Rumor: Bucks Looking At Lottery Talent

[slightly biased bias fan]

The father of a potential lottery pick says the Milwaukee Bucks have contacted his son and have been doing background research on him, despite not owning a first-round pick, per Rafael Barlowe.
 

Milwaukee does not have a pick in the first round, not even in the top 10. But they are asking about my son and wanting to know a little bit more information. They have called, and I do not understand why they have interest unless they plan on making a move.

If true, this could mean that Giannis may be traded before draft night.

[Who]

Most probable candidates in the lottery to make a trade for Giannis

(1) Dallas #1 pick
(2) San Antonio #2 pick + #14 pick

(3) Philly #3 pick but not sure what else they can offer. McCain. That is a good start. Paul George isn't. Not coming off the season he just had. Maxey? Maxey & the #3 pick? Maxey, McCain, and hte #3 pick? A Giannis - PG13 - Embiid frontcourt. No guards.

(4) New Orleans #7 pick. Zion and the #7 for Giannis?

I don't see Brooklyn as a credible candidate. Some folks are talking them up. Saying Giannis likes NY. But the team has no talent on it. Why would Giannis want to go there? I don't buy it.

(5) Toronto #9 pick. Scottie Barnes and #9 for Giannis.

(6) Houston #10 pick. Lots of different parts they could trade. Jalen Green or Sengun. Perhaps Amen Thompson. Tari Eason. Dillon Brooks. VanVleet. Reed Sheppard. Jabari Smith Jr. Lots of different packages they could offer.

(7) Atlanta #14 pick. Jalen Johnson, Risacher & #14 pick for Giannis? Pair Giannis and Trae together. Keep Okongwu, Dyson Daniels and Terrence Mann. That is your new starting five.

OKC and Orlando are just outside the lottery with the #15 and #16 picks respectively. Both could put together strong packages. OKC built around J-Dub or Chet. Orlando around Banchero or F Wagner. Nobody else in the top 20 looks likely.

[Phantom255x]

I predict Spurs or Rockets for Giannis. A few darkhorse candidates are Raptors and Pistons.

[Who]

Listening to Windy on an ESPN segment. He says Milwaukee do not control any of their 1st round picks for the next 5 years.

So they are less interested in full rebuilding trades and will want to stay competitive in the interim. More value in win-now assets than win-later assets.

Also said New Orleans has control of those picks so they have an advantage in making any type of rebuilding trade for Giannis. Zion, lotto pick, future Bucks picks. Lots of assets. Trey Murphy III. Herbert Jones. Jordan Hawkins. Lots of assets.

[Who]

Say Zion and return the future picks to Milwaukee.

Zion earns about $12mil less than Giannis. They could include Olynyk to make the money work. I'd rather keep Olynyk to play with Giannis but NOP lack alternative mid-sized contracts to put together different packages.

Missi & J Hawkins could be put in instead of Olynyk. Maybe NOP keeps control of a Bucks pick as a result. NOP with Giannis is in win-now mode. Olynyk can contribute more in the short to medium term than either J Hawkins or Missi can. I'd rather do this deal as a result. Those appear to be the two options as trade filler to make the money work.

New Orleans Roster

G: CJ McCollum, J Alvarado
G: Herbert Jones, J Hawkins
F: Trey Murphy III, (free agent)
F: Giannis, (free agent)
C: (free agent), (free agent), Missi

Injured = Dejounte Murray

McCollum would Giannis' new Damian Lillard. His 2nd option. Trey Murphy replacing Khris Middleton. Not prime Middleton but certainly better than post-injury Middleton.

I am not sold on Missi as either a starter or a backup center on a team with playoff hopes next season. He has a lot to prove in my eyes. Jordan Hawkins I like as a long term prospect but have little to no faith in, in terms of the short term. He can't play defense yet. Nice offensive game. Needs to work on his body.

Dejounte Murray would likely be a bad fit with Giannis due to his dodgy jump-shot and itchy trigger finger that leads him to take way more jump-shots than he should. He would be good trade bait for the midseason trade deadline. Come back from injury and prove his health. Try to trade him for a piece that better fits alongside Giannis.

That center position is a big hole to fill. Especially if Giannis - as I suspect - needs a stretch five rather than a basic dunker in that spot.


Alternative: Zion + Dejounte Murray + Bucks picks for Giannis + B Portis. Gives Giannis some big man help. Keep Olynyk. Two good floor spacing bigs alongside Giannis. Keep the youth. Missi and Jordan Hawkins. MIL eat the D Murray contract to get full control of their picks and also receive a possible superstar in Zion.

[Birdman]

Can Giannis veto any trades???

[slightly biased bias fan]

For me the most obvious choice is Houston, but only if they can get a 1st in next years draft.

