Maybe this is nothing, but figured it should be its own thread.
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I don’t view this as a positive development for keeping Giannis
It’s also possible he may want want to express his opinions on the roster (who should stay or go) because Bud loves everyone. Or maybe Bud also. Although, it’s odd that Jon Horst wasn’t mentioned.
Where's the guarantee that he'll win a title elsewhere? If he does leave, is he conceding he's not a No 1 on a team and has to go somewhere to be a complement to a true No 1? If that's the case, he should take less money than the supermax to allow Milw to sign a true No 1?
I love the talent, but have never liked the whole chasing a title thing. Yeah, I can see it later in a career, but not in your prime.
It’s amazing just how much COVID19 may have altered the future of the Bucks for a long time.
Prior to the shutdown the Bucks were rolling and all but guaranteed to secure the #1 overall seed. Then the pandemic happens and the Bucks lost a huge edge in terms of focus and no home court advantage. The rest is history. Now the future of Giannis is in question when I’d say there was a 90% chance of him opting back in w/Milwaukee before the pandemic.
It’s possible this recent development is simply for Giannis to reinforce his desire to stay but it could also mean he’s unhappy and either wants to see changes to the roster or wants to be traded.
2020 just needs to be over with already!!
I don’t blame players wanting to chase a title. I mean, it worked for LeBron. I’m not sure he would have won it had he stuck around the first time.
Durant was a bit different because that OKC team was good enough to win it all.
As currently assembled, I don’t think the Bucks are good enough to win it all. I don’t think they would have beaten either LA team in the Finals.
The Supermax contract was supposed to incentivize players like Giannis to stay put. That hasn’t worked out so well for a number of top tier players.
🙄
Giannis unfollows hundreds of people on Twitter/Instagram.
Headline: Giannis Unfollows Teammates
🙄
So what does untraditional mean?
https://www.si.com/nba/cavalie...ntetokounmpo-meeting
Antetokounmpo did not request a trade during the meeting, but rather used it as an opportunity to express "a desire to be in a winning culture with a team that displays a willingness to be untraditional in their approach to building a title team," per Brandon Robinson of Heavy.com.
Untraditional could mean to draft and develop your own guys and not make bold moves - but simply “stay the course?”
Or it could mean something completely opposite like acquiring a big time player and exceeding the cap (luxury tax)?
Maybe the two parts of the statement are directly connected- winning culture where team building is not looked at as a “business” but as a culture. Where instead of bringing in players like the Chris Pauls or Lebrons of the world, where they force teams to trade them or hold their teams for ransom unless they get this player or that player.
But trades and player movement have always been a part of the program, and you cannot just put a guy out there if he’s not good enough.
It could be that he wants them to stick with guys like Middleton and Bledsoe and improve from within. That would be untraditional.
Trading away everything for Chris Paul would be what goes as traditional these days.
They cannot stick with Bledsoe anymore. Teams have figured him out and he’s almost unplayable in the postseason. Not to mention his presence makes Giannis job offensively so much more difficult because he can’t shoot.
Goran Dragic comment
“I still think Giannis doesn’t have so much help. Boston, if you look at Tatum he’s got Kemba and Brown. We need to prepare for him, but we can’t just throw our the whole defense at him and forget about other guys.”
OUCH!
@MichiganPacker2 posted:
Not on topic, but from the link- I’m getting tired of Doc Rivers. His bullshit whining about officiating is obnoxious.
"I think from the time when Murray went down with that injury," Rivers added of the Nuggets shooting 12 of 16 free throws in the third after the Clippers led by 19. "I think that's human nature. You see a guy go down there's no call on the play, and then the next thing you know you're at the free throw line. And give Denver credit because they understood that and they started being aggressive."
You mean like game 3, when your opponent shot 10 fucking free throws in the entire game to your 26? They are incredulous at every f-ing call going all the way back to the lob city Clippers.
MC whining about Doc whining about refs......priceless
Just tired of the Clippers’ bullshit. I hope Denver takes their ass out...
Denver has no chance of beating the Lakers. I want the Clips and LAL to battle it out.
Denver had no chance to beat the Clips either. At least not a real chance
Murray with a 20 point 2nd quarter cuts a 12 point Clippers lead to 2 at the half. He’s been up to the challenge against the Clippers.
Clips down 15 in the 4th now. PG13 and Kawhi a combined 10-33 from the floor.
If this holds the Clippers will make some moves before next year.
PG13 pulling a Bledsoe. 4 for 13.
kawhi even worse.
Now a combined 10-36.
Clippers score 33 points in 2nd HALF. They only score 37 in the last 28 minutes of game time
Pg13 4-16
kawhi 6-22
this after blowing large second half leads in games 5 and 6
And the Nuggets move on... wow.
So... 1000 articles about Kawhi Leonard leaving LA and going to Miami, right?
From Hoop Central on Twitter
Clippers sent home in round 2. 😬
They only have Kawhi and PG for 1 more season (can opt out 2021) and gave up this haul for PG
Danilo Gallinari
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2020 LAC 1st
2021 MIA 1st
2023 MIA 1st
2023 Swap with LAC
2024 LAC 1st
2025 Swap with LAC
2026 LAC 1st
Yikes
@Music City posted:So... 1000 articles about Kawhi Leonard leaving LA and going to Miami, right?
