2025-26 Milwaukee Bucks / NBA Thread

[OldSchoolSnapper]

It's fine. It's up to the Bucks hitting on picks for how things ultimately shake out. 

Herro should be traded as well. Zero value for what the Bucks are going to be.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

11 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

It's fine. It's up to the Bucks hitting on picks for how things ultimately shake out. 

Herro should be traded as well. Zero value for what the Bucks are going to be.

Tyler Herro is equally punchable at Grayson Allen.  Trade him For a couple firsts if you can

[Brian]

I'm ok with the trade, Giannis is 6 years past the median NBA age and can't shoot from the outside or free throws and hurt 1/2 the season.  But don't get me wrong, he was great when he was young. 

[homer]

23 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

It's fine. It's up to the Bucks hitting on picks for how things ultimately shake out. 

Herro should be traded as well. Zero value for what the Bucks are going to be.

I bet the Bucks think getting a local kid is a PR boost. Badger fans hate him and MU fans don't care about him.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

26 minutes ago, Brian said:

I'm ok with the trade, Giannis is 6 years past the median NBA age and can't shoot from the outside or free throws and hurt 1/2 the season.  But don't get me wrong, he was great when he was young. 

Still great, but the last few iterations of the Bucks have required him to be a LeBron type player who can score from anywhere on the court by himself, which he is not and never has been. If he stops getting hurt, I'm not sure Giannis isn't still the most impactful player in the league on both ends of the floor. Jokic is a better offensive player but not even close defensively. 

We're talking about a player that nearly averaged a triple double in 24-25 with an additional 6.5 APG. He's great.

The one thing about Giannis that will always be mystifying to me is how he went from a perfectly fine FT shooter to bad. He was between 72-77% in years 2-6. Then drops 10-15%. Bizarre.

[Brian]

13 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

If he stops getting hurt, I'm not sure Giannis isn't still the most impactful player in the league on both ends of the floor.

The Giannis injury snowball effect:

