Dame Time heading to Milwaukee

[PedroKsBambino]

My guess is Miami wants more offensive juice - hence Harden idea - but do not disagree that Jrue is also a good fit there.

I'd expect a pretty robust Jrue market.

Not certain the cap mechanics, but you could do a Harden to Clips/Jrue to Sixers/Mann and picks to Portland swap that would make some sense too. Has bonus of freezing Heat out of it.

 

[ifmanis5]

Hmmmm...
View: https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1707107622078587369

Watch this moment from last season’s All-Star Draft. Giannis picks Dame with his first pick instead of Jrue. LeBron smells fish and calls it out.

 

[RorschachsMask]

It completely solves the Bucks issues with scoring in the half court, come playoff time.

It’s not good for the Celtics lol, but it’s catastrophic for Miami.

 

[astrozombie]

Did not see this one coming at all. I guess I like it for Portland, not sure about Phoenix (deeper, not better) or Milwaukee.

 

[bigq]

The Celtics vs Bucks games are going to be must watch matchups.

 

[azsoxpatsfan]

I like the deal for the Suns, Ayton is a statue on defense, puts in effort roughly 9% of the time, and has become a huge distraction. Replacing him with Nurkic is a net positive as long as Nurkic can stay somewhat healthy, and they added depth

 

[TrapperAB]

My guess is Miami wants more offensive juice - hence Harden idea - but do not disagree that Jrue is also a good fit there.

I'd expect a pretty robust Jrue market.

Not certain the cap mechanics, but you could do a Harden to Clips/Jrue to Sixers/Mann and picks to Portland swap that would make some sense too. Has bonus of freezing Heat out of it.

I like the idea of that trade -- Harden needs to go somewhere, and anything that leaves the Heat outside the candy store makes me happy.

Clippers would have to move a ton of salary to make this happen, though. Clips are $28 million over the cap, according to the trade machine. They'd need to move two of Covington/Morris/Batum along with Mann to make room for Harden.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

I like the deal for the Suns, Ayton is a statue on defense, puts in effort roughly 9% of the time, and has become a huge distraction. Replacing him with Nurkic is a net positive as long as Nurkic can stay somewhat healthy, and they added depth

When he tries, which I agree is an issue, Ayton is a much better and vastly more flexible defender than Nurkic. So if you want to win in the playoffs---which surely is their ambition---you've lowered your ceiling and bet on a guy reasonably likely to be played off court, seems to me. Nurkic is a nice player, but he's somewhat of a dinosaur in today's NBA.

Phoenix continues to me to feel like 2/3 fantasy team and only 1/3 actual NBA roster. We'll see....

I say all that recognizing that Ayton in Phoenix was clearly toxit; maybe this is best they could with that at this point. But I still don't really get it for them, especially since they had all offseason to get a more flexible big and didn't. They almost should want Biyombo back for matchups now....he's better defensively and (somewhat) more mobile than Nurkic, though obviously not remotely comparable offensively.

 

[Nator]

Well, shit. I just got done listening to the latest Simmons pod about Dame trade speculations and this news just renders the last hour of my podcast listening moot.

 

[NWsoxophile]

Very sly of Cronin to get Milwaukee's 2029 first round pick. While it won't help the current team one iota, and many of us Blazer fans will be dead by then, it will be available right about the time when Scoot is bolting out the door and should thus be quite useful.

 

[osori]

Good to see Portland not caving in.

Seems like a pretty good move for all three teams involved. MIL needed this as a hail-mary especially with recent Giannis interviews hinting he is going to leave for a contender.

Bucks will be really fun to watch.

 

[ifmanis5]

On NBA Today, Perk predicts the Bucks will win the Championship if the roster stays healthy.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Just so glad to see Miami lose.

 

[pjheff]

When he tries, which I agree is an issue, Ayton is a much better and vastly more flexible defender than Nurkic. So if you want to win in the playoffs---which surely is their ambition---you've lowered your ceiling and bet on a guy reasonably likely to be played off court, seems to me. Nurkic is a nice player, but he's somewhat of a dinosaur in today's NBA.

