Bucks vs. Rockets

Music City posted:

I’ve been beating that drum for most of the season. They give Middleton max money, they waste Giannis’ prime and that might lose him...

I get what you're saying, but if you lose Middleton who replaces him? Sterling Brown? If you knew you could upgrade you'd let him go, but if you end up with someone worse then you risk losing Giannis as well. If they renounce George Hill and Middleton opts out (both of which are about 99% likely to happen), they have almost no one signed at big money next season. This is who is under contract. They have 53.5 million allocated against the cap. Brogdon, Bledsoe, Lopez, and Middleton are all up. Who are you going to get instead ?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/cap/2019/

Giannis 26 million

Snell 11 million

Ilyasova 7 million

Maker 3.5 million

Wilson 3 million

DiVencenzo 2.9 million

I can guarantee you they are not bringing back Hill at 18MM next year.  Horst made the deal to free up space.  In theory, they could extend Brogdon, Middleton and Bledsoe and maybe even Lopez for what they moved in Delly and Henson and the eventual Hill buyout. 

PMichiganPacker2 posted:

I get what you're saying, but if you lose Middleton who replaces him? Sterling Brown? If you knew you could upgrade you'd let him go, but if you end up with someone worse then you risk losing Giannis as well. If they renounce George Hill and Middleton opts out (both of which are about 99% likely to happen), they have almost no one signed at big money next season. This is who is under contract. They have 53.5 million allocated against the cap. Brogdon, Bledsoe, Lopez, and Middleton are all up. Who are you going to get instead ?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/cap/2019/

Giannis 26 million

Snell 11 million

Ilyasova 7 million

Maker 3.5 million

Wilson 3 million

DiVencenzo 2.9 million

The upcoming FA class has Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis (opt out), Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker, Tobias Harris, and Demarcus Cousins. They have a young, deep roster that simply needs one more true star to be a perennial title contender. 

Is it a foregone conclusion that all these guys want to play with Lebron? I don’t know about that. The Bucks need another top guy- Harris is nice, or maybe Butler, but Lebron is going get one of the top 5 guys, the Warriors probably keep Cousins... those guys aren’t looking to play in Milwaukee.

Personally, AD is my target. He’s an assassin, but he’s more Scottie Pippen than Michael Jordan. AD is from Chicago, so the climate shouldn’t scare him, and he still has family in the area. I think Giannis recognizes this, and understands other guys are not going to be interested in Milwaukee. 

Pass on Middleton, sign Davis, and keep the rest on board. That’s a title team. 

Music - I like your optimism on Davis, but I don't think that's going to happen in Milwaukee.

I don't think Tobias Harris is as good as Middleton. Jimmy Butler is and went to Marquette, but he'll be 30 next summer (Middleton will be 28) and he just blew up a Wolves team and is having trouble integrating with the Sixers young guys.

Kyrie Irving is James Harden like - tremendous offensive player with a token interest in playing defense. He'll have no interest in Milwaukee either.

Kawhi, Durant, and Cousins are never going to go to Milwaukee either, as you said. Kemba Walker - no thanks. Klay Thompson is also a free agent, but he'll be in LA or in the Bay Area.

That's the problem - I don't think you are going to get a guy as good as Middleton to come here unless you massively overpay them. Middleton is not a superstar level player, but he's a great #3 type. At least you know he already fits well, seems to get along with Giannis, and plays tough defense. I'd rather overpay Middleton than Tobias Harris.

You can bet that Bucks Management have already talked to Giannis about AD- that of all the pending FAs coming, he’s the one guy that may not have an issue playing in Milwaukee. This is why they’re seen “talking” and Giannis is yelling “come to Milwaukee” in the hallway when the Pelicans visited Milwaukee. 

Watch on All Star weekend... if Giannis is buddying up with AD it’s all preemptive to the summer pitch. If Giannis picks his team (assuming) for the All Star game, his first pick will be AD. Guaranteed. 

The Bucks cannot pay Middleton like a #2 if he isn’t. Brogdon can be a strong #3. Their young players are coming up. One player is all they need to be a title caliber team for nearly a decade. One call... that’s all...