Injury History

FromUntilInjury

Mar 16, 26Ankle and Left Knee Injury

Mar 09, 26Mar 10, 26Calf Injury

Jan 25, 26Mar 02, 26Calf Injury

Dec 05, 25Dec 28, 25Calf Injury

Nov 19, 25Nov 28, 25Groin Injury

Nov 12, 25Nov 15, 25Knee Injury

Nov 02, 25Nov 03, 25Knee Injury

Oct 30, 25Oct 31, 25Knee Injury

Apr 12, 25Apr 18, 25Shoulder Injury

Apr 07, 25Apr 08, 25Shoulder Injury

Apr 04, 25Apr 06, 25Foot Injury

Mar 26, 25Mar 29, 25Foot Injury

Mar 24, 25Mar 25, 25Knee Injury

Mar 13, 25Mar 14, 25Calf Injury

Mar 03, 25Mar 05, 25Calf Injury

Feb 27, 25Feb 28, 25Calf Injury

Feb 06, 25Feb 20, 25Calf Injury

Feb 04, 25Feb 05, 25Knee Injury

Jan 30, 25Jan 31, 25Knee Injury

Jan 25, 25Jan 27, 25Knee Injury

Jan 21, 25Jan 23, 25Knee Injury

Jan 13, 25Jan 14, 25Knee Injury

Dec 20, 24Dec 31, 24Back Injury

Dec 09, 24Dec 13, 24Knee Injury

Dec 02, 24Dec 03, 24Illness

Nov 25, 24Nov 30, 24Knee Injury

Nov 11, 24Nov 12, 24Knee Injury

Nov 04, 24Nov 07, 24Hip Injury

Oct 19, 24Oct 23, 24Knee Injury

Apr 11, 24Jun 26, 24Calf Injury

Mar 30, 24Apr 03, 24Muscle Injury

Mar 17, 24Mar 21, 24Hamstring Injury

Mar 14, 24Mar 16, 24Muscle Injury

Mar 11, 24Mar 12, 24Knee Injury

Mar 03, 24Mar 06, 24Achilles Tendon Injury

Feb 24, 24Feb 25, 24Knee Injury

Feb 15, 24Feb 16, 24Knee Injury

Feb 11, 24Feb 12, 24Knee Injury

Feb 08, 24Feb 08, 24Knee Injury

Jan 21, 24Jan 22, 24Shoulder Injury

Jan 18, 24Jan 19, 24Shoulder Injury

Dec 26, 23Dec 27, 23Calf Injury

Nov 14, 23Nov 17, 23Calf Injury

Apr 17, 23Apr 25, 23Back Injury

Apr 06, 23Apr 15, 23Knee Injury

Mar 10, 23Mar 13, 23Hand Injury

Mar 07, 23Mar 09, 23Knee Injury

Feb 25, 23Feb 28, 23Knee Injury

Feb 18, 23Feb 24, 23Wrist Injury

Feb 13, 23Feb 14, 23Knee Injury

Jan 13, 23Jan 23, 23Knee Injury

Jan 01, 23Jan 03, 23Knee Injury

Dec 17, 22Dec 19, 22Knee Injury

Dec 04, 22Dec 05, 22Knee Injury

Nov 20, 22Nov 21, 22Calf Injury

Nov 09, 22Nov 14, 22Knee Injury

Nov 04, 22Nov 07, 22Knee Injury

Apr 10, 22Apr 16, 22Knee Injury

Mar 24, 22Mar 26, 22Knee Injury

Feb 14, 22Feb 15, 22Ankle Injury

Jan 23, 22Jan 26, 22Knee Injury

Jan 05, 22Jan 07, 22Illness

Dec 15, 21Dec 24, 21Illness

Dec 03, 21Dec 06, 21Calf Injury

Jul 01, 21Jul 06, 21Knee Injury

May 01, 21May 01, 21Ankle Injury

Apr 21, 21Apr 22, 21Leg Injury

Apr 04, 21Apr 15, 21Knee Injury

Mar 23, 21Mar 24, 21Knee Injury

Jan 11, 21Jan 11, 21Back Injury

Sep 08, 20Dec 12, 20Ankle Injury

Aug 09, 20Aug 11, 20Injury

Mar 08, 20Jul 13, 20Knee Injury

Jan 28, 20Jan 31, 20Shoulder Injury

Jan 05, 20Jan 06, 20Back Injury

Dec 26, 19Jan 01, 20Back Injury

Dec 11, 19Dec 13, 19Muscle Injury

Nov 29, 19Nov 29, 19Back Injury

Apr 10, 19Apr 12, 19Rest

Apr 06, 19Apr 07, 19Calf Injury

Mar 30, 19Apr 01, 19Ankle Injury

Mar 18, 19Mar 22, 19Ankle Injury

Feb 25, 19Feb 27, 19Knee Injury

Jan 11, 19Jan 12, 19Muscle Injury

Dec 11, 18Dec 11, 18Neck Injury

Oct 29, 18Nov 01, 18Concussion

Apr 07, 18Apr 11, 18Ankle Injury

Mar 23, 18Mar 24, 18Ankle Injury

[OldSchoolSnapper]

6 minutes ago, Brian said:

The snowball effect:

Injury History

FromUntilInjury

Mar 16, 26Ankle and Left Knee Injury

Mar 09, 26Mar 10, 26Calf Injury

Jan 25, 26Mar 02, 26Calf Injury

Dec 05, 25Dec 28, 25Calf Injury

Nov 19, 25Nov 28, 25Groin Injury

Nov 12, 25Nov 15, 25Knee Injury

Nov 02, 25Nov 03, 25Knee Injury

Oct 30, 25Oct 31, 25Knee Injury

Apr 12, 25Apr 18, 25Shoulder Injury

Apr 07, 25Apr 08, 25Shoulder Injury

Apr 04, 25Apr 06, 25Foot Injury

Mar 26, 25Mar 29, 25Foot Injury

Mar 24, 25Mar 25, 25Knee Injury

Mar 13, 25Mar 14, 25Calf Injury

Mar 03, 25Mar 05, 25Calf Injury

Feb 27, 25Feb 28, 25Calf Injury

Feb 06, 25Feb 20, 25Calf Injury

Feb 04, 25Feb 05, 25Knee Injury

Jan 30, 25Jan 31, 25Knee Injury

Jan 25, 25Jan 27, 25Knee Injury

Jan 21, 25Jan 23, 25Knee Injury

Jan 13, 25Jan 14, 25Knee Injury

Dec 20, 24Dec 31, 24Back Injury

Dec 09, 24Dec 13, 24Knee Injury

Dec 02, 24Dec 03, 24Illness

Nov 25, 24Nov 30, 24Knee Injury

Nov 11, 24Nov 12, 24Knee Injury

Nov 04, 24Nov 07, 24Hip Injury

Oct 19, 24Oct 23, 24Knee Injury

Apr 11, 24Jun 26, 24Calf Injury

Mar 30, 24Apr 03, 24Muscle Injury

Mar 17, 24Mar 21, 24Hamstring Injury

Mar 14, 24Mar 16, 24Muscle Injury

Mar 11, 24Mar 12, 24Knee Injury

Mar 03, 24Mar 06, 24Achilles Tendon Injury

Feb 24, 24Feb 25, 24Knee Injury

Feb 15, 24Feb 16, 24Knee Injury

Feb 11, 24Feb 12, 24Knee Injury

Feb 08, 24Feb 08, 24Knee Injury

Jan 21, 24Jan 22, 24Shoulder Injury

Jan 18, 24Jan 19, 24Shoulder Injury

Dec 26, 23Dec 27, 23Calf Injury

Nov 14, 23Nov 17, 23Calf Injury

Apr 17, 23Apr 25, 23Back Injury

Apr 06, 23Apr 15, 23Knee Injury

Mar 10, 23Mar 13, 23Hand Injury

Mar 07, 23Mar 09, 23Knee Injury

Feb 25, 23Feb 28, 23Knee Injury

Feb 18, 23Feb 24, 23Wrist Injury

Feb 13, 23Feb 14, 23Knee Injury

Jan 13, 23Jan 23, 23Knee Injury

Jan 01, 23Jan 03, 23Knee Injury

Dec 17, 22Dec 19, 22Knee Injury

Dec 04, 22Dec 05, 22Knee Injury

Nov 20, 22Nov 21, 22Calf Injury

Nov 09, 22Nov 14, 22Knee Injury

Nov 04, 22Nov 07, 22Knee Injury

Apr 10, 22Apr 16, 22Knee Injury

Mar 24, 22Mar 26, 22Knee Injury

Feb 14, 22Feb 15, 22Ankle Injury

Jan 23, 22Jan 26, 22Knee Injury

Jan 05, 22Jan 07, 22Illness

Dec 15, 21Dec 24, 21Illness

Dec 03, 21Dec 06, 21Calf Injury

Jul 01, 21Jul 06, 21Knee Injury

May 01, 21May 01, 21Ankle Injury

Apr 21, 21Apr 22, 21Leg Injury

Apr 04, 21Apr 15, 21Knee Injury

Mar 23, 21Mar 24, 21Knee Injury

Jan 11, 21Jan 11, 21Back Injury

Sep 08, 20Dec 12, 20Ankle Injury

Aug 09, 20Aug 11, 20Injury

Mar 08, 20Jul 13, 20Knee Injury

Jan 28, 20Jan 31, 20Shoulder Injury

Jan 05, 20Jan 06, 20Back Injury

Dec 26, 19Jan 01, 20Back Injury

Dec 11, 19Dec 13, 19Muscle Injury

Nov 29, 19Nov 29, 19Back Injury

Apr 10, 19Apr 12, 19Rest

Apr 06, 19Apr 07, 19Calf Injury

Mar 30, 19Apr 01, 19Ankle Injury

Mar 18, 19Mar 22, 19Ankle Injury

Feb 25, 19Feb 27, 19Knee Injury

Jan 11, 19Jan 12, 19Muscle Injury

Dec 11, 18Dec 11, 18Neck Injury

Oct 29, 18Nov 01, 18Concussion

Apr 07, 18Apr 11, 18Ankle Injury

Mar 23, 18Mar 24, 18Ankle Injury

This list goes back 9 years. His injury history really isn't egregious for a big. Especially not one that gets load managed constantly and was shut down this season for the sole purpose of being healthy when he gets traded.