Portland can hope on Ayton being a former #1 overall pick who has been discontented by being strung along with his contract, while Phoenix needed to break that contract into pieces so as to be able to surround their big three with non-minimum guys.

 

[nattysez]

Well, shit. I just got done listening to the latest Simmons pod about Dame trade speculations and this news just renders the last hour of my podcast listening moot.

Bill "I hate all these people speculating about trades all off-season, unless it's me or my entire podcast network doing it" Simmons incorrectly speculating about a trade? Impossible.

Miami has to go all-in for Jrue unless there's a way to get Harden there. Is there any way they'd do Herro + Jovic + their 2027 first-rounder? That's a lot for one year of Jrue.

Also:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT86Exd8h/

 

[Pablo's TB Lover]

On NBA Today, Perk predicts the Bucks will win the Championship if the roster stays healthy.

Team that makes newest and splashiest move predicted to win championship by professional blowhard. News at 11.

 

[Euclis20]

On NBA Today, Perk predicts the Bucks will win the Championship if the roster stays healthy.

It's not an unreasonable statement at all, but coming from Perk it means nothing. He's the worst of the worst when it comes to NBA analysis.

 

[lovegtm]

Very sly of Cronin to get Milwaukee's 2029 first round pick. While it won't help the current team one iota, and many of us Blazer fans will be dead by then, it will be available right about the time when Scoot is bolting out the door and should thus be quite useful.

Scoot will be just finishing year 2 of either a 4 or 5 year contract in spring 2029, and will be in line for a supermax if he turns into an elite player. He's not going anywhere then if he's really good. If he's not, who cares.

 

[radsoxfan]

I don't buy the Bucks as Title favorites. I think they got a little bit better, but not much.

I wouldn't be too excited the Heat "lost" just yet....If they get Jrue for a mediocre package they will be very good.

 

[radsoxfan]

Scoot will be just finishing year 2 of either a 4 or 5 year contract in spring 2029, and will be in line for a supermax if he turns into an elite player. He's not going anywhere then if he's really good. If he's not, who cares.

They also got swaps in 28 and 30, so they control the Bucks draft for 3 years.

Dame will be gone, and maybe Giannis too by then.

Might turn out to be a very valuable cluster of picks.

 

[teddykgb]

There’s only one ball and Giannis isos are the entire offense for the Bucks. Dame is an exceptional player but Jrue offered defense and didn’t need the ball as much to get his contribution. They’ll likely be very good but I don’t know that I think they’re remarkably better

 

[TrapperAB]

Just so glad to see Miami lose.

You and me both. Been listening to NBA Radio in the ramp up to training camp, and hearing Rick Kamla carrying water for the Heat ("Portland should take what the Heat are offering because it's the only way to make Dame happy") made me want to vomit. When you're shivering in February, Dame, remember that you didn't need to sign the extension -- you know, the one without a no-trade clause? -- then try to force the Blazers to trade you where you wanted to go.

I'm almost always pro-player in disputes/issues with ownership, but Lillard is the exception. Sign a big-money extension then try to escape to Miami -- and in the process, making the team that committed to pay you $45.6/$48.8/$58.5(!)/$63.2(!!!) million take pennies on the dollar in trade value? Screw that.

 

[ifmanis5]

Richard Jefferson agreed with Perk and compared it to a Shaq and Kobe pairing.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Richard Jefferson agreed with Perk and compared it to a Shaq and Kobe pairing.

LOL Shaq and Kobe. Not even close.

 

[TrapperAB]

Richard Jefferson agreed with Perk and compared it to a Shaq and Kobe pairing.

Shaq: 24
Giannis: 28 (29 in December)

Kobe: 18
Lillard: 33

EDIT: Just looking at ages.

