I didn't mean to argue it's semantics, I meant to argue it's...overrated. I don't know what the right way or wording it would be. I don't believe you HAVE to have two superstars to win.

I think we're generally in agreement. We need another ball handler who can get to the hoop, distribute and shoot. If that guy is a healthy John Wall or a Bradley Beal...or even an aging Chris Paul, that'd be awesome. But I don't even think it needs to be someone on that level.

Disagree about Middleton not doing anything else if he's not scoring though. He's a good defender, good rebounder and a good passer. He's a well rounded player. I think maybe you meant more if his shot's not falling, he's not a guy who's going to run an offense. If so, again, I agree with that.


Basically the perfect player for the Bucks is a Bledsoe who can shoot. At least shoot well enough that you're not taking a perimeter defender and sagging off him so that whoever catches the ball is already facing a double team. Regular season Bledsoe is a really solid player. But he's proven beyond a doubt for even the most optimistic fans that he just isn't cut out to be a starting PG on a Championship team. Unless they have a dominant 2 guard.

And I even think he's worth the money he's getting paid. But he's really the only piece you can use to make a trade to improve this team. I just have a hard time finding a fit where we get a good enough player back that it makes a difference and a team that is willing to trade that player to get out of a 20-30 million dollar deal. Washington sure as hell isn't looking to dump Beal. I have to imagine they could do better than Bled and Ersan's contracts, a player like DiVinicenzo and a couple of 1sts. Maybe Wall...but he has ~3/120 remaining and I believe a trade kicker that adds another 20 million to that deal. AND he hasn't played since early in 2019 due to a ruptured achillies.


I think the Bucks best bet would be trying to find a good ball handler in the draft, hope Donte continues to develop and see who you can get to sign in free agency. We might be able to get a guy to take a 1 year 10 million dollar deal with a player option for a 2nd given the uncertain landscape the NBA is entering this off-season.

Just to play devils advocate, if Giannis DID ask to be traded(he hasn't, so it's a moot point) and they were offered a package like what the Thunder got last year as they held the Clippers hostage(Kawhi wasn't going to sign unless LAC added George)...that's a trade that would probably come as close to a fair market value as you could get for Giannis.

A young budding superstar PG in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a 6'6 PG/Combo guard who's just 20, Danilo Gallinari, an extremely valuable stretch 4 who hits about 40 pct from 3 and then FIVE future 1sts and the right to swap two more.

But at that point, I'd try and shop Gallinari for a couple 1sts and then you'd have to decide if you're going to build around Alexander.

It's also easier to speculate about trading away your Superstar when you know it's not likely to happen as he's actually said he's DEFINITELY not going to ask for a trade and he may even re-sign.



By the way, has any franchise EVER done a better job of acquiring assets for the future while actually IMPROVING as a team?


You take Westbrook and George and you trade them for Chris Paul(better PG than Westbrook), Gallinari and Alexander...again, a young stud. Then you add TEN FUTURE 1ST ROUND PICKS, plus the right to swap in a few other drafts. And with the Clippers, those picks could actually be worth something. The Picks start when Kawhi's contract is set to expire, so there's a chance they could be a really bad team. Houston's are down the road, so again, COULD be after Harden and Westbrook at done or near the end.

So just the players, you might actually acquire more talent and you get the young stud in the trade, but then you also stockpile a ridiculous number of 1st rounders from I think a total of 4 different teams. Now you can trade Paul and likely add young assets...etc...

They can afford to draft and stash any talented young European player, take a filer on a high upside guy like Portter Jr who dropped last year, take a lot of risks in the draft or package those picks.


But yeah, they weren't in a position to try and add another talented player and make a legit run a title. In fact, the year Durant left was Donovan's first year in OKC and they went up 3-1 on the Warriors.

I actually kinda liked Kidd's defensive concept when he came here. Back when we had a 20 year old Thon, 23 year old Giannis, Middleton was a little more active. Just a longer team than we have now. But shockingly, trying to replicate the Nolan Richardson style of defense at the NBA level only worked for a season.


Firing Bud would be a really gutsy move and they'd have to be pretty damn certain they could get a better coach, an established coach. I doubt they'll do it, but I'm really fascinated to see what they're able to pull off this off-season. If they could somehow manage to keep DD and make a significant trade, that'd be a really encouraging off-season. As long as the player is JJ Reddick or better.