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Figured we should start a thread on this. 

The newest Bucks discussion from Zach Lowe at ESPN (a decent writer and source) is as follows:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story...talk-happen-deadline

Also at the top of the league: Watch Milwaukee. The Bucks have Indiana's first-round pick and too many rotation guys to play. They are somewhat wary of disrupting their chemistry, but they might also need to show Giannis Antetokounmpo they are all-in. They could make some sort of consolidation trade for another shooter who can swing to power forward. Covington would fit well here, actually.

On a smaller scale, sources say a lot of teams have asked about Sterling Brown -- a free agent this summer.

If everyone stays healthy, the Bucks playoff rotation is probably as follows; 

Frontcourt: Giannis, Middleton, B. Lopez, Ilyasova, R. Lopez

Backcourt: Bledsoe, Matthews, DDV, G. Hill, Korver

R. Lopez is an 8-10 minute guy (except maybe against Embiid), so they have a tight 9-10 man rotation. 

The most obvious place to upgrade would be Matthews. 

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It sucks for Matthews but ever since missing some time for an injury earlier this year, he's never looked comfortable after coming back.  I agree that he's the guy they'd want to do some upgrading over.  He's a homegrown kid so it would suck to give up on him but he just hasn't played well in a good month or 2.

Matthews is the consummate saavy veteran that’s great for team chemistry and is a leader in the locker room.  

Not sure what’s up with him but since New Years Day he’s shooting 26% from the field and 21% from 3.  

On the other hand, DDV has been averaging in double figures while shooting over 50% from the field including 38% from 3 over that same stretch. 

I’d say keep giving DDV more minutes. 

Tschmack posted:

Matthews is the consummate saavy veteran that’s great for team chemistry and is a leader in the locker room.  

Not sure what’s up with him but since New Years Day he’s shooting 26% from the field and 21% from 3.  

On the other hand, DDV has been averaging in double figures while shooting over 50% from the field including 38% from 3 over that same stretch. 

I’d say keep giving DDV more minutes. 

Agreed. DDV's biggest issue right now is finishing at the rim. He makes some spectacular drives to the basket, gets bumped slightly on his way in, and is knocked off balance just enough to not finish. It seems like he misses 1-2 point blank shots every game like that. A few more months in the weight room and those shots are going to go in. 

I like him because he is what Bill Simmons refers to as an "irrationally confident shooter." The last guy the Bucks had like him on offense was Sam Cassell. Cassell had his limitations, but he was not afraid to shoot under pressure. DDV had one  of the top national championship performances of all-time for Villanova. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vmzyiYJX2s

He's done it before in pressure situations. He's clearly athletic enough to hang with anyone, and he might be an even better on-ball defender than Bledsoe (and Bledsoe is outstanding). 

He’s also prone to making some sloppy plays as he did yesterday.  Hits the back to back 3s then gets stripped and then I believe on the next possession gets beaten badly on D. 

Still, he’s made a nice leap this year in terms of his progression and is a primary reason why Sterling Brown isn’t getting more minutes.  He’s a good finisher, and has very quick hands and instincts on D and could become an elite level defender.  If he can hit outside shots like he has been doing it’s going to be hard to keep him out of the rotation especially with George Hill sidelined and Wes Matthews faltering a bit. 

Last edited by Tschmack

Matthews offense has been disappointing , but he's been the Bucks best wing defender.  His defense has allowed Middleton to focus more on the offense end. Liking the results !!

DDV has been fantastic. Great defender and rebounder, and his shot has developed nicely. His ball handling is a bit sketchy though, certainly not to Bledsoe and George Hills level. 

Tried to buy into Tsmacks love for Sterling Brown but he just seems like a average at best player...who's looked pretty bad at times. Maybe he needs to go to team where he gets more minutes??  Would be great if the Bucks could get something for their low value guys like Sterling, DJ Wilson, Bender, etc....Would hate to see them trade Ersan, Patty C or Wes....depends on the return I guess?? 

Last edited by Packdog

Apparently Sterling Brown is getting some interest on the trade market.  It makes sense as he’s shown flashes of being a pretty good spot player.  Can shoot, can defend, and is athletic.  His issue has been staying healthy and right now he can’t crack the lineup.  

He’s got an expiring and affordable contract so it could make sense to package him and another player. 

Sixers on NBATV right now getting blown out by the Heat. What a dysfunctional team. They are built to defend Giannis, but Simmons and Embiid are not a good offensive match. Wonder if they are considering a big move? I'd consider moving Embiid for some more outside shooting and build the same offense around Simmons that the Bucks have around Giannis. Embiid would be perfect for a Lopez role, but his ego won't allow it. 

MichiganPacker2 posted:

The only way the trade works for Covington is probably giving up Ilyasova plus a couple of other pieces (Brown and Wilson). 

He’d be an upgrade at F- and I think Bud has been frustrated with some effort for Ersan on the defensive end. Against athletic Fs Ilyasova is unplayable. They gave him 15 mpg in the final 4 games in the Toronto series- after he had that huge game 2 with 17 points in 21 minutes. But in the games 3-4-5 losses, he got 12, 18, and 11 minutes. 

Covington is a guy you don’t need to hide. You can play him with Giannis, the second until, whatever you want- and never sacrifice any of their ability to defend. Kawhi, Lebron, Jimmy Butler, Tatum, Brown... the Bucks need to be able to defend the wing. Ersan cannot do that against any of the contending teams. 

Last edited by Music City

The Sixers are 9-18 on the road.  Think about that.  Except for maybe a dozen teams in the league you should be able to at least be competitive away from home and Philly is awful.  

Butler is right that team is soft but I will go a step further.  They have no heart and lack any type of leadership on that team. 

