The Bucks Championship Off-Season

Rethinking this a little bit, the Bucks are already over the cap, so letting Tucker go doesn't free up any cap money. In fact, there was an advantage to signing him even if you ended up trading him later because it would preserve that salary amount for another player down the road. This was all about saving money for Lasry and Edens.

I know it's not my money, but Lasry and Edens are worth about 3 billion together. Not resigning Tucker probably saves them about 30 million over 2 years. That's still a lot of money, but it's analogous to a well-off middle-class retiree with a net worth of 1 million deciding not to spend $10,000 on something nice for their family. It's a defensible business decision, but it's a bad look for an ownership group that promised to spend into the luxury tax to optimize winning over the long haul.

I don’t think your assessment is totally accurate.

I don’t think Tucker is irreplaceable- and I do think there was a real chance for a diminishing return for a player who just turned 36 and clearly has lost a step.

It may also be about allowing younger players the opportunity to play. The team needs to clear playing time for guys like Nwora and Diakite. In watching Tuckerbthroughbthe post-season, the young guys got to see the work ethic, the attention to detail needed, and most of all the attitude. Need to take that forward with them and inject some youth onto the roster.

I don’t think this is necessarily about money… plenty of basketball reasons, too.

I think Portis is more valuable than Tucker if you had to choose between the two of them.

I also think getting back a DDV will help them defensively.  They are still an elite defensive team without Tucker.

I actually think they still need a scoring minded guard more than a defensive minded guard.  I’m not talking a DJ Augustin type guy either.  

While I don’t think either guy would sign for the MLE someone like Derrick Rose or Lou Williams would be interesting.   On nights where Holiday and Middleton are off or on the bench it would be good to have another guy that can give them 15PPG.

Bucks have signed Semi Ojeleye from the Celtics on a 1 year deal. 3 and D guy with some upside.

https://www.espn.com/nba/playe...3056602/semi-ojeleye

https://behindthebuckpass.com/...-agent-semi-ojeleye/

Bucks still need a b/u PG…

@Music City posted:

Bucks have signed Semi Ojeleye from the Celtics on a 1 year deal. 3 and D guy with some upside.

https://www.espn.com/nba/playe...3056602/semi-ojeleye

https://behindthebuckpass.com/...-agent-semi-ojeleye/

Bucks still need a b/u PG…

Ojeleye is basically a younger version of Tucker at about 25% of the cost. He's a much better fit for the regular season as he can play big minutes at age 26. If you are resting the Bucks Big 3 at times you need that, and you aren't going to do that with a 37 year old PJ Tucker.

The question will be in the playoffs. Can Ojeleye give you 15-20 minutes against Durant or Tatum without getting steamrolled?

@MNPackman posted:

This is very good news. And, maybe sends a message to other players that Milwaukee is a destination?

Certainly not for a vacation.

Ojeleye is a solid defender and is OK from 3pt range shooting 37% the last couple of seasons.  

As MP2 mentioned he’s similar to Tucker albeit much younger and cheaper.  Not a bad move at all IMO.

Rodney Hood to Milwaukee 1 year deal

Solid outside shooter and good FT%

Rodney Hood to sign with the Bucks.

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/20...add-rodney-hood.html

Basically the Bryn Forbes replacement.

Hood was a very good 3 point shooter earlier in his career, but has tailed off recently.

He's also 6'8" so just standing on the court he's a better defender than Bryn Forbes.

During the last three playoff series, the Bucks basically had 10 guys that played meaningful minutes and Thanasis would play defensive possessions at the end of quarters.

Giannis, Middleton, Holiday, Middleton, Lopez, Portis, Tucker, Connaughton, Forbes, Teague.

In the playoffs next season if everyone is healthy, the Tucker minutes are going to go to DDV and Ojeleye, the Forbes minutes will go to Hood, and they could use a backup PG to replace the handful of minutes Teague got.

Basically trading Tucker and Forbes for Ojeleye and Hood shouldn't be that big a deal, and they'll get someone to replace Teague that will be at least as good.

The roster decisions now may hinge on who they think the most likely playoff matchups are.

If you end up against the Nets, you need as much perimeter defense as possible. This is where Tucker's loss could hurt. They could have kept Tucker and still signed Ojeleye. It was all about the owners wanting to keep the luxury tax bill lower.

