2021-22 NBA Thread: The Bucks are Reigning Champs

[GB Warrior]

Bucks sold low on Donte, I'm not sure what this deal really does for them. Unless they have something else up their sleeve (maybe?).

He's a guy that fills a role. But those 2nd round picks are what really matters here, plus 2 spots open for the buyout market. So, welcome back Eric Bledsoe!

[JWags85]

Also, Serge has to have had the Thon Maker birth certificate treatment, right?  There is no chance in hell he is 32 years old.

Thon Maker was an unknown refugee who fled South Sudan until he was discovered in his teens in Africa.

Ibaka's parents were both on the Congolese national team for basketball and his father was a political prisoner at one point.  And Ibaka was in FIBA tourneys in his teens.  Not exactly under the radar or even at the level to falsify records at that point.

I do think he's 32, but this is his 14th season in the league, plus 2 seasons pro in Spain, so he's got a lot of miles on him.  He still rebounds well, he's a decent shooter from 3, and has always been a plus defender.  He's got playoff experience to give you good bench minutes like PJ Tucker did.  It will be interesting to see what he gives not being on a dumpster fire like the Clips

[4everwarriors]

Adios Monroe and don't need Bled unless the team attendants need some help, hey?

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I like DDV but he doesn't have a ton of trade value.  A 3 and D player, with an injury history, and heading to restricted free agency.

Bucks had a glut of wings with Grayson, Pat C, and Wes.  Ibaka is just ok, but at least he fills a need as a rim defender that can stretch the floor.  Even if he plays 15-20 mpg, that's important depth.

And the Bucks can still players in the buyout market.  They have a couple roster spots open from dumping Semi O and Rodney Hood in this deal.

[The Sultan]

Donte is a replacement level guard.  They got replacement level post in return.  They just need someone to protect the rim, and go big with Bobby on the floor. 

Yeah they do need is a PJ Tucker type wing-defender.  Not easy to find though.

[MUBurrow]

He's a guy that fills a role. But those 2nd round picks are what really matters here, plus 2 spots open for the buyout market. So, welcome back Eric Bledsoe!

Yeah, those pics are what caught my eye too.  Ibaka is the headliner of the deal because of name value, but I don't think this was purely a trade "for" Serge Ibaka.  Its a 4 team deal, but for the Clips its basically a trade with the Bucks - Serge for Ojeleye and Hood from the Bucks, so clearly they didn't put a big value on him either.  The 2nds, which if they are futures from Detroit, should be decently placed, might be the real return for DD.

[GB Warrior]

Yeah, those pics are what caught my eye too.  Ibaka is the headliner of the deal because of name value, but I don't think this was purely a trade "for" Serge Ibaka.  Its a 4 team deal, but for the Clips its basically a trade with the Bucks - Serge for Ojeleye and Hood from the Bucks, so clearly they didn't put a big value on him either.  The 2nds, which if they are futures from Detroit, should be decently placed, might be the real return for DD.

Those 2nd should allow us to do a salary dump to trade Giannis in order to retain Portis.

[Pakuni]

And there it is:
@wojespn
The Brooklyn Nets are trading James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

[The Sultan]

And there it is:
@wojespn
The Brooklyn Nets are trading James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

Well, I was wrong about that.  But that is quite the haul.

[wadesworld]

And there it is:
@wojespn
The Brooklyn Nets are trading James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

That feels like a pretty big win for the Sixers.

[Dish]

That's a heist for Brooklyn.

[BM1090]

Great for the 76ers in the short term.

Great for Brooklyn short term and long term.

[wadesworld]

Meh.  Simmons was never playing for the Sixers again.  So you got Harden for Drummond, Seth Curry, and the 25th-30th picks in 2 drafts.  That's not much.  The fact that they didn't have to give up either Maxey or Thybulle is a huge win for them.

[The Sultan]

Meh.  Simmons was never playing for the Sixers again.  So you got Harden for Drummond, Seth Curry, and the 25th-30th picks in 2 drafts.  That's not much.

What?  Simmons is going to be playing for the Nets right?  You can't just exclude the trade value they get in return because he wasn't playing for the Sixers. 

[Uncle Rico]

James Harden is a loser.  Sixers fans joy today will be rage much sooner than later

[wadesworld]

What?  Simmons is going to be playing for the Nets right?  You can't just exclude the trade value they get in return because he wasn't playing for the Sixers.

