Milwaukee Bucks 2014 - 2015 (part 1)

[BrewBalls]

If we do not trade for another guard, I would like the Bucks to make a run at signing Wesley Matthews. He is a local kid who grew up in Madison and played at Marquette. His shooting will help open up the lane for Knight, Gainnis and Parker and he is a solid defender. If we can sign him to a contract in the 4yr/$50M range and trade Mayo for the extra payroll space I would be stoked. Payroll would be tight if they extend Knight and Middleton along with signing Matthews and Monroe as free agents but thier roster would be very solid from top to bottom.

 

Starting Lineup: Knight, Matthews, Gainnis, Parker and Monroe

Bench: Bayless, Middleton, Dudley, Inglis, Henson, O'Bryant, Pachulia and 2015 draft picks)

[superfly]

The upside to having all of the RFA's is a couple of reasons. One is you have the ability to sign & trade some of them (like we tried to do with Bledsoe and I believe Teague). Second is you can have them all for the 2015/16 season to audition for who needs to be here long term. Correct me if I'm wrong, but its 125% of the previous year salary for a RFA.

 

Thirdly, you have an asset the following trade deadline at your disposal for when contenders are looking for more pieces to add with short term salaries.

[FVBrewerFan]

They would have a ton of restricted free agents after this season though and it would be impossible to bring everyone back. Knight, Kanter, Middleton.

 

They could easily absorb that. Sanders, by all accounts, will save $9MM on the cap, plus if Irsan is dealt that frees up another what $8-9MM? And OJ will be in his final year next year. So they have a ton of cap space and flexibility.

 

Finally, there are guys who will take a one year deal next season, hoping to cash in when the cap goes way up the following year. Bottom line, none of those three guys are max contract players anyhow, so very doable.

[FVBrewerFan]

 

Starting Lineup: Knight, Matthews, Gainnis, Parker and Monroe

Bench: Bayless, Middleton, Dudley, Inglis, Henson, O'Bryant, Pachulia and 2015 draft picks)

 

I like the look of that roster. BrewBalls for GM!

[tmwiese55]

FYI-just saw this on Monroe: "Not one of those words explained the fact that Monroe, who signed a qualifying offer last summer, has veto power over any potential trade, since any move would negate his Bird Rights and likely take money out of his pocket when he seeks a long-term deal this summer."

 

I love the idea of going for Matthews. Seemingly would fit very well with Knight. Like it way better than the Jackson/Lawson discussion.

 

someone mentioned RFAs being cheap and auditioning. Most guys are going to get a deal this offseason and won't play on that one year deal, Monroe did it this year but it's very rare. Knight will get something around 10-13 mil so close to max but yea none of the others should be above 10 mil. Monroe will be going for a max deal and Kanter would push for above 10 mil. If you give out 12 to knight, then like 7-10 on 4 others guys your inching towards the cap and limited flexibility.

 

I love BrewBalls lineup, for sure playoff team and could win a round next year. If Giannis and Jabari develop they could be contenders. If we somehow sign Mathews I would expect Middleton to move on though, we'd still have Mayo for one more year but could use the 1st rd pick this year on someone that could be a backup wing.

[BrewBalls]

What do you think Middleton could get on the open market? My best guess would be a 3yr/$24M deal. If they can unload Mayo and Ersan, if is very likely they could afford to keep him along with signing Knight, Matthews and Monroe. Here's my payroll breakdown for 2016 with the roster I provided above:

 

Knight - $10M (5yr/$60M)

Bayless - $3M

Matthews - $11M (4yr/$50M)

Middleton - $7M (3yr/$24M)

Antetekounmpo - $2M

Dudley - $4.25M

Inglis - $750K

Parker - $5M

O'Bryant - $750K

Henson - $3M

Monroe - $15M (4yr/$66M)

Pachullia - $5M

Mid 1st Rd Pick (Slot 15-18) - $1.5M

2nd Rd Pick - $750K

FA Veteran - League Minimum

 

Sanders (Stretch Provision) - $2M

 

This brings their payroll to $71M minus the FA veteran which wouldn't count against the salary cap. The projected salary cap for the 2015/16 season should be around $68-$69M which puts us slightly over. I'm not sure what the penalty is for being over or if the Bucks can use their mid-level or bi-annual exceptions to get them back under the cap. Otherwise they could look to trade Bayless and add another league minimum player to get under the cap. Not sure if those contract numbers are enough to attract Matthews and Monroe.

[Vgmastr]

Knight traded to Suns, didn't see this coming:

 

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/2/19/8071677/brandon-knight-trade-michael-carter-williams-suns-bucks-sixers

[BrewBalls]

Nevermind, on my original plan. It looks like Knight just got traded to the Suns in exchange for Michael Carter-Williams and Tyler Ennis.

 

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2015/02/acquire-brandon-knight.html

[DuWayne Steurer]

What??

 

I know Knight is not an elite PG........

 

But why??

[fondybrewfan]

I don't know what to think about this deal. Carter Williams is a nice enough player but he isn't Knight either. Tyler Ennis is really just another guy; he hasn't gotten whole lot of minutes with the Suns. MCW is under control for longer; not sure if this deal really makes the Bucks any better and might screw up the solid chemistry right now.