 

[Cellar-Door]

On court, basically an ideal fit. You have to play drop with Dame, and Giannis/Brook is maybe the best drop defensive rim protection pairing in the league.

 

[RG33]

It feela (even before trading away Jrue), that Portland did fantastic here. I would imagine they can get two 1sts for Jrue (and maybe 1 for Ayton) on top of this, so it could ultimately be 2-3 1sts and 2-3 pick swaps in the next 5 years, for a 33 year old guard who is great — but injury prone.

I get the offensive upgrade for the Bucks, but losing Jrue is huge to me. He was the heart and soul of that team and just a killer on D in the playoffs. Count me in the camp that thinks this may end up not even being an upgrade for them.

 

[Auger34]

I don't see the delta between Jrue and Lillard as THAT large. If the Bucks stay healthy, they will be very dangerous but comparing this to Shaq/Kobe or saying the title is theirs to lose is definitely getting caught up in the moment...so, it makes perfect sense that Perk would go that route

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Yes, you can poke holes in this trade from Milwaukee’s end of it. Lillard is old, they could be awful in a few years, etc. But they struck gold drafting Giannis and already have one championship from it. They will never be a market that attracts big free agents, or likely draft another all time great player like Giannis. Go all in for a second title now.

 

[RorschachsMask]

I don't see the delta between Jrue and Lillard as THAT large. If the Bucks stay healthy, they will be very dangerous but comparing this to Shaq/Kobe or saying the title is theirs to lose is definitely getting caught up in the moment...so, it makes perfect sense that Perk would go that route

The difference will be the postseason, where it’s just a massive upgrade. Holiday is a great 82 game player, but regularly gets exposed in the playoffs.

Last three playoffs.
Smart- 56% TS
Holiday- 48% TS

The defense will fall off some, but they replaced an atrocious postseason offensive player with a top 3ish offensive player in the league. Schematically, him and Giannis are a perfect fit. They’ve routinely struggled to score in the playoffs against set defenses, and just completely solved that problem.

Bucks are the favorites now, but the Celtics can absolutely beat them in a series.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Scary that the C's might get outclassed for once in the playoffs (as opposed to being eliminated playing like relative crap against an inferior team for the 3rd season in a row... well, you can argue which one is worse)... but the Bucks seem like a really high-risk team right now, with two mega stars, a good but not great big in Brooks Lopez and flotsam otherwise.

The X factor is Dame continuing to deliver 40-50 point games in the playoffs where he just goes off, neutralizing elite defenses

 

[azsoxpatsfan]

Scary that the C's might get outclassed for once in the playoffs (as opposed to being eliminated playing like relative crap against an inferior team for the 3rd season in a row... well, you can argue which one is worse)... but the Bucks seem like a really high-risk team right now, with two mega stars, a good but not great big in Brooks Lopez and flotsam otherwise

They still have Middleton, who shoots roughly 98% against the Celtics

 

[Ale Xander]

Richard Jefferson agreed with Perk and compared it to a Shaq and Kobe pairing.

Meh
Ricky Pierce and Jack Sikma

 

[ifmanis5]

View: https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1707111038888604111

Bucks are now title favorites, per @CaesarsSports.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Agreed that the deal was a no brainer for Milwaukee. But I also agree that its not guaranteed to work.

The Bucks are now the favorites out of the East and maybe they will be a wagon for everyone in the conference. However its entirely possible that they still don't have enough even with Giannis/Dame/Middleton/Lopez+.

Imo, all this transaction did was raise more questions about the upcoming season.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

They still have Middleton, who shoots roughly 98% against the Celtics

Ah shit.

Potentially the new Big Three (trademark).

 

[PedroKsBambino]

The difference will be the postseason, where it’s just a massive upgrade. Holiday is a great 82 game player, but regularly gets exposed in the playoffs.

Last three playoffs.
Smart- 56% TS
Holiday- 48% TS

The defense will fall off some, but they replaced an atrocious postseason offensive player with a top 3ish offensive player in the league. Schematically, him and Giannis are a perfect fit. They’ve routinely struggled to score in the playoffs against set defenses, and just completely solved that problem.

