2024-25 NBA Thread

[JWags85]

One of the funniest blogger/NBA social media commentator sentiments Ive seen the last 24 hours is trying to slag off the Bucks for "loyalty" or whatnot when it comes to Dame.  Like this isn't the NFL where you're cutting someone and vanishing their future salary cause they are no longer useful to you.  They didn't buy him out.  He's getting his full salary and getting the freedom to spend the next year focusing on rehab while also having discussions with teams with an eye to his next team/contract.  Like he can't play this year, its not like they are benching him.  Its a win/win solution for both parties.  Just emotional nonsense.

[cheebs09]

One of the funniest blogger/NBA social media commentator sentiments Ive seen the last 24 hours is trying to slag off the Bucks for "loyalty" or whatnot when it comes to Dame.  Like this isn't the NFL where you're cutting someone and vanishing their future salary cause they are no longer useful to you.  They didn't buy him out.  He's getting his full salary and getting the freedom to spend the next year focusing on rehab while also having discussions with teams with an eye to his next team/contract.  Like he can't play this year, its not like they are benching him.  Its a win/win solution for both parties.  Just emotional nonsense.

Plus, I'm seeing now that they told him about this Sunday.

[CreightonWarrior]

going to pull a muggsy and ask here instead of googling: I'm assuming the Bucks still need to pay Lillard if he's under contract with another team? Not a bad deal for him.

[The Sultan]

going to pull a muggsy and ask here instead of googling: I'm assuming the Bucks still need to pay Lillard if he's under contract with another team? Not a bad deal for him.

It's offset. So some team will pay him the minimum, and the Bucks will pay the balance of the contract.

[wadesworld]

As if Dame was some sort of Bucks legend?  The guy came in and more or less slammed the window shut on the Bucks' title window.  He spent 2 years here.  The Bucks owe him nothing (other than $113M to recover on his own).

Didn't like the trade when it happened.  Then his agent came out and thanked the MIAMI HEAT for trying to trade for Dame, right after being traded to the Bucks.  The guy never had any interest in being in Milwaukee.  It was a catastrophic trade for the Bucks, and aged worse than anyone thought a worst case scenario might be.

Good luck to any "contenders" that are rushing to their phones to add a will be 37 year old coming off an achilles tear that's 5'10" and never show any interest in even trying to play defense.  But those 35 foot side step 3 pointers after dribbling the air out of the ball all possession that he shoots at like 29% do look dope when they go in, so that's fun.

Good riddance.  Glad you're ecstatic to be waived.  As a Bucks fan I'm ecstatic to not have to watch that trash basketball anymore.  Not ecstatic to have 15% of the cap going to him for the next 5 years, though.

[The Sultan]

I never got the impression that he was dogging it when he was here. He was a poor fit and poorly coached throughout his tenure. He should be thrilled that he was cut for all the reason the article states. It's a move that works out best for everyone IMO.

[Jay Bee]

It's offset. So some team will pay him the minimum, and the Bucks will pay the balance of the contract.

Shhhh. Do not speak of what u not know

[The Sultan]

Shhhh. Do not speak of what u not know

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6465715/2025/07/01/damian-lillard-waived-bucks-myles-turner-nba-free-agency/

"With Lillard owed $54.1 million for this season and $58.4 million in the 2026-27 campaign, there is a salary offset for any team that acquires him during that two-year period. And while the Bucks would surely prefer Lillard sign for a significant salary as a way to alleviate some of their financial burden, the reality is he could sign for a minimum-salary deal and still be paid the same amount. That's a powerful place to be when you're a future Hall of Famer in your mid-30s who has never won a championship."

[cheebs09]

As if Dame was some sort of Bucks legend?  The guy came in and more or less slammed the window shut on the Bucks' title window.  He spent 2 years here.  The Bucks owe him nothing (other than $113M to recover on his own).

Didn't like the trade when it happened.  Then his agent came out and thanked the MIAMI HEAT for trying to trade for Dame, right after being traded to the Bucks.  The guy never had any interest in being in Milwaukee.  It was a catastrophic trade for the Bucks, and aged worse than anyone thought a worst case scenario might be.

Good luck to any "contenders" that are rushing to their phones to add a will be 37 year old coming off an achilles tear that's 5'10" and never show any interest in even trying to play defense.  But those 35 foot side step 3 pointers after dribbling the air out of the ball all possession that he shoots at like 29% do look dope when they go in, so that's fun.

Good riddance.  Glad you're ecstatic to be waived.  As a Bucks fan I'm ecstatic to not have to watch that trash basketball anymore.  Not ecstatic to have 15% of the cap going to him for the next 5 years, though.

I kind of viewed it as a last chance gasp to try and prop open the window as it was shutting. The injuries in the playoffs, bad coaching hires, and Middleton being a shell of himself prompted the moves.

Also, while I'm a big Jrue fan, he was not looking like a championship third option the end of his Bucks tenure.

Dame sounded great in theory, but for whatever reason, he didn't fit. I'm sure his divorce didn't help things, but he just was never efficient enough to complement Giannis.