This just feels like copium to downplay how great he is, which should be indisputable. He's a phenomenal player, I don't think anyone is cumulatively better on both ends right now. IMO his biggest problem is that he has to let himself be coached and accept a role in a system that might take the ball out of his hands more than he wants. At his age he needs to accept the things he doesn't do well and stop doing them. Is he willing to see the PPG drop to 24? He needs to be.

[homer]

Giannis is a top 50 - 75 all-time NBA player. He can't win a title on his own, but you can probably count on one hand the number of players who could. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

6 minutes ago, homer said:

Giannis is a top 50 - 75 all-time NBA player. He can't win a title on his own, but you can probably count on one hand the number of players who could. 

That's being conservative. I would put him safely in the Top 20. He has two MVPs but really should have about five, a DPOY and is first team on both ends any year he isn't hurt. What he gives you defensively is exceptionally rare for a 30-pt scorer.

Bigs who are not even as good as him defensively can carve out 10-year careers doing that and scoring 4 points a game.

[Samurai Bucky]

8 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

I didn't like the Miami Heat yesterday and I still don't like the Miami Heat today. I hope Giannis ring chasing fails and he never wins another ring.

The Bucks' poor decisions were more to blame than Giannis' approach.

[Samurai Bucky]

55 minutes ago, homer said:

I bet the Bucks think getting a local kid is a PR boost. Badger fans hate him and MU fans don't care about him.

He was also a bit of a <person with a poor attitude> when he played pick up games at the Princeton Club.

[homer]

1 minute ago, Samurai Bucky said:

The Bucks' poor decisions were more to blame than Giannis' approach.

Yeah drafting for ceiling when they needed floor was bad. Giannis turned into kind of a goober the last 18 months but probably because the front office continually pissed him off.

[Brian]

27 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

This list goes back 9 years. His injury history really isn't egregious for a big. Especially not one that gets load managed constantly and was shut down this season for the sole purpose of being healthy when he gets traded.

This just feels like copium to downplay how great he is, which should be indisputable. He's a phenomenal player, I don't think anyone is cumulatively better on both ends right now. IMO his biggest problem is that he has to let himself be coached and accept a role in a system that might take the ball out of his hands more than he wants. At his age he needs to accept the things he doesn't do well and stop doing them. Is he willing to see the PPG drop to 24? He needs to be.

I'm just saying, "It's a Hard-Knock Life in todays NBA Game" and the cumulative injury effect on the body is for real.  I think the trade was needed for Giannis to even reinvigorate himself. 

[Samurai Bucky]

1 minute ago, homer said:

Yeah drafting for ceiling when they needed floor was bad. Giannis turned into kind of a goober the last 18 months but probably because the front office continually pissed him off.

Anyone who had the opportunity to interact with him outside of the context of the NBA saw this attitude change during that time.  He went from a person who was very joyful and happy to being frustrated.

I have never been 7', nor have I ever been so talented that I earned as much money as he has.  I can only think of how frustrating it has been for him.  He is not the dick that other NBA players are and it is disingenuous to paint him as such.

I put this into the category of a tragedy.  Giannis could have played his entire career here and would have loved do to that.  It is sad that he is moving onto Miami.  Oh well... that is life. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I really don't have a quarrel with Giannis. This is completely run of the mill for Superstar coming up on his last competitive window. He knows the end is nearer than the beginning and wants a chance for more championships. He was more committed to MKE than many, many athletes would have been and ultimately did deliver.

[homer]

People seem to like Kel'El Ware. 

[wallus]

6 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

Is that likely? 2030, 2031 and 2033. 
Giannis will be in his late 36-39 as a player who has an athletic skillset. Plus with the new lottery system, who knows. 