Bucks are the favorites now, but the Celtics can absolutely beat them in a series.

Agreed---we saw Jrue bullyball his way to a couple really good games against Celts, but he's not a great offensive player. Especially with Middleton's offensive capability uncertain going foward Bucks needed more juice and just got it.

Jrue is a much better fit as a third-fourth offensive guy, talented as he is....

 

[Don Buddin's GS]

Not that he was an integral part of the deal, but it sucks that fellow Dayton grad rookie Toumani Camara was included in this trade. He goes from a PHX squad that had playoff run potential to a depleted Portland team. Sucks for him.

 

[shoelace]

The difference will be the postseason, where it’s just a massive upgrade. Holiday is a great 82 game player, but regularly gets exposed in the playoffs.

Last three playoffs.
Smart- 56% TS
Holiday- 48% TS

The defense will fall off some, but they replaced an atrocious postseason offensive player with a top 3ish offensive player in the league. Schematically, him and Giannis are a perfect fit. They’ve routinely struggled to score in the playoffs against set defenses, and just completely solved that problem.

Bucks are the favorites now, but the Celtics can absolutely beat them in a series.

This is the correct take, it feels like a very clear upgrade for the Bucks in a place where they desperately needed it. Jrue has been a 39% 3PT shooter in the regular season with Milwaukee, which drops to 30% in the playoffs. Strikes me as a guy who benefits from Giannis's gravity in the regular season when teams aren't putting in the same effort defensively. This will not be a thing with Damian Lillard.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

That was pretty smart of the Suns (who have been pretty dumb with the Beal move) to shed themselves of Ayton as the third wheel here. Not bad at all.

 

[bsj]

On NBA Today, Perk predicts the Bucks will win the Championship if the roster stays healthy.

That dude always busts on Boston

 

[bsj]

I guess the thinking is that two top 10 guys and then a top 30 guy with basically no bench is better than one top 10 guy, one top 20 guy, one top 30 guy, and a deep bench?

I dont see it.

 

[pjheff]

Not that he was an integral part of the deal, but it sucks that fellow Dayton grad rookie Toumani Camara was included in this trade. He goes from a PHX squad that had playoff run potential to a depleted Portland team. Sucks for him.

Toumani is my first former student to make it to the NBA, and I hope he gets a look in Portland as a 3-and-D wing.

 

[Auger34]

Not that he was an integral part of the deal, but it sucks that fellow Dayton grad rookie Toumani Camara was included in this trade. He goes from a PHX squad that had playoff run potential to a depleted Portland team. Sucks for him.

I don't know, I'd be looking at it the other way. He was never going to play in Milwaukee. In Portland, he could actually get minutes and earn a better contract going forward.

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

Giannis-Dame pick and roll should be lights out. If Middleton turns back into a 40% 3-pt guy, with Brook doing his thing, that team should really score it.

 

[pjheff]

I guess the thinking is that two top 10 guys and then a top 30 guy with basically no bench is better than one top 10 guy, one top 20 guy, one top 30 guy, and a deep bench?

I dont see it.

I guess the thinking is that it’s best to do whatever we can to keep Giannis since he’s been popping off about leaving for the last couple of months. Just as it made sense to overpay for Jrue to keep Giannis happy, so too does it make sense to flip him for Dame.

 

[jayhoz]

View: https://twitter.com/BarstoolBigCat/status/1707106476387356986

 

[lovegtm]

View: https://twitter.com/BarstoolBigCat/status/1707106476387356986

hahahahaha oh man

 

[The Raccoon]

Dame tells everyone and their grandmothers that he only wants to go to Miami and the Bucks are the ones tampering?

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Breaking the rules (even if just in-game e.g. illegal screens) and then complaining incessantly about others doing lesser things is the very definition of Heat Culture.