2026-27 Milwaukee Bucks / NBA Thread

[nate82]

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Trent deal gets voided and the Bucks get hit with a fine for manipulating their cap for the 2024-2025 season.  See the current investigation of the Clippers and the Kwahi trade being suspended.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucks get their first round picks stripped from them if the Trent deal last year was a wink and a nod type of a deal.  See the Joe Smith scandal from the 2000 season.

[Joseph Zarr]

All I can think of with the Trent deal is: Remember when we gave the final pick (58th pick) of the 2023 draft, and Klutch client, Chris Livingston a (2 years guaranteed) 4-yr $7.7 M deal? That was awesome.  Almost as awesome as when they reached for then Klutch client and Old, Marjon Beauchamp, at 24 in 2022. Probably a better selection than Peyton Watson or Andrew Nembhard.

I also really enjoyed when the Bucks waived Livingston and then re-signed him to a guaranteed $2.3 Milly in July of 2025 only to waive Him before the season. THAT was fine business. 3 years guaranteed for Chris Livingston.

[wiguy94]

2 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

All I can think of with the Trent deal is: Remember when we gave the final pick (58th pick) of the 2023 draft, and Klutch client, Chris Livingston a (2 years guaranteed) 4-yr $7.7 M deal? That was awesome.  Almost as awesome as when they reached for then Klutch client and Old, Marjon Beauchamp, at 24 in 2022. Probably a better selection than Peyton Watson or Andrew Nembhard.

I also really enjoyed when the Bucks waived Livingston and then re-signed him to a guaranteed $2.3 Milly in July of 2025 only to waive Him before the season. THAT was fine business. 3 years guaranteed for Chris Livingston.

The second round pick they bought this year was also used on a Klutch client lol

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, wiguy94 said:

The second round pick they bought this year was also used on a Klutch client lol

Glorious. Reminds me almost of the great production we saw after signing Eric Bledsoe - oh, hey, also a Klutch client - to a 4 yr/$70 Million deal. Really helped us in those Toronto playoff series.

[CheezWizHed]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

"Bucks fans wear Cups to stay safe in the off-season." Thankfully, Burries looks like a top 5 player from this draft. I told y'all how much he impressed me throughout his Freshman season when I watched Arizona play PST. Well, he's even better than I thought. Just going to hang my hat there while protecting my nether regions...

 

Here is a future of many punny headlines such as "Buck Burries the Heat". 

[Joseph Zarr]

Man. Burries. Again. He is phenomenal. I am so grateful he fell to 10. I'm going to pretend the rest of the draft did not happen.😅

[Joseph Zarr]

OK. IF the Bucks were somehow able to manipulate their $25 Milly Trade Exception and $11 Million in Cap Space into swindling a Peyton Watson S & T because of their ties to Rich Paul and Klutch Sports...anything bad I ever said about the GTJ deal and previous Klutch dealings was written by my 8 yo daughter when she stole my laptop.

[patrickgpe]

18 hours ago, nate82 said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Trent deal gets voided and the Bucks get hit with a fine for manipulating their cap for the 2024-2025 season.  See the current investigation of the Clippers and the Kwahi trade being suspended.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucks get their first round picks stripped from them if the Trent deal last year was a wink and a nod type of a deal.  See the Joe Smith scandal from the 2000 season.

I would be. What I wouldn't be surprised about is if the deal he signed last year is punished by the NBA. Only the Bucks are harmed by signing him for 4/64. Players union would likely fight to not have it voided. 

[patrickgpe]

9 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Man. Burries. Again. He is phenomenal. I am so grateful he fell to 10. I'm going to pretend the rest of the draft did not happen.😅

Burries is a Clutch Sports player. Imagine if the Bucks did have a wink wink deal with Clutch and went back on their word after drafting Burries. 

[nate82]

2 hours ago, patrickgpe said:

I would be. What I wouldn't be surprised about is if the deal he signed last year is punished by the NBA. Only the Bucks are harmed by signing him for 4/64. Players union would likely fight to not have it voided. 

They wouldn’t punish him for the previous contract it would be for the current contract.  The Bucks would also lose first round picks plus a fine.  The player becomes an unrestricted free agent here and the players union has no say.  Trent may have to pay back something but I don’t think he will have to in this scenario.

It’s unlikely that Trent will have to pay anything as I don’t see a payment scheme to move money around.  The contract may also stand and the Bucks lose picks.  

[CheezWizHed]

11 minutes ago, nate82 said:

 The contract may also stand and the Bucks lose picks.  

[Joseph Zarr]

We needed this Ament G4 game tonight. I can see the taller Khash Money vision here after tonight's game. The kid can already handle the rock quite well - moves a bit like Middleton, honestly, but he's longer. He looked so much better playing with control and confidence we hadn't seen previously! No Burries so he got more of an on-ball role and did some nice attack and initiating. Hit some corner 3's. We can build on this. 

