BrewerFan

Yeah, hopefully Crowder just struggled because he sat out most of last year and just never got into a rhythm. Jackson, the kid from UConn, wouldn't shock me if he started. Wallus said he wanted a guy who played defense and didn't really look for their shot. This kid is already an NBA caliber defender and an elite passer. The ideal type of facilitator. Marjon has matured. I'm a big fan of him...in that sort of role. That's not to say either of these guys are really starting caliber SGs, but with this lineup, they COULD be the best fits if they are further along than anticipated. This $### is WILD. You don't hear about the Bucks trading for a HOFer, a top 75 player all time coming off a 32PPG season. And his preference was Miami, but he said he'd also accept Brooklyn(I don't know why) or Milwaukee. Really hope this is as good of a fit as it seems and Giannis signs on for another 5 years(with the obligatory PO).

He'd just sign as a vet minimum. The difference at MOST would be do you want to keep a full bench or do you want to go with 13 man roster for long stretches to keep your luxury tax payments down...and the Bucks are clearly not worried about the luxury tax with Dame Lillard and Giannis. Just...another shot out for the Ownership Group. The decision to not sign Malcom Brogdon and then the comments after they let PJ Tucker go...a move I didn't take issue with as a roster building decision, but then the comments about the luxury tax and you kinda wondered if they'd REALLY make the moves to try and keep giving this team the best chance. Well...they were going to have a LOT of cap space in 2 years and they just committed 63M dollars to what will be a 35-36 year old PG. I think the Haslem family has certainly held up their end with the Edens and Dinan. I do hope Jrue ends up in the West though. I've heard Boston is interested. I don't see how that'd work without a 3rd team to take the cap hit, but...this is THEE most exciting move I've ever seen a Wisconsin team make. CC Sabathia was great, but it was for 3 months. This is for 3 years and makes Giannis re-signing a MUCH more likely scenario.

Bakh ruled out again. What is going on? He HAD to have re-injured that knee in week 1. How do you go from playing every play and looking spry, jumping over piles...to out the next 3 weeks? Jenkins predictably out. I don't know if that's been officially diagnosed, but it seems like an MCL and 2-4 weeks seems the most likely given not putting him on IR. Campbell is also out. That hurts, but not nearly as much at this point.

This like this don't happen to Wisconsin teams! We get lucky and draft well at times or develop, but adding MEGA stars who just happen to be perfect fits with our top 20 all time PF(who's just 28). Jackson could definitely start in this lineup now. Or at least play with the starters. His feel for the game and his defense.

I forgot about Cam Payne. That'd be a GREAT signing. A veteran PG who's got some experience. Dame will probably play ~60 games. Cam has proven to be a good backup.

That works, Pat at the 2, Beauchamp earning the job would be a best case scenario. Beasily is just 26 and has had some productive years, so he would be the obvious choice. This is just one of those moves where I'm still in shock. I NEVER would have guessed this. I saw people on Twitter putting Dame in a Bucks jersey, but it seemed so unlikely. Horst...you might have given Portland 3 top 5 picks in 5,6 and 7 years...but I don't care! This is so wild!

Yeah...they've got some guys. Hopefully a couple can kinda step up. Hate seeing Jrue leave like this. He was such a vital part of that team winning. His defense turned the Finals around by picking up CP3 full court. But one of the greatest 3 point shooters EVER and Middleton was looking all the way back at the end of last year. That's just nit picking. If they're healthy, they're going to be a TOUGH out and this is extremely exciting for the city!

Ahh...ok, my bad, I read it as they were giving up too much and it was going to hurt their future. I do wonder how they'll fill out the rest of their roster...but I don't care right now! They just added a 32PPG SNIPER. This is like adding Oscar to Kareem in the early 70s!

His ankle is fine by all reports. He's doing for negotiating purposes.

SO WHAT!!! They have a better chance to win a chip NOW than they did yesterday! It's gonna be the 90s all over again if they DON'T do something. I don't care that they've got pick swaps! They just added maybe the most dangerous shooter in the league on top of the most dominant big man in the league(maybe just most dominant all around). And yes, do whatever it takes to keep Giannis happy! ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY! What player has EVER earned that more than Giannis and what he's done for the Milwaukee Bucks?