If you end up against the Sixers, they are short a big body to try to slow Embiid down.

For all the fanfare about the Heat, they will be starting a 36 year-old Lowry, a 32 year-old Butler, and Adebayo as their "Big 3."

I would much rather have Holiday than Lowry even without factoring in that Holiday is 4 years younger.

Many people would rather have Butler than Middleton, but I'd prefer Middleton. Butler is a better defender, but Middleton isn't a liability on that end. More importantly, Butler is worse from the 3 point line than Giannis. Finally, Butler has worn out his welcome every previous place he's been because he can become a locker-room cancer quickly if things don't go his way and how you are paying him 186 million over the next 4 years?

The Giannis/Adebayo comparisons people were making last fall now look ridiculous.

I think it's still Nets/Bucks as the favorites next year. The Sixers still haven't decided what to do about Ben Simmons. The Heat are overrated because the media is cozy with Pat Riley.

Giannis, Thanasis, Nwora, and Ojeleye all have parents born in Nigeria. Oladipo has to be interested.

This team needs a some names like George Hill to make things easier for announcers

@El-Ka-Bong posted:

This team needs a some names like George Hill to make things easier for announcers

El-Ka-Nostradamus….

REPORT: George Hill plans to sign with the Bucks when he clears waivers, via @ShamsCharania

I thought you knew that was in the works.

The Bucks are 10 deep with guys that are playable for playoff minutes. Every player in their top 10 outside of Giannis is a decent 3 point shooter (2020-21 3 point shooting percentage). Nwora and Merrill are elite level from there as well.

4s and 5s: Giannis, Lopez (34), Portis (47), Ojeleye (37)

1-3s: Middleton (42), Holiday (39), DDV (38), Connaughton (37), G. Hill (39), Hood (poor last year, but 37% career)

Garbage time guys: Nwora (45), Thanasis, Merrill (45), Diakite.

@El-Ka-Bong posted:

This team needs a some names like George Hill to make things easier for announcers

Ed Ott signing soon?

Pretty surprised on both the Hood and Hill are coming on board, but at least now they have their backup PG.

And Robin Lopez is living his dream… he’s signing with Orlando. Disney World all day, every day…

@Music City posted:

And Robin Lopez is living his dream… he’s signing with Orlando. Disney World all day, every day…

5 million to sit on the bench for the worst team in the NBA. Talk about a no pressure situation.

It's highly likely someone sends a 2nd round pick to the Magic at the trade deadline for him.

Love the George Hill move.  While he’s probably not as good as he was a few years ago, he’s still competent and is a big upgrade over Jeff Teague.  

@Tschmack posted:

Love the George Hill move.  While he’s probably not as good as he was a few years ago, he’s still competent and is a big upgrade over Jeff Teague.  

He's a gigantic upgrade on the defensive end. No more Teague or Bryn Forbes turnstile defense from anyone on the roster (except maybe Hood or Nwora if they get minutes).

The one thing they could use more of is another guy who can create shots for others on the second unit. However, the underrated improvement in Middleton was really his ability to create for others improved dramatically the last few years and with him, Giannis, and Holiday being able to do that maybe you don't need another drive and kick guy who can play defense.

Ironically, a guy (on minimal-type salary) that would fit really well into that role would be Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe became the basketball equivalent of the Peter Principle. If he was paid the MLE exception to play defense and provide some offense on drives to the hoop for 15 minutes a night he'd be looked at very differently than trying to pay him 20 million a year and force him to be a point guard in the mold of Chris Paul. Maybe he gets bought out and they bring him back to? He was very well-liked as a teammate in Milwaukee.

@wojespn: Memphis is trading guard Grayson Allen to Milwaukee for Sam Merrill and two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

@ilcuqui posted:

@wojespn: Memphis is trading guard Grayson Allen to Milwaukee for Sam Merrill and two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

I hated Grayson Allen when he played for Duke, but he's shot 40% from 3 the last 2 years and now he'll get the Bryn Forbes shots. Unlike Merrill, we already know Allen is good enough to play in the NBA.

Allen has a rep as a dirty player, but the Bucks may need a few guys that can mix it up a bit in case teams get a little rough with Giannis and Khris.

Has that rep followed him to the NBA?

