Bucks 2020 offseason thread

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Just read a rumor that the Bucks were expected to "buy" several 2nd round picks in tomorrow's draft, as the 2nd round pick salary is significantly lower than the veteran minimum, and the Bucks are now that tight against the cap where that is important.

[reillymcshane]

Just read a rumor that the Bucks were expected to "buy" several 2nd round picks in tomorrow's draft, as the 2nd round pick salary is significantly lower than the veteran minimum, and the Bucks are now that tight against the cap where that is important.

That's good to hear. And it makes sense. I was thinking it would be nice to have gotten back a couple of 2nds so we could add a low level prospect or two. We need to develop a few players on our own if possible.

[reillymcshane]

Bucks also dealing Donte DiVincenzo, D.J. Wilson and Ersan Ilyasova to the Kings for Bogdan Bogdanovic.

 

Wow, what a roster transformation.

[reillymcshane]

Giannis, Lopez, Middleton, Bogdanovic and Holiday are heck of a good starting five. After that - going to be all minimum wage guys.

 

These trades have transformed the Bucks into a really good starting five. Probably better than any in the league. But depth is weak, and there's no future picks for a long time (I think we don't have a first round pick for four years!). I wish we could have held on to DiVincenzo, but that's life.

 

Depending on Bogdanovic's salary (probably $15M or so), the team is about $27M below the hard cap ($139M), which we can't go over (this is because Bogdanovic was a sign and trade - and if you do a sign and trade deal, you have to stay under the hard cap).

 

That means we have to fill 7 slots with $27M (and you probably don't want to get to that ceiling so you can make an addition or two in-season).

 

Sterling Brown might be smart to come back for his $2.2M tender as he'd get a lot more playing time with the second unit. The good part is that veterans will want to come here to make a run at a championship.

 

The trading of 1st round picks for the next four years stinks, but this is a massive 'all in' move. Let's hope Giannis agrees and signs his extension. That will quiet all the speculation.

 

Going to be a fun season.

[brwrsfan]

My guess is the Bucks will look to buy a couple of second round picks tonight. Second round picks are very cheap and can fill out the end of the bench - and who knows, maybe you get lucky.

 

I'd imagine they'll try to resign Matthews, probably go after a backup PG like Augustine, Jeff Teague or Justin Holiday. I think they still have Frank Mason too right? He might actually get some run next year. Others who could maybe be had for cheaper salaries to chase a ring...Morris brothers, Korver (if he wants to keep playing), Millsap, Mason Plumlee, Cousins, Avery Bradley, there's definitely others too.

 

Depth might be a bit tricky, but they should have some options for guys that still want rings.

 

All of this leads me to think they already have a handshake agreement with Giannis on the supermax...guess we find out soon enough.

[PeaveyFury]

Looking at the cap and I see they're still paying Leuer and Larry Sanders? Yech.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Looking at the cap and I see they're still paying Leuer and Larry Sanders? Yech.

 

Oh man ... Larry Sanders! I can't believe Sanders is only 31 years old!

 

I had such high hopes for him. The Bucks rarely have had that sort of athletic big man. In a different lifetime, he'd be such a great fit on this team..

[brwrsfan]

Looking at the cap and I see they're still paying Leuer and Larry Sanders? Yech.

 

Apparently there's a chance that the Leuer money gets forgiven - I won't pretend to know how or why, but some guys on RealGM seem to think there's a chance that will happen. That would be huge given the money situation this year, as it's 3 million.

 

Sanders on the other hand...ugh.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

My guess is the Bucks will look to buy a couple of second round picks tonight. Second round picks are very cheap and can fill out the end of the bench - and who knows, maybe you get lucky.

 

I'd imagine they'll try to resign Matthews, probably go after a backup PG like Augustine, Jeff Teague or Justin Holiday. I think they still have Frank Mason too right? He might actually get some run next year. Others who could maybe be had for cheaper salaries to chase a ring...Morris brothers, Korver (if he wants to keep playing), Millsap, Mason Plumlee, Cousins, Avery Bradley, there's definitely others too.