I was literally JUST thinking about making a post on the Bucks board about how Giannis is basically asking out. He's repeating that he wants to go where there is the best chance to win a ring, how if everyone isn't 100% committed, he'll leave. I took that to mean he was saying, 'probably not a bad idea to trade me now while you can still recoup a massive haul.' Nah, the Bucks, they're going the other route! They're bringing a 32PPG Oscar in to play with prime Kareem and squeeze out another couple rings! Ballsy as hell, I don't like the depth we have, we're limited by the 2nd apron, this feels a bit like the Lakers the last couple years, but I LOVE the guts to do it. We lost Malcom Brogdon, I thought, "the owners are gonna ruin this by going cheap." Well...that's not a problem. Now, Marjon, it's on you Young Buck(literally) to step up and be the player we need you to be. Locking people down, hitting some shots...because we don't have much depth and I'm not sure that Holiday that was considering coming to Milwaukee to fill out our depth chart, not sure he's going to after we just did his brother dirty like that!

It's just his salary this year that they needed to match, not his extension. I think he gets 58M and then like 63 on a PO.

No, but this did kinda blow up what the Bucks "plans" were going into this season. Two more years with Jrue and Middleton and then they could create enough cap space. By the way, this isn't just a '29 unprotected 1st, a '28 and '30 swap rights. So...they'd better be able to get something for Dame. This isn't how the best dynasties have been built, but...I guess I don't really care if the Bucks win a chip or two!

Megill throws 100+ with movement, a nasty CB, a 2.22 FIP and he's healthy. He's the exact type of player you want and need in the post-season. I mean, ideally he'd throw left handed, but short of that, he's ideal for this pen. I trust him over Pegeuro right now.

The Mitchell thing is baffling. We already have lefties in the OF...I don't get why you're going with him over Wiemer. Yes, I get Wiemer needed ABs(he got a handful)...Mitchell is even more limited than Wiemer and missed the whole year. I love to be wrong about things like this. I hope it's the "You couldn't write a script like this," story where he comes through in Game3 of the WC Round with a bases clearing double in the 7th or a great catch and OF assist. And Frankly, taking it a step further, I'd just as soon have Mitchell and Wiemer on the roster and keep Tellez off, but I still...for literally no good reason have some confidence in him in big spots. It's entirely unreasonable, but...what can I say. That lineup allows for a lot of pinch hitting, pinch running and an OF that would be ridiculous with Frelick/Mitchell/Wiemer? I don't even know how they value the 3(I have Mitchell 3rd at getting reads at this point, but it's like picking the prettiest model or...less clunky analogy).

It's going to be so very unlikely next year as well. The Braves have 6 legit AS caliber players locked up for years and their weak spots are...not very weak. They might have Waldrep who dominated this year reaching AAA(likely just to get another start, but he could still start in AA and have a very real chance to climb up the system). The Dodgers are probably the least talented they're going to be in a while. They're paying Bauer, they WERE trying to stay under the luxury tax, they've got a loaded group of young power arms, Buehler will be back, a guy who they decided to play it safe with. Ohtani and another 100M may be spent this off-season. The odds will never be in our favor. But look at last years Phillies beat the Braves, then the Dodgers were knocked off a round before that. The Brewers get the Dodgers and who's to say the Braves...with their two aces currently on the IL(scheduled to return the day before the playoff start in Fried's case and Morton out for the Division round). So they could very easily lose. The Dodgers are a great team, but hardly unbeatable. I would make the decision on 2024 independent of their chances this year. I suppose if they lose in the WS like the Royals, it'll make it impossible for the FO to trade those players without getting crushed by the fan base. Maybe you make a team pay through the nose and a desperate team like the Phills, if they come up short are willing to part with their top prospect for Burnes. There's so many things to factor in. You make teams Godfather you into making the trade. Or again, maybe you just go for it and take a massive bonus pool and go all out on another draft.