Wow… the kid has game, I won’t deny that- but man is he a little prick. Merrill wasn’t going anywhere on this team anyway- maybe a guy like Giannis can get the best out of him.

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

I hated Grayson Allen when he played for Duke, but he's shot 40% from 3 the last 2 years and now he'll get the Bryn Forbes shots. Unlike Merrill, we already know Allen is good enough to play in the NBA.

Allen has a rep as a dirty player, but the Bucks may need a few guys that can mix it up a bit in case teams get a little rough with Giannis and Khris.

He’s an irritant, no doubt about it. All the way back to the Duke/UW NCAA Championship game.

Between Giannis and Holiday, they could harness his abilities and smooth the edges. But I will say this- he’s a gamer. Seems to elevate in higher pressure situations.

If he can play without the little stupid shit he’s apt to do, it’s a pretty shrewd move by Horst. The Bucks, coming off a championship and with 3 highly respected veterans as leaders… he’s going to push Divincenzo if it’s all about skills and talent.

It’s a decent move.  I don’t think Merrill was going to play and Allen put up good numbers.

He’s got some edge and will get a bit dirty but he can shoot and isn’t a complete liability on D.  Forbes was really undersized for his role and Allen is probably 6’4” v 6’ w/Forbes.  Allen is also a better overall athlete, although, his 1:1 defense can be spotty at times.

Irritant is a good way to describe it.  Sort of like Matthew Dellavedova.  Gets under your skin.  Assuming he doesn’t act stupid too often I like the move.

@PackerHawk posted:

Has that rep followed him to the NBA?

A little bit, but a lot of it is from college. He was Brad Davison on steroids in college.

Like Tschmack, I'd compare him to Dellavadova in terms of NBA rep (as Music City said, he's very irritating in general). But I think he's as potentially as good as DDV and getting him for your 14th guy and two second-round picks is a very low-risk/high-reward move.

The Bucks traded the 31st pick in this draft for 4 second round picks. So after the Allen trade, it was essentially a net return of Grayson Allen and 2 second-round picks for the 31st pick and Sam Merrill.

So we like ‘a bit dirty’ when it suits us?

Hey, I’ve said this many times- I’d probably love Draymond Green if he was on the Bucks, but I fucking hate that prick. There historically a lot of those kinds of guys. Delly is a mentioned comp- or Bruce Bowens.

Allen seems like a little douchey pissant, but with the vets on this team they should keep him focused on playing the right way. He has game, and could push the backcourt depth. Divincenzo better elevate his game- Allen is a better offensive player.

I would be curious if there is any history between them in college…

DDV is a significantly better defender and rebounder but it’s interesting they both struggle at times finishing near the hoop.  Allen is a much better shooter overall.  

I agree though this move may also push DDV a bit.  That’s not a bad thing.

BTW- loved Bruce Bowen as a player.

Good move. Don’t care for the guy, honestly, but he adds a proven bench shooter and a little size at the G position.

Is Allen worse than Draymond Green for Music City?

DG would be a pesky player if in Milwaukee

@Boris posted:

Is Allen worse than Draymond Green for Music City?

No.

https://www.nba.com/bucks/news...s-sign-three-players

Bucks got George Hill back 🥳🎉

@Pikes Peak posted:

So we like ‘a bit dirty’ when it suits us?

I know I enjoyed watching Tucker this year. He's not as "dirty" as some of these other guys but he's the kind of guy you want on your side of the court and not the other.

I wouldn’t classify PJT as a dirty player.  He just plays really physical and aggressive.

Allen has done some real knucklehead stuff like slap and punch and trip guys and we all know Green can be a nut punch type of guy.

Thanasis is back.

https://theathletic.com/news/b...sources/tIjxlDKTw8pM

@Tschmack posted:

I wouldn’t classify PJT as a dirty player.  He just plays really physical and aggressive.

Allen has done some real knucklehead stuff like slap and punch and trip guys and we all know Green can be a nut punch type of guy.

I agree on your assessment of PJT. I do wonder how much of the ability to play physical and aggressive is based on reputation. The comparison I would make is Thanasis. Thanasis is a very good defensive player who has the strength and quickness to guard almost anyone. His problem is that he is very prone to foul trouble. The question is how much of the difference between PJT and Thanasis on defense is due to the fact that PJT can get away with bodying up guys without getting called for things that Thanasis would.