Good thing the Bucks can quickly pivot to a rebuild since they only have Dame on their cap until 2030..... Oh whoops!
I'm actually hoping the Giannis and Milwaukee partnership lasts at least one more summer. That would mean the Blazers control the Bucks next three drafts just a year into the rebuild (after 2026-27). I imagine those swaps will look more attractive to Milwaukee specifically when trading Giannis, but it puts the Blazers in prime position for the third team in a deal should the opportunity present.
Lauri is kind of a bit like Jerami Grant in that he's not close to worth his contract. Ainge misplayed his hand there. If he was on an MLE deal he'd be worth a ton of FRPs. But as is he just doesn't have trade value since a team can't build a contending roster around him at that salary slot. For example lets say the Blazers acquired him. Are we trading away one of Camara/Deni? If not who comes off the bench? With little future salary space are we going to dump both Scoot and Sharpe? There just isn't a way to make the talent and salaries work. The 2nd apron has totally changed the worth of those highly paid but not Allstar level players.
I like both Camara and Deni better, so I would be pissed if they did. Lauri is better than Grant, but not by that much. Lauri has an extra year, plus he tops out at 53 million vs Grant's 36 million. I agree, Ainge misplayed his hand.
