2024-25 Milwaukee Bucks thread

[homer]

anything new to help me forget last night...

[adambr2]

When you're ready to be heartbroken again, but in a different way....

[nate82]

2 hours ago, homer said:

anything new to help me forget last night...

Nope.  Middleton looks like he won't start the year at 100%.  He may only be at about 70% to start the season and my not even get to 100% by the end of the season.

[adambr2]

2 hours ago, nate82 said:

Nope.  Middleton looks like he won't start the year at 100%.  He may only be at about 70% to start the season and my not even get to 100% by the end of the season.

I still remember when Middleton was 100%. It was back in his days at Texas A&M but still. 

[GAME05]

It's gonna be a long Bucks season, isn't it?

Older than dirt, nothing we can do about it, on our 17th HC in three seasons, and maybe we see the second round this time. Giannis, Dame and 'etc.' vs. the world.

I'm expecting Middleton to be stiff and Lopez a downright liability for a lack of motion and Giannis to be completely overused. Giannis can't be both the 4/5 and the lead-dunker the whole way through because that's too much to ask any one person to do. We're gonna be desperate for a 5 come trade deadline. Hopes aren't high. Giannis will do what he does but it just doesn't work when he has to be the primary weapon. I expect Lillard to be over his personal issues, but two stars aren't really enough when the remainder aren't really capable of playing the roles they should play. Gary Trent is a fantastic pickup, but too much is going to be demanded of him since he's going to end up having to be the 3rd best offensive player. You can do it with two stars when the others perfectly fit their roles, but here it's more patchwork. I think we're really going to struggle to stop anyone defensively.

[Samurai Bucky]

Here is the difference -- we saw a recent Bucks World Championship.  I was too young to remember the first one, but still...

[Austin Tatious]

Anyone know why they run camp in California?  I’m sure there’s a reason.  Scrimmages with other teams?

[nate82]

50 minutes ago, Austin Tatious said:

Anyone know why they run camp in California?  I’m sure there’s a reason.  Scrimmages with other teams?

There was an article on this somewhere about this.  Basically Rivers wants the team to do more together.  He said something about how the team would just go home after practice and there was very little team bonding.

This is the only article I can find now but I swore this was on the Athletic with more quotes from Rivers.

https://www.milwaukeemag.com/bucks-seek-chemistry-with-california-training-camp/

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

For what it's worth, I think Andre Jackson is going to have a breakout year. He'll defend too.

[CheezWizHed]

What is the over/under on Rivers making it through the whole season?

[HarryDoyle]

The bill is now due for trading away a plethora of draft capital to appease Giannis. This team is three days older than Moses and really no young relief in sight.

[Joseph Zarr]

48 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

The bill is now due for trading away a plethora of draft capital to appease Giannis. This team is three days older than Moses and really no young relief in sight.

They just drafted two of the youngest players in the entire draft class. Chris Livingston looks like a possible young rotation piece. AJ Green is already in the rotation. I personally think Marjon is a lost cause and I certainly don't see him as a part of the small youth movement they have. I loved the A-Jax pick when it happened. If he can't play more controlled and smarter (with his incredible athletic gifts), he will likely be a journeyman by his second contract. THO, I think he is the one player on the roster who could benefit most from a year-long Rajon Rondo tutelage as he gets his feet wet in the NBA coaching ranks.

I actually thought the Gary Trent Jr. signing was pretty amazing for a Vet minimum. He is a realllly talented basketball player.

Even tho Prince and Wright are past 30 yo, the team got younger there😅.You and I and every Bucks fan knows: getting to the playoffs with a healthy Brook, Giannis, Midds, and Lillard is a tallllll ask. Brook being the most durable of all of them is insane to me.

[greeg35]

So what are our preferred options for streaming the bucks this year?  Same as Brewers basically?  The bally stuff still happening?

[nate82]

25 minutes ago, greeg35 said:

So what are our preferred options for streaming the bucks this year?  Same as Brewers basically?  The bally stuff still happening?

Unlike MLB Bally has an agreement with the NBA to air the ‘24-‘25 season.  

[Joseph Zarr]

Gary Trent Jr. injured his shooting elbow and left with what was termed a 'Hyperextended elbow'

Bucks then played what was essentially their Summer League roster and got absolutely worked. Pistons were playing starters and rotation players. Bucks a mix of all their young guys or training camp invites. Clanks. Way outsized. No polish to the Bucks offensive or defensive work. Ugly. I turned it off when they had fallen to down 24. 

[nate82]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Gary Trent Jr. injured his shooting elbow and left with what was termed a 'Hyperextended elbow'

Welcome to the Bucks IL.

[Yaz19]

Any idea why the Bucks are allowing 2 players to wear #4 during training camp?  What a smack in the face to Sidney Moncrief.  