I know they added size to contend with the Bucks but at their current pace they are slotted 6th the East.  Unless things turn around they will be a road playoff team and stand a good chance of not even making it to a playoff matchup with Milwaukee because they can’t shoot, can’t win on the road, and have no mental toughness. 

So do you make a bold move?  They might have to. 

I have said all along the team I worry the most about is Boston.  The Sixers are a train wreck right now. 

And yes, I hope the Bucks beat them by 30 on Thursday.  Bunch of front running wannabees and Embiid is their poster child. 

Last edited by Tschmack
Tschmack posted:

The Sixers are 9-18 on the road.  Think about that.  Except for maybe a dozen teams in the league you should be able to at least be competitive away from home and Philly is awful.  

Butler is right that team is soft but I will go a step further.  They have no heart and lack any type of leadership on that team. 

I know they added size to contend with the Bucks but at their current pace they are slotted 6th the East.  Unless things turn around they will be a road playoff team and stand a good chance of not even making it to a playoff matchup with Milwaukee because they can’t shoot, can’t win on the road, and have no mental toughness. 

So do you make a bold move?  They might have to. 

I have said all along the team I worry the most about is Boston.  The Sixers are a train wreck right now. 

And yes, I hope the Bucks beat them by 30 on Thursday.  Bunch of front running wannabees and Embiid is their poster child. 

I worry about the Celtics the most IF they add a big guy at the deadline. 

Ironically, the Horford move to the Sixers weakened both the Celtics and the Sixers. If Horford would have stayed in Boston with Kemba Walker, they'd be a juggernaut. Kyrie Irving is a team cancer and Walker is almost as talented while being a great team guy. 

The Sixers basically (for salary cap purposes) swapped out Jimmy Butler for Horford. It prevents Boston from using Horford for guarding Embiid in a playoff series and lets the Sixers replicate the Raptors wall to stop Giannis. Obviously, it's created a lot of stagnation on their offense as Embiid, Horford, and Simmons just don't fit well together. 

The guy the Sixers have to move is Embiid. If you moved him for a package that included a guy like D'Angelo Russell and some other assets that's what Philly needs. 

Boston needs a guy like Horford. A defensive force that won't disrupt their ball movement. 

The Raptors need a slasher type bench scorer. 

The Heat probably need a 3 and D wing (Covington). 

The Bucks need to stay healthy and for Brook Lopez and Wes Matthews to hit their career percentages from 3. 

Would Marcus Morris fit the bill?  I love his grit and toughness and has actually played pretty well this year for the awful Knicks.  He’s shooting over 40% from 3 and can play a couple of different positions. 

To get it done the Bucks would likely have to send Ersan and Sterling Brown and their 1st rounder but I think that would be an upgrade plus if they end up playing Boston you know he will be extra motivated. 

Obviously Covington would be the prize but he is going to command a lot in return IMO more than the Bucks can provide. 

Covington to the Rockets, Capela to the Hawks, and a bunch of other parts in a 4 team, 12 player trade. 

The Rockets may average 75 3s a game now that Covington is on board. The Rockets roster has one guy over 6'8" (Nene and Capela were both traded) and he's played 200 minutes all year (Tyson Chandler). 

Music City posted:

Gotta hand it to Iguodala... doesn’t play for 6 months, demands a trade, gets it... and scores a 2 year $30M contract from the team as well. 

At 36 years of age after looking washed up last year. 

I don't think he puts Miami over the top. Maybe the Igoudala of 5 years ago would have. 

God bless America.

Imagine going back even 50 years and telling someone that a black man would make that kind of coin for playing basketball.

George Wallace would stroke out.

I think it tells you how bad the teams think this coming draft is going to be. The Bucks have 2 first rounders, and they can’t give them away in a trade for a role player asset. It’s unbelievable. 

It’s not just related to Jabari Parker or the blacks.

The current Kevin Love and Gordon Hayward contracts are horrendous.  Chandler Parsons might be the worst contract ever.  Not bad for some completely overrated or over the hill white guys. 

Last edited by Tschmack

Who'd you rather have?

Player 1 is 6'4 and 220 pounds. He's shooting 37% from 3 this year and is a 38% 3 point shooter for his career. He's also a 82% career FT shooter. He's effectively guarded some of the best players in the NBA this year and is 33 years old and is making 2.5 million this year and next. He was obtained as a street free agent for nothing. 

Player 2 is 6'6 and 215 pounds.  He shot 33% from 3 last year and for his career. In the last 6 years, he's shot 63% from the line. His stats were elevated the last 3 years because he played with 3 future Hall of Famers. He has a reputation as a great defensive player. He's 36 years old and hasn't played since June. He'll finish this years contract making 18 million this year and was just extended for 2 more years and an additional 30 million. He was obtained for a 23 old player who plays great defense and, when healthy, is at worst a poor man's Marcus Smart. 

Some of the media are saying that adding Player 2 to the roster and paying him another 30 million while giving up a rotation player is a brilliant move. We are talking about whether Player 1 is good enough on offense to help win a title. 

Player 1 is, of course, Wes Matthews and Player 2 is Igoudala. 

Miami hording wing defense. 

From Wojnarowksi:

Miami has agreed to trade Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson to Memphis for Andre Iguodala, Solomon Hill and Jae Crowder, league sources tell ESPN. No picks in the deal.

76ers Trade:

Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III have been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, per Woj. The Warriors received three second-round picks (2020 via Dallas, 2021 via Denver and 2022 via Toronto)

Not much to give up. 

Sounds like the Bucks are getting calls on DDV. Hard to see Horst messing with a 70 win roster. 

Last edited by Packdog

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