And Giannis going to the Clippers in a 3-way deal with Butler going to Milwaukee
haha
Not if but when he leaves Milwaukee....The sun sets on my NBA interest
Miami has positioned themselves nicely for 21-22 to bring 2 max slot players on. They’ll have two really good players on rookie deals- Adebayo and Herro- and of course they have Butler. You add Leonard and George to that lineup, that’s a formidable lineup.
All the speculation about Miami positioning for Giannis, maybe they never really believed he’d leave Milwaukee. Maybe they targeted others, including George and Leonard.
It’s really shocking that the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead and they haven’t looked good in the process. The good news is it takes a lot of attention off the Bucks disappointing playoff exit and could also draw more attention away from the Bucks offseason as well.
As for Miami, there’s no reason why they need to trade for Giannis. They could sign him as a free agent if he comes available in a year or if Giannis stays with the Bucks they could target PG13 or Kahwi. Or Rudy Gobert or Victor Oladipo or Jrue Holiday or Chris Paul. Some of those guys would need to opt out of their player options (like Paul or Kahwi) but for a team like Miami that should have 2 slots for max players the next offseason could get very interesting.
The Heat aren’t going anywhere and if you are Toronto or Boston or Milwaukee or Philly you should be concerned going forward.
Reading through Hoopshype’s summary of the Athletic article about the meeting last weekend with Bucks ownership and team Giannis, all indications are that the Bucks are not interested in Chris Paul and Giannis seems about 90% a certainty to sign the Supermax. After the initial emotional attachment to the idea of a playmaker like Paul, this seems to make the most sense.
Interesting that Goran Dragic made that Giannis “doesn’t have a lot of help” comment a few days ago. Just about all the sources I had read say he’s likely to return to Miami, but he sure would look strong starting as a hybrid G. He puts up 29-7-4 and goes 3/6 from three as the Heat beat the Celtics in game 1. He’s coming off the bench for them. That’s crazy.
Paul Milsap has played a strong role in the Nuggets comeback- if the Bucks are looking for a F who could come cheap he and Bud have history. Also think Denis Schroeder could be in play as well. Bud reconnecting with his Atlanta guys might be one way of keeping costs down.
If you've never looked at the NBA Trade Machine site, it's a good one to waste some time on as we muse about how to reconfigure the roster.
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine
How about this one. The Clippers badly, badly need defense on their second unit. They already have Patrick Beverly, but could use another backcourt defender. The Bucks need half-court offense and a guy that can create his own shot off the dribble, especially off the bench. Both teams need to shake things up. This trade works - essentially Bledsoe for Lou Williams (plus some throw ins from the Clippers to make the salaries work).
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@Music City posted:Reading through Hoopshype’s summary of the Athletic article about the meeting last weekend with Bucks ownership and team Giannis, all indications are that the Bucks are not interested in Chris Paul and Giannis seems about 90% a certainty to sign the Supermax. After the initial emotional attachment to the idea of a playmaker like Paul, this seems to make the most sense.
Interesting that Goran Dragic made that Giannis “doesn’t have a lot of help” comment a few days ago. Just about all the sources I had read say he’s likely to return to Miami, but he sure would look strong starting as a hybrid G. He puts up 29-7-4 and goes 3/6 from three as the Heat beat the Celtics in game 1. He’s coming off the bench for them. That’s crazy.
Paul Milsap has played a strong role in the Nuggets comeback- if the Bucks are looking for a F who could come cheap he and Bud have history. Also think Denis Schroeder could be in play as well. Bud reconnecting with his Atlanta guys might be one way of keeping costs down.
Obviously, it all depends on what Giannis does. If he told them that they need to make a move that gives them the best chance to get to the Finals next year and it they don't show some progress he's gone, it's probably all-in on Chris Paul. It's a huge risk-reward, but he's a guy that can truly move the needle immediately if he stays healthy.
On the other hand, if Giannis told them he's going to sign the supermax but just wanted to make sure ownership doesn't cheap out once they sign him as their cash cow, that changes things. If that's the case, he just wants assurances that they'll go into the luxury tax to add significant players to a roster playing two guys 80 million +. Then, you build for a 3-4 title window and don't make a panic Chris Paul trade.
The East is going to be really tough next year. Jayson Tatum is a bona fide superstar. He is definitely a better player on the offensive end in the playoffs than Giannis. Brooklyn is going to be a favorite if Durant is even 90% back. Miami is obviously tough. The Sixers are going to flip either Simmons or Embiid and they'll get some high value back. Toronto is always tough.
Again, the issue with Chris Paul is given his salary you would need to gut the roster just to make it match up. If he were 28 years old, maybe. But it’s high risk period. Possible reward.
Funny you bring up Goran Dragic. He wouldn’t come cheap but given our roster he’s exactly the guy they need. Someone that can give you 15-25 PPG when Giannis and Middleton aren’t scoring. People criticize Middleton but honestly they have no decent or reliable scoring options behind those two guys. Lopez and Hill are solid, but they aren’t Dragic.