[Joseph Zarr]

Looks like the Buckaroo dodged a major bullet with Gary Trent Jr. Doc said in his presser today he could play Thursday if needed. SO, no LT or mid-term injury here. Phew. That could have been much much worse and the Bucks desperately need GTJ to stay healthy and give them meaningful minutes. The youngn's are absolutely not ready. AND, Patty Ice is very very clearly mostly washed.

[homer]

I need to start watching the games. I forget who is who between AJ Green, AJ Johnson, and Andre Jackson

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, homer said:

I need to start watching the games. I forget who is who between AJ Green, AJ Johnson, and Andre Jackson

I feel you. AJJ, A-Jax, Dairy Bird (or Pale Ellis - depends on your flavor). That is how I try to use their naming to keep it straight. One thing appears certain early: AJJ absolutely has the innate ability to become a meaningful NBA player. He is wildly inconsistent because he is so young and inexperienced. However, he has an incredible handle; change of pace; effort; and size. He can take any NBA player off the dribble and bounce right now. His shooting is extremely erratic - game-to-game he can go either way. His FT appears a work in progress (which for a PG is problematic if it doesn't improve). Either way, it's a meaningful LT draft pick that could work out akin to Anfernee Simons (AJJ is already a better defensive player) or Dejounte Murray. I like the player and the potential here.

Also, I highly advise avoiding these pre-season games. With a passion. The Bucks depth is absolutely non-existent outside the top 8-to-9 players. IF AJJ improves and becomes more consistent and AJ Green continues to play solidly within the rotation (unknown - his shot looks funkier this pre-season and that is mildly concerning) we might have 10-11 playable NBA players. At this juncture, Tyler Smith; Marjon; and A-Jax are all G-League players from my POV. I personally don't see Marjon ever becoming anything in the NBA - that ship has sailed for me. I've never seen a more athletic guy than A-Jax entirely incapable of getting to and finishing at the rim. His shooting concerns would be a non-factor if he could get to the rim. He continues to avoid it like the plague - a true wonder. I like Chris Livingston. I still think he's a couple years of growth removed from being an actual NBA rotational player. He has the try hard. He has the size. He has some intangibles. However, I just don't see him getting rotation minutes. Anywho, the pre-season second unit is akin to their Summer League squads: ugly and depressing. 😅

I will also quickly say: Anthony Johnson Jr. (let's go full name here!) is likely getting consistent minutes this season. The Bucks 8-through-10 players are not good enough to keep him out of the rotation. I think he gets run and he gets run early and they build it up as the season moves along. Obviously not a one-and-one comparison due to talent and pedigree, but it's important to remember Doc has SGA his rookie year with Chris Paul on the roster. SGA played consistently and was a key rotation piece.

[CheezWizHed]

3 hours ago, homer said:

I need to start watching the games. I forget who is who between AJ Green, AJ Johnson, and Andre Jackson

I think the hardest part is that we had AJJ last year... who is now A-Jax this year because we have another AJJ.

AJ Green... I just call "Green" and it is simple (I actually forgot he went by "AJ" for his first name). And "Pale Ellis" is a groaner... Hopefully, he does reach the quality player Dale Ellis was, but I'll stick with Green.

[BrewerFan]

On 10/4/2024 at 8:44 PM, adambr2 said:

I still remember when Middleton was 100%. It was back in his days at Texas A&M but still. 

If you get the Khris Middleton we got last year in the playoffs, Dame is healthy and in better shape after not protecting himself all last off-season, Giannis is healthy, Brook is the same as he was last year, Trent has a big year(which...the guy was offered 16M and turned it down) and then the defensive length we brought in, AJax, Green...

I think this team has a real chance. I think they're 3rd in the East if healthy, but...good enough to beat anyone

 

They need a lot to go right, they need big minutes from young guys to rest the vets, but they're still dangerous.

And again, Middleton, Giannis and Dame healthy, Prince, Wright, AJax and Connaughton/Green coming in and hitting some 3s, they CAN definitely win another title.

They can't win 2-3 like we hoped coming off the Toronto series, or even after the Suns, but they could definitely have one last run in them. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Henry Ellenson is now 27 years old. He just finished a season in Japan, apparently. He was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Buckaroos today. 

(This time of year this typically means he'll be waived shortly. This is a move for the Herd who will have to acquire his G-League rights - I 'think' they still belong to the Raptors? Been a long time since I've thought about Henry Ellenson! Anywho, it's a similar thing they just did (in a more prolonged way) with G Terence Davis who was waived to make room for Ellenson. Davis' G-League rights had already been acquired by the Herd.)

[nate82]

The Bucks have been trying to trade Beauchamp but haven’t found a deal yet.  They may just release him and sign Thanasis to take his spot if they can’t find a trade partner.

Well the plan is to sign Thanasis but the Bucks need a roster spot to do so.  Beauchamp is basically an end of the bench no chance in playing unless it is an absolute blowout type of player.  Don’t expect to see much of Beauchamp going forward at least with the Bucks.

[adambr2]

Do we have any interest in retaining Thanasis for any other reason than "maintain morale of Giannis"?