2024-25 NBA Thread

[WhiteTrash]

Somewhat lost in the 1st rd stories is how good Tatum has been for the C's.  37 straight from the FT line doesn't suck.  The guy also defends amd rebounds.  More importantly his team wins.  I get that he's boring and not crazy likeable, but the dude has had a stellar early career.  Similar to Tim Duncan, he doesn't seem to get the credit he deserves. 

I agree about Duncan, but I also think Tim gat all the credit and attention he wanted.

[Zog from Margo]

They just re-signed him last week.

Anyway, they really have no options other than to trade Giannis. They need to get high picks to rebuild this roster. Keeping him around and surrounding him with mediocrity is what happened the last two seasons. It's just not going to work.

You're likely right, but I do not see a successful rebuild with Horst at the helm. It would require a complete change of his philosophy to try to obtain draft picks. Before this season, Horst had insisted on surrounding Giannis with one of the oldest rosters in the NBA. His trades have been washouts. They should have traded Middleton when they could have gotten something for him. Can you imagine what Horst's record would be if he hadn't inherited Giannis? I've got a feeling that any trade of Giannis that he engineers will result in the Bucks getting fleeced like he did in the Crowder deal, but on steroids and with much longer term negative ramifications.

[MU82]

Wow.  Thibs completely fked that up by not using a time-out. 

Thibs only had one TO left, and I can understand him not wanting to use it just to sub in Hart and Brunson. What he should a done was told his guys to foul Duren as soon as he touched the ball. He's a bad FT shooter who probably wouldn't have made more than 1-of-2, and even if he did make both it would have been OK.

[Billy Hoyle]

You're likely right, but I do not see a successful rebuild with Horst at the helm. It would require a complete change of his philosophy to try to obtain draft picks. Before this season, Horst had insisted on surrounding Giannis with one of the oldest rosters in the NBA. His trades have been washouts. They should have traded Middleton when they could have gotten something for him. Can you imagine what Horst's record would be if he hadn't inherited Giannis? I've got a feeling that any trade of Giannis that he engineers will result in the Bucks getting fleeced like he did in the Crowder deal, but on steroids and with much longer term negative ramifications.

He'll be traded to the Lakers for Bronny, Shake Melton, Christian Koloko and a second round pick in 2037.

[Pakuni]

They just re-signed him last week.

Anyway, they really have no options other than to trade Giannis. They need to get high picks to rebuild this roster. Keeping him around and surrounding him with mediocrity is what happened the last two seasons. It's just not going to work.

Problem is, what team in the market for a 30+-year-old superstar has a load of high picks to surrender?
OKC has a ton of picks, but most have some kind of top 10 protection. And would Giannis want to go there?

Bucks are going to have a hard time getting value.

[Billy Hoyle]

Problem is, what team in the market for a 30+-year-old superstar has a load of high picks to surrender?
OKC has a ton of picks, but most have some kind of top 10 protection. And would Giannis want to go there?

Bucks are going to have a hard time getting value.

Toronto was mentioned this morning as a very likely landing spot. Big Greek population and a lottery pick this year.

The Spurs have some picks that could interest the Bucks too with two 2025 lottery picks (their own and Atlanta's), an unprotected 2027 pick from Atlanta

[The Sultan]

Problem is, what team in the market for a 30+-year-old superstar has a load of high picks to surrender?
OKC has a ton of picks, but most have some kind of top 10 protection. And would Giannis want to go there?

Bucks are going to have a hard time getting value.

Brooklyn has four first round draft picks this year, one in '26 and three in '27.  Houston could get them a player, a lottery pick (via Suns) in 2025, plus a future one as well.

[Jockey]

Why isn't Doc fired yet?

The worst coach in the league. Not one of the worst, but he is entrenched at the bottom. We know it and NBA players know it.

[cheebs09]

Brooklyn has four first round draft picks this year, one in '26 and three in '27.  Houston could get them a player, a lottery pick (via Suns) in 2025, plus a future one as well.

It would be kind of terrifying to watch Horst with a lot of high picks.

I'm sure the Dame injury has thrown a big wrench in the offseason plans.

[Pakuni]

Brooklyn has four first round draft picks this year, one in '26 and three in '27.  Houston could get them a player, a lottery pick (via Suns) in 2025, plus a future one as well.

Why is Brooklyn trading for a 30-year-old (31 in December) Giannis? As great as he is, does he make them anything close to a contender?

A player, one lottery pick and one later first rounder - what Houston could offer - is not good value for a top 5 player. Suns got three players and five 1sts for Durant, and while that was an overpay, the Bucks should be seeking something in that neighborhood.

[MU82]

Problem is, what team in the market for a 30+-year-old superstar has a load of high picks to surrender?
OKC has a ton of picks, but most have some kind of top 10 protection. And would Giannis want to go there?

Bucks are going to have a hard time getting value.

NBA history has shown that it's very hard to get "value" for a true superstar, especially one still in his prime.

But as others have pointed out, there are possibilities that could bring a pretty nice return.

It makes no sense that upper management has put Horst in charge of securing that return, and because of that the Bucks might not get anything close to "value" for Giannis. But in the hands of a better GM, it would be possible to do pretty well. And who knows ... maybe this will be the rare time that a blind squirrel finds some good nuts.