[Jay Bee]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6465715/2025/07/01/damian-lillard-waived-bucks-myles-turner-nba-free-agency/

"With Lillard owed $54.1 million for this season and $58.4 million in the 2026-27 campaign, there is a salary offset for any team that acquires him during that two-year period. And while the Bucks would surely prefer Lillard sign for a significant salary as a way to alleviate some of their financial burden, the reality is he could sign for a minimum-salary deal and still be paid the same amount. That's a powerful place to be when you're a future Hall of Famer in your mid-30s who has never won a championship."

It's offset. So some team will pay him the minimum, and the Bucks will pay the balance of the contract.

You shouldn't trust the NY Times (or most sources) for something like this, and you shouldn't add on your own interpretation. You're dead wrong. Try reading the CBA, bub.

[The Sultan]

You shouldn't trust the NY Times (or most sources) for something like this, and you shouldn't add on your own interpretation. You're dead wrong. Try reading the CBA, bub.

I will assume I am right until you provide evidence otherwise.

[Jay Bee]

I will assume I am right until you provide evidence otherwise.

I already provided the evidence. Read the CBA.

Not going to do the work for you, but your claim is idiotic on so many levels.

Ignorant and gullible.

[Billy Hoyle]

You shouldn't trust the NY Times (or most sources) for something like this, and you shouldn't add on your own interpretation. You're dead wrong. Try reading the CBA, bub.

The FAILING NY Times. Get it right.

[The Sultan]

I already provided the evidence. Read the CBA.

Not going to do the work for you, but your claim is idiotic on so many levels.

Ignorant and gullible.

I provided the evidence. You are claiming it is wrong, but won't back it up. Very typical.

[Jay Bee]

I provided the evidence. You are claiming it is wrong, but won't back it up. Very typical.

You didn't provide evidence. You quoted some article from the NY Times and went further into a nonsensical interpretation. Both were wrong.

I provided the evidence - the CBA. Go read it and you'll start to figure out the many reasons why your claim is outlandish and dead wrong. 

Again, I'm not going to walk you through the many reasons you're wrong, but if you really need a link, here it is:

https://imgix.cosmicjs.com/25da5eb0-15eb-11ee-b5b3-fbd321202bdf-Final-2023-NBA-Collective-Bargaining-Agreement-6-28-23.pdf

 

[The Sultan]

You didn't provide evidence. You quoted some article from the NY Times and went further into a nonsensical interpretation. Both were wrong.

I provided the evidence - the CBA. Go read it and you'll start to figure out the many reasons why your claim is outlandish and dead wrong. 

Quote it. Prove me wrong. Otherwise, yer just yapping like a little dog.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

[Uncle Rico]

Nobody cares.  Dame is gone and like all other decent free agents, isn't going Minnesota

[Jockey]

As if Dame was some sort of Bucks legend?  The guy came in and more or less slammed the window shut on the Bucks' title window.  He spent 2 years here.  The Bucks owe him nothing (other than $113M to recover on his own).

Didn't like the trade when it happened.  Then his agent came out and thanked the MIAMI HEAT for trying to trade for Dame, right after being traded to the Bucks.  The guy never had any interest in being in Milwaukee.  It was a catastrophic trade for the Bucks, and aged worse than anyone thought a worst case scenario might be.

Good luck to any "contenders" that are rushing to their phones to add a will be 37 year old coming off an achilles tear that's 5'10" and never show any interest in even trying to play defense.  But those 35 foot side step 3 pointers after dribbling the air out of the ball all possession that he shoots at like 29% do look dope when they go in, so that's fun.

Good riddance.  Glad you're ecstatic to be waived.  As a Bucks fan I'm ecstatic to not have to watch that trash basketball anymore.  Not ecstatic to have 15% of the cap going to him for the next 5 years, though.

I agree with each of the points you make.

[MuggsyB]

Is Mike Brown a better coach than Thibs?

[Uncle Rico]

Is Mike Brown a better coach than Thibs?

Yes

[The Sultan]

Is Mike Brown a better coach than Thibs?

Great locker room guy. Struggles with in-game adjustments. Kinda underwhelming, but maybe works with simply having a different voice.

[MuggsyB]

Great locker room guy. Struggles with in-game adjustments. Kinda underwhelming, but maybe works with simply having a different voice.

Maybe he was the best option available.

[Billy Hoyle]

Great locker room guy. Struggles with in-game adjustments. Kinda underwhelming, but maybe works with simply having a different voice.

He might actually use the bench too

[JWags85]

Great locker room guy. Struggles with in-game adjustments. Kinda underwhelming, but maybe works with simply having a different voice.

I think he's the same general issue as Thibs.  Good coach for getting the most out of a lacking roster.  He was impressive in Sacramento the last few years.  He was actually very good that first year in LA cause that team was THIN outside of Kobe and Pau.  But taking over a team coming off a ECF that wants to contend again?  Not sure if he's the guy.