Tweet from Giannis :
Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo
@Giannis_An34
·
Thank you Milwaukee for all the love and support you showed my teammates and I this season. You guys are the best fans in the league. I can’t wait for next season! #ThroughTheWall #Antetokounbros 
@Tschmack posted:Again, the issue with Chris Paul is given his salary you would need to gut the roster just to make it match up. If he were 28 years old, maybe. But it’s high risk period. Possible reward.
Funny you bring up Goran Dragic. He wouldn’t come cheap but given our roster he’s exactly the guy they need. Someone that can give you 15-25 PPG when Giannis and Middleton aren’t scoring. People criticize Middleton but honestly they have no decent or reliable scoring options behind those two guys. Lopez and Hill are solid, but they aren’t Dragic.
I have a lot of friends in Boston I stay in touch with. I can tell you they wanted no part of seeing Middleton. He's played like a superstar against them in the playoffs. In 12 playoff games in 2018 and 2019 against them, he's averaged 22-5-4 and shot 42 for 77 from the 3 point line (55%).
If Bledsoe played to Middleton's level against the Heat, that series probably goes to Game 7. Middleton really struggled in Game 5 (8 for 25) but it's tough when the offense was basically to hand you the ball in isolation and ask you to create offense when the other team isn't even bothering to guard one of your teammates (Bledsoe) and can double team you easily.
@MichiganPacker2 posted:If Bledsoe played to Middleton's level against the Heat, that series probably goes to Game 7. Middleton really struggled in Game 5 (8 for 25) but it's tough when the offense was basically to hand you the ball in isolation and ask you to create offense when the other team isn't even bothering to guard one of your teammates (Bledsoe) and can double team you easily.
But in the playoffs, that’s about 70% of all possessions, and about 95% of possessions in the 4th quarter. The Bucks thought they could “team game” around that the last 2 years- the reality is the way the game is played, you must have a playmaker that can get their shot. You need a guy that hits a pull-up 27 footer for the dagger- that’s how Playoffs are won.
Who can beat a double, get off a HIGH degree of difficulty shot, and hit the fucker. That’s who wins the ring.
Well that sure as shit isn’t Bledsoe
He’s a complete liability in crunch time. Can’t shoot and he’s not great at the FT line either
If he’s still on this team next year I seriously have to question WTF they are doing because he’s cost them dearly in the playoffs. 3 goddamn years in a row. You don’t keep him around if it means losing Giannis. If I’m Giannis he’s the first guy to go because quite frankly he’s pissed away the last 3 years of Giannis in the playoffs.
@Tschmack posted:Well that sure as shit isn’t Bledsoe
He’s a complete liability in crunch time. Can’t shoot and he’s not great at the FT line either
If he’s still on this team next year I seriously have to question WTF they are doing because he’s cost them dearly in the playoffs. 3 goddamn years in a row. You don’t keep him around if it means losing Giannis. If I’m Giannis he’s the first guy to go because quite frankly he’s pissed away the last 3 years of Giannis in the playoffs.
While Bledsoe has been awful in the playoffs, let's just say that Giannis is the most responsible for pissing away the last two years in the playoffs.
Game 3 of the 2019 Raptors series was really the turning point for the Bucks in the playoffs. They hadn't won a playoff series in a longIn a game that went double OT, Giannis was 2 for 7 from the line and 5 for 16 from the floor. If Giannis is even average in that game, the Bucks go up 3-0 and close out the Raptors and are likely NBA champions if they play a Warriors team without Durant.
@MichiganPacker2 posted:Game 3 of the 2019 Raptors series was really the turning point for the Bucks in the playoffs. They hadn't won a playoff series in a longIn a game that went double OT, Giannis was 2 for 7 from the line and 5 for 16 from the floor. If Giannis is even average in that game, the Bucks go up 3-0 and close out the Raptors and are likely NBA champions if they play a Warriors team without Durant.
I agree. Giannis can make the Bledsoe discussion moot if he takes his midrange game to another level. The Bucks can’t score effectively down the stretch when the game goes iso-P&R-iso-P&R. The game needs to be won by your best player, not you’re 3rd or 4th best player...
I guess we’ll agree to disagree
Giannis needs to play better and continue to develop his game. I’d argue the FT issue is more important than the midrange shot because in the end of games you can’t be shooting 60% from the charity stripe. It’s hack a Shaq all over again.
Bledsoe is so much further along in his career and let’s be honest - there are dozens of Eric Bledsoe’s out there. There are few very Giannis type talents in the NBA.
I also think there’s a much better chance that Giannis continues to get better whereas Bledsoe is Bledsoe. A very good defender, someone that can get to the hoop, but makes questionable decisions with the ball and is quite simply a horrible shot taker and maker. It would be one thing to say he just can’t shoot, it’s something entirely different when he’s jacking up I’ll advised 3s with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.
Bottom line, they can do better and they need a legit 3rd scoring option if not a couple of more scoring options behind Giannis and Middleton. Preferably someone that forces you to honor the 3pt line other than Middleton. Teams can pack the paint because they know the only legit 3 point threat is Middleton.