[The Sultan]

Why is Brooklyn trading for a 30-year-old (31 in December) Giannis? As great as he is, does he make them anything close to a contender?

Yes. Building a team around him makes sense to me.

[Uncle Rico]

Why is Brooklyn trading for a 30-year-old (31 in December) Giannis? As great as he is, does he make them anything close to a contender?

A player, one lottery pick and one later first rounder - what Houston could offer - is not good value for a top 5 player. Suns got three players and five 1sts for Durant, and while that was an overpay, the Bucks should be seeking something in that neighborhood.

Brooklyn has been mentioned as a spot for quite some time.  They also have the flexibility to bring him in and add another star.

The return can be quite good but I can see the Bucks getting pennies on the dollar trying to maintain "contender" status

[GB Warrior]

Brooklyn has been mentioned as a spot for quite some time.  They also have the flexibility to bring him in and add another star.

The return can be quite good but I can see the Bucks getting pennies on the dollar trying to maintain "contender" status

I for one hope for a generation for "just happy to get in" seasons like we got under Kohl

[Pakuni]

Yes. Building a team around him makes sense to me.

Building a team around a 31-year-old whose game relies on athleticism/explosiveness is risky business.
Trying to do it after trading away your lottery picks ...
Not saying it couldn't happen. Just think it would be bad business.

[Uncle Rico]

Building a team around a 31-year-old whose game relies on athleticism/explosiveness is risky business.
Trying to do it after trading away your lottery picks ...
Not saying it couldn't happen. Just think it would be bad business.

Bad business 🤝 NBA franchises

[wadesworld]

Somewhat lost in the 1st rd stories is how good Tatum has been for the C's.  37 straight from the FT line doesn't suck.  The guy also defends amd rebounds.  More importantly his team wins.  I get that he's boring and not crazy likeable, but the dude has had a stellar early career.  Similar to Tim Duncan, he doesn't seem to get the credit he deserves. 

He's cheesy as hell.  Let's text message a dead Koby Bryant and post the screenshot on social media.  Let's mimic all these iconic emotional reactions to big moments in our own celebration.  Let's "not say 2 words" to my "friend" on the opponent, just to go to the media and talk about not saying two words to my friend throughout the series.

[MuggsyB]

NBA history has shown that it's very hard to get "value" for a true superstar, especially one still in his prime.

But as others have pointed out, there are possibilities that could bring a pretty nice return.

It makes no sense that upper management has put Horst in charge of securing that return, and because of that the Bucks might not get anything close to "value" for Giannis. But in the hands of a better GM, it would be possible to do pretty well. And who knows ... maybe this will be the rare time that a blind squirrel finds some good nuts.

I think what makes the most sense and would get the best return is trading him to a contender.  Assuming he's wanted by one of these teams.  OKC losing might be helpful to the Bucks.  I suppose they could also roll the dice and find a package with Memphis and Morant.  They don't have great options frankly. 

Giannis is impossible to dislike.  It's worth watching or listening to his response regarding the elder Haliburton incident.  Personally, I would tell Halliburton Sr. that he just saw his last game in person until 2027.  Inexcusable.

[MuggsyB]

Thibs only had one TO left, and I can understand him not wanting to use it just to sub in Hart and Brunson. What he should a done was told his guys to foul Duren as soon as he touched the ball. He's a bad FT shooter who probably wouldn't have made more than 1-of-2, and even if he did make both it would have been OK.

That's fair. 

[MuggsyB]

He's cheesy as hell.  Let's text message a dead Koby Bryant and post the screenshot on social media.  Let's mimic all these iconic emotional reactions to big moments in our own celebration.  Let's "not say 2 words" to my "friend" on the opponent, just to go to the media and talk about not saying two words to my friend throughout the series.

Okay....let me rethink this.  You can't text people that are dead.  If you do, you certainly can't announce or post it for "optics".  Now I have to recalibrate everything.  Ty. 

[MuggsyB]

I agree about Duncan, but I also think Tim gat all the credit and attention he wanted.

Ttue.  Duncan was better than Kobe .

[MU82]

Thibs only had one TO left, and I can understand him not wanting to use it just to sub in Hart and Brunson. What he should a done was told his guys to foul Duren as soon as he touched the ball. He's a bad FT shooter who probably wouldn't have made more than 1-of-2, and even if he did make both it would have been OK.

That's fair. 

I actually just found out that the Knicks had a foul to give.

What?

Give the effen foul so you can get your guys in the game!

That's some pretty horrendous coaching by Thibs. Deserved to lose.

[WhiteTrash]

Would the Bucks take a young superstar who is locked in for 4 more years at a bargain salary for Giannis?

Pat Williams could be the next great Buck. The Bucks should steal him from Chicago.

[MuggsyB]

I actually just found out that the Knicks had a foul to give.

What?

Give the effen foul so you can get your guys in the game!

That's some pretty horrendous coaching by Thibs. Deserved to lose.

Oh, wow!  Yes.  Inexcusable decision.  Ty. 

[MuggsyB]

Would the Bucks take a young superstar who is locked in for 4 more years at a bargain salary for Giannis?

Pat Williams could be the next great Buck. The Bucks should steal him from Chicago.

Lol.