I hate that the Chicago pick still hasn’t been completed from Nance trade. The 2028 draft is huge for us especially if Bucks decide to rebuild. If for some reason the Chicago pick hasn’t been completed by then they could own our 2028 1st (unless we are in the lottery) and we wouldn’t be able to swap with Bucks, right? I know we still have a few years left to complete the deal but don’t like that hanging over our heads.
I’m glad he forced the issue because I don’t think we would have traded him otherwise. Also thank you to Jon Horst for being the second best blazers front office guy we’ve (n)ever had lol
It was clear to see trading Dame was the right move at the time. Father time is generally undefeated. We are in a much better position now than if Dame stayed with us and tore his Achilles.
Even if it wasn’t, he had crazy mileage on him when he was traded, and had been out more and more each season. The writing was on the wall, and even from Dame’s pov any trade destination for him that was a contender would give him a lower burn rate.
Assume that GA now wants out of Milwaukee (seems hard to see how they rebuild around him with an unmovable contract (Dame), a bunch of nobodies and Kuzma with no picks to trade). Assume that in the case the Bucks do not resign Brook Lopez / GT3 This trade seems like it could be a nice starting point for discussion: --- From MIL: GA, Tyler Smith (HOU) To MIL: A. Simons (POR), Milwaukee's own picks from POR, D.Brooks, Sengun (HOU) Why? They get their picks back, they have a start of something with a younger guard (Simons), young interior all-star (Sengun) and some defense / forward with Brooks. They have no incentive to tank immediately until they repay their picks to NOP - so this way they have time to see what they have in the Simons / Sengun / Brooks trio Why not? Only "3" picks From HOU: D.Brooks, Sengun (MIL), J. Smith, A. Thompson, 2025 PHX draft pick (POR) To HOU: GA, T. Smith (MIL), K. Murray (POR) Why? The get a top 3? player in the league for a team that is clearly lacking a go-to scorer. It makes them a contender, for sure. Why not? A. Thompson is a specimen. They lose depth From POR: A. Simons (MIL), MIL future draft picks (MIL), K. Murray (HOU) To POR: J Smith, A. Thompson (HOU), 2025 PHX draft pick (HOU) Why? Get a couple of promising young, athletic, long forwards to add to a core of Deni / Tou, Open opportunities for Scoot / Sharpe at the guard positions Why not? Give 3, potentially very good 1st round picks, lose shooting for a team that needs it.
I have been chewing on this and first, I don't think Houston would give up Amen. Second, I think Milwaukee would demand him if he was part of the deal.
I think they e basically out and said Amens untouchable. But agreed, Milwaukee would demand him if he's in the deal. And if Houston was willing to pay all that, I do t think bucks would care about their picks 3 and 5 years from now. They'd have a pretty quick retool around Sengun, Amen, Brooks and Smith.
What would make it worth it to us to give Milwaukee back their picks? I'm not sure if a 1:1 trade for picks makes sense. Would you trade the 1 2029 pick and two swaps for three actual picks from OKC or Houston? I have been working on some different trades and I'm not sure. You want to squeeze Milwaukee because those picks are worth more to them.
I believe that the Blazers will want a prospect they believe in, someone like J. Smith or A. Thompson was the example I gave, but I am sure others might be there.
I don't know if there is anything to make it worth it. Maybe not even Giannis if he doesn't want to be here. We know he has daydreamed in the past about going to a large Market team. That's not us. Getting Dame back maybe. It could be by the time we get to that draft and see who we get with that pick, we could very well regret not trading it.
Yeah but I really see zero chance they move Amen. Probably literally anyone else on the team except him.