[tmwiese55]

Wow, that shakes everything up. I guess I understand, need to wait to see the full details on it before making a judgement but they had such good karma and chemistry going so my gut reaction was not liking it

[BrewBalls]

We get two younger and less expensive PGs who Kidd and Hammonds probably think fit in better with their long term plans.

[fondybrewfan]

EDIT: There are some conflicting reports on what the Bucks are getting other than MCW; might be Miles Plumlee

[tmwiese55]

I think the main point to take away is they didn't want to commit a large contract to Knight and thought best to move him now. They probably would love him at 4/32 but not so much if they're forced to match a 4/60 offer so they didn't want to take the risk.

[Vgmastr]

EDIT: There are some conflicting reports on what the Bucks are getting other than MCW; might be Miles Plumlee

 

The notification I got through the NBA app was all three, MCW, Ennis and Plumlee coming to the Bucks.

[BrewBalls]

It sounds like we are getting all three players which would be a decent haul for Knight.

[fondybrewfan]

Carter Williams can't shoot worth a lick; he career % is less than 40% including 25% from 3. Long term maybe this makes sense but at least to me Brandon Knight right now is a far superior player to MCW. He is a good rebounder out of the guard spot though

[GAME05]

Brandon Knight to Phoenix?????

 

Wojnarowski is reporting it right now.

 

edit: Apparently for Carter-Williams and Ennis.

[tmwiese55]

Yea no doubt Knight is a better player right now. MCW can do everything well except shoot. I don't know how he's viewed as an individual defender, but looking at it from a team view. he's like 6'6 so most lineups we'll be able switch on defense on positions 1-4 which is very useful.

 

If anyone should be able to mentor a tall PG who can't shoot it should be Jason Kidd.

 

Don't sleep on Enis as a prospect, loved him in college last year but obviously there was no minutes for him in PHX.

 

The more i think about the financials behind all this the more I get it and think they got an ok return. From what I've read about MCW the last year or so throughout the mess that is Philly he seems to be a smart kid with a good attitude and head on his shoulders. Put him in a better situation like this and I think he has a chance at stepping his game up.

 

Makes for an interesting second half to see how it gels, should make the playoffs no matter what so what's the difference between the 6 and 8 seed really.

[BrewBalls]

Here is my edited roster for 2015/16 based on this new development.

 

Carter-Williams - $2.5M

Bayless - $3M

Ennis - $1.75M

Matthews - $11M (4yr/$50M)

Middleton - $7M (3yr/$24M)

Antetekounmpo - $2M

Dudley - $4.25M

Inglis - $750K

Parker - $5M

O'Bryant - $750K

Henson - $3M

Monroe - $15M (4yr/$66M)

Pachullia - $5M

Plumlee - $2M

Mid 1st Rd Pick (Slot 15-18) - $1.5M

2nd Rd Pick - $750K

 

Sanders (Stretch Provision) - $2M

 

This puts thier payroll at $67.25M which allows a little extra room if they need to go up some to sign either Matthews or Monroe.

 

Starting Lineup: Carter-Williams, Matthews, Giannis, Parker, Monroe

Bench: Bayless, Ennis, Middleton, Dudley, Inglis, Henson, O'Bryant, Pachullia, Plumlee, 2015 draft picks

[fondybrewfan]

That would be a pretty darn good team; but I don't think they would consider bringing in both Monroe and Matthews. Matthews would be great; then I would just roll with Henson, Pachulia, Plumlee at the 5. Or see what is available in the draft at the 5. Kaminsky might be a reasonable pick if the Bucks end up picking in the late teens

[Outlander]

Don't really see the need to sign a 29 year old to a large contract when they already have Middleton. I think Middleton could get $10 million a year.

[BrewBalls]

Don't sleep on Enis as a prospect, loved him in college last year but obviously there was no minutes for him in PHX.

 

The more i think about the financials behind all this the more I get it and think they got an ok return. From what I've read about MCW the last year or so throughout the mess that is Philly he seems to be a smart kid with a good attitude and head on his shoulders. Put him in a better situation like this and I think he has a chance at stepping his game up.

 

 

Ennis could end up being a solid contributor once he gets some experience/minutes. I also like the fact they got two young PGs who will cost the Bucks less than half what Knight will cost next season. This will give them more cap space to resign Middleton and free agents in the offseason.

[rwa12]

Love Ennis in this. MCW could benefit from some time with Kidd. Shocked they did this right now, guessing we're sending a pick or 2 to Philly in this too. MCW has a lot of the same game as Knight, Ennis was so blocked, and really should have stayed at Cuse. I think this trade hurts them this year, helps them long term. Plumlee could be useful, at least he's an energy guy.

[BrewBalls]

Love Ennis in this. MCW could benefit from some time with Kidd. Shocked they did this right now, guessing we're sending a pick or 2 to Philly in this too. MCW has a lot of the same game as Knight, Ennis was so blocked, and really should have stayed at Cuse. I think this trade hurts them this year, helps them long term. Plumlee could be useful, at least he's able to grab a rebound.

Fixed