The Rockets have the 10th pick (via Suns) in this years draft, but given they have no first round pick in the 2026 draft, they are unable to move their current pick.

Something like 10th pick, Sengun, Brooks, Sheppard & 2027 Suns pick. In exchange for Giannis & Connaughton.

Houston Rockets

VanVleet
Green
Thompson
Giannis
Smith Jr


Milwaukee Bucks

Porter Jr
Green
Brooks
Portis
Sengun

Sheppard, Kuzma, 10th pick

[tazzmaniac]

Say Zion and return the future picks to Milwaukee.

Zion earns about $12mil less than Giannis. They could include Olynyk to make the money work. I'd rather keep Olynyk to play with Giannis but NOP lack alternative mid-sized contracts to put together different packages.

Missi & J Hawkins could be put in instead of Olynyk. Maybe NOP keeps control of a Bucks pick as a result. NOP with Giannis is in win-now mode. Olynyk can contribute more in the short to medium term than either J Hawkins or Missi can. I'd rather do this deal as a result. Those appear to be the two options as trade filler to make the money work.

New Orleans Roster

G: CJ McCollum, J Alvarado
G: Herbert Jones, J Hawkins
F: Trey Murphy III, (free agent)
F: Giannis, (free agent)
C: (free agent), (free agent), Missi

Injured = Dejounte Murray

McCollum would Giannis' new Damian Lillard. His 2nd option. Trey Murphy replacing Khris Middleton. Not prime Middleton but certainly better than post-injury Middleton.

I am not sold on Missi as either a starter or a backup center on a team with playoff hopes next season. He has a lot to prove in my eyes. Jordan Hawkins I like as a long term prospect but have little to no faith in, in terms of the short term. He can't play defense yet. Nice offensive game. Needs to work on his body.

Dejounte Murray would likely be a bad fit with Giannis due to his dodgy jump-shot and itchy trigger finger that leads him to take way more jump-shots than he should. He would be good trade bait for the midseason trade deadline. Come back from injury and prove his health. Try to trade him for a piece that better fits alongside Giannis.

That center position is a big hole to fill. Especially if Giannis - as I suspect - needs a stretch five rather than a basic dunker in that spot.


Alternative: Zion + Dejounte Murray + Bucks picks for Giannis + B Portis. Gives Giannis some big man help. Keep Olynyk. Two good floor spacing bigs alongside Giannis. Keep the youth. Missi and Jordan Hawkins. MIL eat the D Murray contract to get full control of their picks and also receive a possible superstar in Zion.

Lacks mid-size contracts???  Herb Jones makes 13.9M.    Giannis for Zion and Jones works almost spot on.   

I thought I read on here that Murray suffered an achilles injury so your alternative isn't an option. 

[celticinorlando]

Spurs make so much sense and have the assets to get Giannis. I don't think anyone would willingly want to play in Houston or live there.

Spurs are the better franchise with the better core.

[Who]

Say Zion and return the future picks to Milwaukee.

Zion earns about $12mil less than Giannis. They could include Olynyk to make the money work. I'd rather keep Olynyk to play with Giannis but NOP lack alternative mid-sized contracts to put together different packages.

Missi & J Hawkins could be put in instead of Olynyk. Maybe NOP keeps control of a Bucks pick as a result. NOP with Giannis is in win-now mode. Olynyk can contribute more in the short to medium term than either J Hawkins or Missi can. I'd rather do this deal as a result. Those appear to be the two options as trade filler to make the money work.

New Orleans Roster

G: CJ McCollum, J Alvarado
G: Herbert Jones, J Hawkins
F: Trey Murphy III, (free agent)
F: Giannis, (free agent)
C: (free agent), (free agent), Missi

Injured = Dejounte Murray

McCollum would Giannis' new Damian Lillard. His 2nd option. Trey Murphy replacing Khris Middleton. Not prime Middleton but certainly better than post-injury Middleton.

I am not sold on Missi as either a starter or a backup center on a team with playoff hopes next season. He has a lot to prove in my eyes. Jordan Hawkins I like as a long term prospect but have little to no faith in, in terms of the short term. He can't play defense yet. Nice offensive game. Needs to work on his body.

Dejounte Murray would likely be a bad fit with Giannis due to his dodgy jump-shot and itchy trigger finger that leads him to take way more jump-shots than he should. He would be good trade bait for the midseason trade deadline. Come back from injury and prove his health. Try to trade him for a piece that better fits alongside Giannis.

That center position is a big hole to fill. Especially if Giannis - as I suspect - needs a stretch five rather than a basic dunker in that spot.


Alternative: Zion + Dejounte Murray + Bucks picks for Giannis + B Portis. Gives Giannis some big man help. Keep Olynyk. Two good floor spacing bigs alongside Giannis. Keep the youth. Missi and Jordan Hawkins. MIL eat the D Murray contract to get full control of their picks and also receive a possible superstar in Zion.