But he wasn't playing for the Sixers, and he never was going to.  So it's not like they're losing anything by not having him on their roster.  So they essentially lost two picks that will fall in the 25-30 range, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond.  They gained James Harden.  That's a large upgrade, to understate it massively.

[Pakuni]

That's a heist for Brooklyn.

Ha.
I was thinking just the opposite. Simmons had no real value to the Sixers as anything but a trade piece, so they're not really losing anything there.
Late first-round picks have very little value in the NBA. Why people think otherwise defies logic.
Seth Curry and Drummond are fine rotational pieces, but that's about it.
It's usually the case in NBA deals that the team that gets the best player wins the trade. That's Philly here. The games of Embiid and Harden should fit together really well.

[Dish]

Brooklyn probably trades those picks, but the 2027 first rounder (protected 1-8 in '27 & '28) is nice to stash. A 38 year old 250 lb Harden and a worn down Embiid in 2027 means that pick will be in play.

Both teams got better in the short term, but long term I'd rather have the Nets haul for sure.

[Pakuni]

James Harden is a loser.  Sixers fans joy today will be rage much sooner than later

They'll rue the day they traded away noted winner Ben Simmons.

[MuggsyB]

Wow.  It sure makes things more interesting.

[Dish]

Ha.
I was thinking just the opposite. Simmons had no real value to the Sixers as anything but a trade piece, so they're not really losing anything there.
Late first-round picks have very little value in the NBA. Why people think otherwise defies logic.
Seth Curry and Drummond are fine rotational pieces, but that's about it.
It's usually the case in NBA deals that the team that gets the best player wins the trade. That's Philly here. The games of Embiid and Harden should fit together really well.

Wait to see, but 32 year old breaking down, putting weight on James Harden...who's going to ask for and get a super max deal? Good luck with that moving forward.

[Jockey]

That's a heist for Brooklyn.

They get better this year AND get a couple 1st round picks.

I said a while back that the 3some would never work for the Nets. Taking the ball out of Durante hands was never a winning idea.

[wadesworld]

They get better this year AND get a couple 1st round picks.

I said a while back that the 3some would never work for the Nets. Taking the ball out of Durante hands was never a winning idea.

I mean, it absolutely was working until injuries happened.  The numbers were historically good the few games they had on the court together.  They were a half shoe size away from beating the Bucks with two of their three stars hobbled/missing games, and the Bucks were the clear second best team (behind only the Nets) in the NBA last year.

[Pakuni]

Brooklyn probably trades those picks, but the 2027 first rounder (protected 1-8 in '27 & '28) is nice to stash. A 38 year old 250 lb Harden and a worn down Embiid in 2027 means that pick will be in play.

Both teams got better in the short term, but long term I'd rather have the Nets haul for sure.

I don't think Philly is going to judge this trade by where they are in 2027. If that ever was a consideration for them in this trade, it lasted all of two seconds.
Long-term thinking in the NBA is silly and rarely results in winning. Long-term thinking gets you The Process, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Bulls picking at #7 for eternity. Or, heck, the present-day Boston Celtics.
Teams that win do so with big, bold moves that often mortgage the future - which is always overvalued in the league - for the present.
Look at the recent NBA Champs not named Warriors ...
2021 Bucks ... traded three first-round picks and more for Jrue Holiday
2020 Lakers ... traded multiple young starters and two first-round picks for Anthony Davis
2019 Raptors ... traded an all-star, a future first and a recent first for Kawhi Leonard;

Bottom line ... Philly is closer to a championship today than they were yesterday. Brooklyn is further away.

[wadesworld]

I don't think Philly is going to judge this trade by where they are in 2027. If that ever was a consideration for them in this trade, it lasted all of two seconds.
Long-term thinking in the NBA is silly and rarely results in winning. Long-term thinking gets you The Process, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Bulls picking at #7 for eternity. Or, heck, the present-day Boston Celtics.
Teams that win do so with big, bold moves that often mortgage the future - which is always overvalued in the league - for the present.
Look at the recent NBA Champs not named Warriors ...
2021 Bucks ... traded three first-round picks and more for Jrue Holiday
2020 Lakers ... traded multiple young starters and two first-round picks for Anthony Davis
2019 Raptors ... traded an all-star, a future first and a recent first for Kawhi Leonard;

Bottom line ... Philly is closer to a championship today than they were yesterday. Brooklyn is further away.

Bingo.