This was a great first step building block for the young man. As a direct aside, I really think the Bucks should look at signing Zack Austin to an Exhibit 10 deal. Played in the Thunder org just like Cormac and is super athletic, plays above the rim and can really defend. I see a path there. He also had some of the more exciting plays throughout - has a bit of an entertainment value. 

[homer]

12 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

We needed this Ament G4 game tonight. I can see the taller Khash Money vision here after tonight's game. The kid can already handle the rock quite well - moves a bit like Middleton, honestly, but he's longer. He looked so much better playing with control and confidence we hadn't seen previously! No Burries so he got more of an on-ball role and did some nice attack and initiating. Hit some corner 3's. We can build on this. 

This was a great first step building block for the young man. As a direct aside, I really think the Bucks should look at signing Zack Austin to an Exhibit 10 deal. Played in the Thunder org just like Cormac and is super athletic, plays above the rim and can really defend. I see a path there. He also had some of the more exciting plays throughout - has a bit of an entertainment value. 

Dang. He looked pretty good. Obviously needs to get on the Giannis workout routine or he'll have trouble finishing around the rim but the 3 pt jumper looked good and so did the midrange game.

[patrickgpe]

NBA looking into Trent signing. I think paying that salary out is punishment enough. 

But I will not be happy if the bucks made a wink wink deal to try to make a run last season, which just caused us to get into a horrible deal while loosing additional draft compensation. 

[nate82]

The Bucks are indeed under investigation for cap manipulation for the Trent signing.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7450112/2026/07/16/gary-trent-jr-bucks-contract-cap-nba/?unlocked_article_code=1.yFA.3DXx.fWPnZJqeabJg&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share

 

[patrickgpe]

You can't take much from Summer League but it looks like our 2 picks are pretty solid and Bogi had his moments. I guess thats the best you can ask for. 

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, nate82 said:

The Bucks are indeed under investigation for cap manipulation for the Trent signing.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7450112/2026/07/16/gary-trent-jr-bucks-contract-cap-nba/?unlocked_article_code=1.yFA.3DXx.fWPnZJqeabJg&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share

 

I have a hard time believing they'll find anything here solid enough to punish the Bucks or Klutch. It seems performative more than anything. Do we really think Adam Silver would take on Rich Paul? The Bucks, on the other hand? 

[nate82]

50 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Do we really think Adam Silver would take on Rich Paul? The Bucks, on the other hand? 

Rich Paul no unless he had something to do with it.  They could ban him from being an NBA Agent.

They will definitely hit the Bucks with something if they find anything.  How many first round picks will the Bucks lose is the question here.

[jay87shot]

They should just ban Horst forever. Avoids a Klutch penalty, does the bucks a favor, and makes the league look like it is being tough.

[Joseph Zarr]

👀 

This 'Aryan' Insider feller is the One who originally put out the 4-year $60 Millon area deal for GTJ before it happened.

[jay87shot]

3 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

👀

This 'Aryan' Insider feller is the One who originally put out the 4-year $60 Millon area deal for GTJ before it happened.

I like Watson but really dont want to give up any 1st round picks. A report i read said the nuggets want a Kessler style return.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

5 hours ago, jay87shot said:

I like Watson but really dont want to give up any 1st round picks. A report i read said the nuggets want a Kessler style return.

Yeah, we gotta keep our 1st round picks now.  Maybe they would be interested in Gary Trent Jr 🤪

[SeaBass]

17 hours ago, nate82 said:

Rich Paul no unless he had something to do with it.  They could ban him from being an NBA Agent.

They will definitely hit the Bucks with something if they find anything.  How many first round picks will the Bucks lose is the question here.

I assume the Bucks knew they were doing shady stuff when they did the shady stuff, you'd hope that they took proper measures to not leave evidence of doing shady stuff. That's not me endorsing their actions, just, if you're going to do something dumb at least be smart about it.

Rereading that last bit it sounds like something Yogi Berra would say lol.

[patrickgpe]

18 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I have a hard time believing they'll find anything here solid enough to punish the Bucks or Klutch. It seems performative more than anything. Do we really think Adam Silver would take on Rich Paul? The Bucks, on the other hand? 

from what I have been told the Joe Smith punishment was because the terms of the "agreement" was written down. I would agree with you that unless there is a paper trail it will be hard to have anything against the Bucks. 

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, patrickgpe said:

from what I have been told the Joe Smith punishment was because the terms of the "agreement" was written down. I would agree with you that unless there is a paper trail it will be hard to have anything against the Bucks. 

I think the addendum here is: "Never trust the Bucks." ?