Lacks mid-size contracts???  Herb Jones makes 13.9M.    Giannis for Zion and Jones works almost spot on.   

I thought I read on here that Murray suffered an achilles injury so your alternative isn't an option.

I am not giving up Herb Jones!

He is the ideal glue guy for a contender which is what you would be trying to build by acquiring Giannis.

Maybe Herb Jones & Zion with no draft picks going to Milwaukee. Or maybe 1 draft pick. Herb Jones is worth a lot. Putting him in the deal takes a lot of other stuff out.

Yeah, with D Murray alternative deal, he has the achilles injury so they'd have to waive the medical to do the deal.

[Who]

Can Giannis veto any trades???

No. Not in his contract. But all stars can effectively veto trades by refusing to go to the team that is trying to trade for them / has traded for them. It is just a question of willpower.

[tazzmaniac]

Say Zion and return the future picks to Milwaukee.

Zion earns about $12mil less than Giannis. They could include Olynyk to make the money work. I'd rather keep Olynyk to play with Giannis but NOP lack alternative mid-sized contracts to put together different packages.

Missi & J Hawkins could be put in instead of Olynyk. Maybe NOP keeps control of a Bucks pick as a result. NOP with Giannis is in win-now mode. Olynyk can contribute more in the short to medium term than either J Hawkins or Missi can. I'd rather do this deal as a result. Those appear to be the two options as trade filler to make the money work.

New Orleans Roster

G: CJ McCollum, J Alvarado
G: Herbert Jones, J Hawkins
F: Trey Murphy III, (free agent)
F: Giannis, (free agent)
C: (free agent), (free agent), Missi

Injured = Dejounte Murray

McCollum would Giannis' new Damian Lillard. His 2nd option. Trey Murphy replacing Khris Middleton. Not prime Middleton but certainly better than post-injury Middleton.

I am not sold on Missi as either a starter or a backup center on a team with playoff hopes next season. He has a lot to prove in my eyes. Jordan Hawkins I like as a long term prospect but have little to no faith in, in terms of the short term. He can't play defense yet. Nice offensive game. Needs to work on his body.

Dejounte Murray would likely be a bad fit with Giannis due to his dodgy jump-shot and itchy trigger finger that leads him to take way more jump-shots than he should. He would be good trade bait for the midseason trade deadline. Come back from injury and prove his health. Try to trade him for a piece that better fits alongside Giannis.

That center position is a big hole to fill. Especially if Giannis - as I suspect - needs a stretch five rather than a basic dunker in that spot.


Alternative: Zion + Dejounte Murray + Bucks picks for Giannis + B Portis. Gives Giannis some big man help. Keep Olynyk. Two good floor spacing bigs alongside Giannis. Keep the youth. Missi and Jordan Hawkins. MIL eat the D Murray contract to get full control of their picks and also receive a possible superstar in Zion.

Lacks mid-size contracts???  Herb Jones makes 13.9M.    Giannis for Zion and Jones works almost spot on.   

I thought I read on here that Murray suffered an achilles injury so your alternative isn't an option.

I am not giving up Herb Jones!

He is the ideal glue guy for a contender which is what you would be trying to build by acquiring Giannis.

Maybe Herb Jones & Zion with no draft picks going to Milwaukee. Or maybe 1 draft pick. Herb Jones is worth a lot. Putting him in the deal takes a lot of other stuff out.

Yeah, with D Murray alternative deal, he has the achilles injury so they'd have to waive the medical to do the deal.

Obviously they'd want to keep Jones but only the highest bidder is going to get Giannis and I expect there will be plenty of competition.  Those future Bucks picks that NOP has are only pick swaps so that limits their worth especially if the Bucks aren't going to tank.  Furthermore NOPs own picks will be worth less with the addition of Giannis. 

[Roy H.]

If New Orleans traded for Giannis they'd instantly have a disgruntled star on their hands.

[perks-a-beast]

It'll be interesting to see if Philly will try to make a play for Giannis.

#3 pick + Paul George contract + Jared McCain + 2028 LAC 1st + 2029 LAC Swap

Seems like something Daryl Morey would try to do.

[tazzmaniac]

It'll be interesting to see if Philly will try to make a play for Giannis.

#3 pick + Paul George contract + Jared McCain + 2028 LAC 1st + 2029 LAC Swap

Seems like something Daryl Morey would try to do.

Of course they'll try to make a play if Giannis if he's on the table.  Don't think Giannis and Embiid would be a good fit.  Maybe if you could use Embiid's mid-range game and fill the other spots with shooters it might work well enough. 

Stevens should try to make a play for him too and so should any GM who has a reasonable chance to get him.