 

Depth might be a bit tricky, but they should have some options for guys that still want rings.

 

All of this leads me to think they already have a handshake agreement with Giannis on the supermax...guess we find out soon enough.

 

Yep:

 

"The Bucks are acquiring the No. 42 pick and No. 60 pick in Wednesday’s draft from the Pelicans, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA"

 

Part of the fine print on the Holiday deal, apparently.

[RollieTime]

Bogdanovic is another big get that can truly take us over the top. He and Holiday will complement Giannis perfectly.

 

Glad to see the Bucks pick up a couple second round picks tonight to bring in some young talent. Hopefully Cassius Winston falls to the Bucks or they are able to trade up and draft him. I think he could be a Brogdon 2.0 type of player that can produce right away, do all the little things right, and hit some big shots. I remember checking a couple months ago and he was projected in the 40’s. Just checked again today and it looks like he might be a very late to early second round pick. He would be a nice get to spell Holiday.

[HiAndTight]

Looking at the cap and I see they're still paying Leuer and Larry Sanders? Yech.

 

 

I think they can appeal and get some cap relief with regard to Leuer since his injuries forced him to retire.

[Samurai Bucky]

Sam Dekker is available...

[reillymcshane]

Looking at the cap and I see they're still paying Leuer and Larry Sanders? Yech.

 

 

I think they can appeal and get some cap relief with regard to Leuer since his injuries forced him to retire.

That's exactly it. If a player is forced to retire, you can petition to have that salary removed from your books (he still gets his cash).

 

The issue is that there is some question as to if the Bucks released Leuer before it was determined if he could not play anymore. He actually didn't retire until May 2020. However, he had been released the previous July - the club 'stretching' his 2019-20 salary cap hit over three years - meaning instead of eating $9M in salary last season, we only took a $3M charge. We get charged $3M in 2020-21 and again in 2021-22. This gave the club an extra $6M last season to play with. Nice at the time - but it can come back to haunt you.

 

A lot of the question will come down to did the Bucks cut Leuer because his physically couldn't play anymore back in July 2019? Or was it just a way to clear some cap space? That no one signed him - even for the veteran minimum - indicates he had some serious health issues going on.

[reillymcshane]

Sam Dekker is available...

Dekker is playing in Turkey this season. Their 2020-21 season has already starter. Dekker is the 10th leading scorer.

 

https://basketball.realgm.com/international/league/7/Turkish-BSL/stats

[reillymcshane]

One thing about Giannis signing the Supermax is that he and the club might have a handshake agreement that basically says they'll trade him if things don't go as he likes. From what I understand, that's sort of the Paul George had with Oklahoma. He signed, and when things didn't work out - he asked for a deal and they gave it to him.

 

The Bucks could do the same thing, and if it happens, and they trade him, they'll be able to get a boatload of picks and/or players.

 

The only thing is that the Bucks can't trade a player who signs a Supermax for one year after signing (I believe that is correct - and not one year after the contract kicks in - but I'm not betting my life on it).

 

No matter, if Giannis signs, and then things go poorly (for whatever reason short of a catastrophic Giannis injury), we could deal Giannis for a ton of assets.

[RobDeer 45]

Sam Dekker is available...

Dekker is playing in Turkey this season. Their 2020-21 season has already starter. Dekker is the 10th leading scorer.

 

https://basketball.realgm.com/international/league/7/Turkish-BSL/stats

 

I thought about him as well! I went to see where he was and saw he tweeted when someone asked about coming back now to play for the bucks. He said "I'd play for free "

 

I honestly don't know how he's playing and what his holes are, but it would make for a great story and a WI kid to cheer for on the Bucks.

[adambr2]

One thing about Giannis signing the Supermax is that he and the club might have a handshake agreement that basically says they'll trade him if things don't go as he likes. From what I understand, that's sort of the Paul George had with Oklahoma. He signed, and when things didn't work out - he asked for a deal and they gave it to him.