I will never assume that a warm weather destination team will be very bad, like top 3 pick bad

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Miami will always have a stream of guys who want to play there, likely preventing any of the picks from being that great. 

But these trades always seem to be judged against make-believe scenarios, not the actual list of options available. Nobody of Giannis's stature signs off on a trade to Orlando, Charlotte or New Orleans. It's part and parcel for mega stars to cherry-pick 1-3 places and that's just what you have to deal with.

At the end of the day, we won an NBA title, something I accepted was never happening for the Bucks in my lifetime, long, long ago. Whether it's decades of the doldrums or we put things back together in a few years, I just can't be too upset about it. The Brewers are the last things I need checked off.

[CheezWizHed]

38 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

The Bucks' poor decisions were more to blame than Giannis' approach.

I'd list the main factors in order of impact as:

1. Injuries (especially the 2-3 years after the championship)
2. Giannis' team takeover - pushing coaching decisions, not playing team ball, whatever you call last year.... 
3. Poor drafting/trades. 

Though, I think there was a pretty big gap between 1 and 2.  2 and 3 are pretty neck-and-neck. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Giannis's team takeover is 100% the fault of the Bucks management. That's your job. Assert control over your team. 

A very good GM shakes up the roster and gets it younger immediately after winning the championship, not doing everything to retain every last piece because you just won and it's what makes Giannis feel warm and fuzzy inside. You don't trade Donte, and you move on from Brook Lopez before he's a complete tree trunk. You don't double down on Pat Connaughton. By 2023, Middleton was a huge mistake and you can't say that's hindsight, a lot of people saw what was coming with him.

Giannis would have sent a pouty Tweet, and moved on quickly when he kept on winning. It's true that his roster vision was bad, but it's also true that your ownership can never let him get to that point.

[nate82]

The main problem was Middleton breaking down physically.  Once that happened the Bucks lost their #2 scoring option.  This made the Bucks trade for Lillard.  The Bucks couldn’t count on Middleton anymore and needed a #2 to pair with Giannis.  Unfortunately Lillard and Giannis was a poor pairing because Giannis is not a good pick and roll player.

The next problem is the poor drafting by the Bucks.  I’ll give the Bucks a pass on Parker as that was a freak injury.  If Parker never gets injured wow that team would have been a great one.  Middleton, Parker and Giannis was cooking that year offensively when all three were healthy and on the court together.  Then Parker gets injured and then it was over.  Every draft after that Parker draft was disaster after disaster.  Other than Brogdon there wasn’t a pick that was a clear positive.

[Brian]

37 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

Giannis' team takeover - pushing coaching decisions, not playing team ball, whatever you call last year.... 

I agree, did it start with Thanasis Antetokounmpo or Damion Lillard?  His direct influence over front-office decisions, kind of like Aaron Rodgers. 

[Samurai Bucky]

Lest we not forget that anything Jimmy Haslam touches turns to crap.  He is like the antithesis of King Midas.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25444225-why-jimmy-haslam-traded-giannis-weeks-after-dealing-myles-garrett-revealed-new-nba-rumors

I get it that he is using one experience to help make decisions about another possibility.  His track record, though, is far from stellar.

[patrickgpe]

I am just glad that this is over with. If I'm a Pelicans and Blazers fan, I am doing backflips as they get the unprotected 2027 pick and 2028 picks respectively while the Bucks are in for a long rebuild. 

I do prefer this route over taking Brown and a pick or 2 and shooting for the play in tourney. 

 

[patrickgpe]

14 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

Lest we not forget that anything Jimmy Haslam touches turns to crap.  He is like the antithesis of King Midas.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25444225-why-jimmy-haslam-traded-giannis-weeks-after-dealing-myles-garrett-revealed-new-nba-rumors

I get it that he is using one experience to help make decisions about another possibility.  His track record, though, is far from stellar.

Things have really gone down hill since he came aboard. Its not all his fault, but you can't deny the coincidence.