Bucks’ drafts closer to the turn of the decade. Milwaukie is currently still paying for Jrue, they owe a swap in ‘24 and ‘26, plus a 1st in ‘25 and ‘27. As you can see, swaps aren’t aways important, as the Bucks are perennial contenders at the moment. But the hope is that due to the limited options to draft young talent, they are depleted by the time their trade obligations to the Pels are over. Then it’ll be our turn. By the time the ‘28 draft is coming up, Scoot and Shae will be solidly in their primes and, hopefully, we will be picking past 25 every year. If the Bucks are anywhere under us, we still get the benefit of moving up, even if it is just a few spots. Sometimes, that is the different between whether or not we get the guy we wanted.