 

The Bucks could do the same thing, and if it happens, and they trade him, they'll be able to get a boatload of picks and/or players.

 

The only thing is that the Bucks can't trade a player who signs a Supermax for one year after signing (I believe that is correct - and not one year after the contract kicks in - but I'm not betting my life on it).

 

No matter, if Giannis signs, and then things go poorly (for whatever reason short of a catastrophic Giannis injury), we could deal Giannis for a ton of assets.

 

Yep, that's the thing. Just because Giannis signs a 5 year supermax, doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be here in 5 years. It would obviously be a great sign, but NBA superstars get whatever they ask for. If things aren't going great and Giannis wants to go somewhere else after year 2, he can basically facilitate that.

 

Obviously you still want him to sign and it at least assures you that if he leaves, you don't lose him for nothing.

 

Giannis not signing the supermax and then leaving in free agency after 20-21 is the nightmare doomsday scenario, especially after blowing up the roster and mortgaging years worth of picks.

[MrTPlush]

The fact he is already playing over in Europe and said he would play for free is a pretty good sign the Bucks wouldn't want him even if he offered to pay Giannis' salary. Cool story, probably not an actual useful basketball player.

[CheezWizHed]

Yeah, feel good story on Dekker, but at a career 28% of his three pointers, he doesn't really fit this Buck's team. If you want the WI connection, I think looking back to Matthews is the best choice.

 

Edit - Though in Turkey, he is hitting 56% of his threes (18/32 in 8 games)....

[reillymcshane]

The one Wisconsin connection no one mentioned is Frank Kaminsky.

 

He's a free agent, and in this market, he might be had for veteran's minimum. I won't pretend to know if he's a good fit for our team. I just bring him up because of his Wisconsin connections, his availability, and our needs.

 

His 3-point shooting is 34.7% for his career. Not great, but not bad. I always felt his outside game would be better - but that just hasn't developed. Perhaps in a stable, winning-environment he would thrive. We don't need these guys for 30 minutes - but 15-20 a game. They will all be flawed - just a matter of finding the one that best fits our needs (and budget).

[homer]

Yeah, feel good story on Dekker, but at a career 28% of his three pointers, he doesn't really fit this Buck's team. If you want the WI connection, I think looking back to Matthews is the best choice.

 

Edit - Though in Turkey, he is hitting 56% of his threes (18/32 in 8 games)....

 

I'd have to look but I think Dekker was really good at catch and shoot threes - like over 40% at one point.

 

Edit: Oof. Not so much.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/catch-shoot/?Season=2017-18&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&PerMode=Totals

 

He was 8/53 on catch and shoots in 2017 - 18.

[pacopete4]

Grab Dekker and Frank and win the whole thing. The basketball gods owe us one from that Duke fiasco.

[patrickgpe]

I don't get the obsession with the UW guys. They were high draft picks that flopped. I'd rather bring in vets that actually are playing in the league and not Europe that are looking for a ring.

 

yes I am not a UWB fan, so its a little biased I'll admit.

[homer]

I don't get the obsession with the UW guys. They were high draft picks that flopped. I'd rather bring in vets that actually are playing in the league and not Europe that are looking for a ring.

 

yes I am not a UWB fan, so its a little biased I'll admit.

 

I think a lot of it is tongue in cheek.

[nate82]

I don't get the obsession with the UW guys. They were high draft picks that flopped. I'd rather bring in vets that actually are playing in the league and not Europe that are looking for a ring.

 

yes I am not a UWB fan, so its a little biased I'll admit.

 

Kaminsky would actually fit in with the Bucks and what they do offensively. He is actually a better fit than Robin Lopez was as a backup C. Dekker doesn't really fit in with what the Bucks do though defensively he wouldn't be a bad option but there are better fits out there than Dekker. Kaminsky is really the only player that actually fits into what the Bucks are doing offensively and he wouldn't be a liability defensively at C either. Like Robin Lopez I am not sure Kaminsky will want to come to the Bucks as there would be very little playing time for him at C.