I noticed they kept Dillon in particular in the backfield a lot more. He didn't wait to see if there was a blitzer who needed help, he spent more time in the backfield, I assumed to compensate for the OL weaknesses. That'd be my best guess as to why. I'd like to see Kraft used more as a checkdown option, but...apparently he's just not ready to play yet based on the limited number of snaps he's played. 12 the last two games. I don't think Heath is having nearly that much trouble getting open. He beats his man off the LOS on one route where Love underthrows it at ~28 minutes in or I think they have a big TD on that play. On that Reed throw where he runs that corner route, Heath wins again. He's run 11 routes the last two weeks and he's obviously behind Doubs, Reed and Musgrave on most reads, but he looks good to my eye off the LOS. I think he's more savvy than Lazard was early on. Yeah, that fade down the sideline they cover on that "QB School," as well. Doubs makes a great move as the hot route(or a double move, but the assumption was he thought he was hot) then sees there's no pressure and beats his man. Seems like Reed has the best chemistry, but he's also struggled the most with drops. I don't think we're going to see a guy get the Davante treatment anytime soon with Love...and I don't think it was great for Rodgers. Rodgers was at his best early in his career when he was spreading it around with Jennings, Nelson, Jones, Finley, Driver was still around. He's making some incredible throws and missing some easier ones. If he can get a little more consistent, it's going to be pretty special. And way he's calm though, never really rattled, that's just huge for a young QB. I don't care if he sat for 3 years. That 24 yard run is a sack for a lot of young QBs and for the ones who are taking off and running, they're also usually not also standing in there and delivering that ball to Reed that was perfect despite pressure coming(one of the very few times Tom got beat).

Obviously I wasn't suggesting your own opinion was influenced by the Will Smith movie, just that the NFL as a whole was. That it was common place to try and knock the QB out. I don't think that was just a Saints thing. I think it was just the reality of the NFL until they actually starting doing more about concussions. And I don't actually recall any egregious shots vs Favre. They hit him when they could...I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, I'm just saying I don't know that Payton was even really aware OR...again, that it was much different from how any other team played. The NFL would play highlights of Ray Lewis, accused of Murder giving a speech talking about how he's not just trying to hurt you, he's trying to "take your soul." If you want to argue that the NFL used "Bountygate" as an excuse to send a message to the league as a whole and it was a good thing for that, I'm all on board. But to act like the Saints were these lone wolves and worse than anyone else...I don't buy it and I don't think most NFL players did either. Whitworth certainly didn't. https://www.bengals.com/news/whitworth-questions-bountygate-punishment-7083409

I'm about as giddy about this team as you can be, but I really wouldn't. Playoff aspirations are nice, but I don't think I'd give up a 2nd+15M for a RB yet. It's kinda silly how everything has fallen into place sans the 4Q in ATL, but Taylor is more of a luxury and finishing piece IMO than a move you make while you're still climbing out of salary cap purgatory. Now, if they make the trade, I'll be thrilled and I think he could be a great fit with this offense, but I still think right now using our draft picks and finding a long term solution at LT...or RT, Tom gives you the luxury of being able to draft a guy like Mims or Latham or whomever proves to be the best option by the time the draft comes around. And then they still need to address the interior OL, the way the Packers move, if a guy like Newton from Illinios is there in the 2nd, they'll take him(they like to address positions before their a problem...or so it seems). Taylor is so explosive and he played in the same system at Wisconsin(the run blocking). So...yeah, I really wouldn't shed tears over bring in a 230LB power back who also has HR speed! Imagine pairing him up with Aaron Jones next year(I still don't think Jones would be cut).

I thought that was a little(lot) of posturing by the NFL. It was also Gregg Williams, but that was pretty common place in the NFL. You've heard LT say he wasn't just coming to hit you, "He was coming to hurt you." And again, I don't know that Payton was more involved than he was the HC and his DC did something stupid. It feels a lot worse now because...well, Will Smith made a movie among other things, but at the time, I don't think the Saints were really that different from other defenses. They did beat the living hell out of Favre though. Probably why instead of tucking it and trying to run to gain 5 more yards he threw the ball back over the middle of the field late(just as you're always taught as a QB)! I'm definitely not shedding any tears for Sean Payton though.

Favre just came out ripping 90MPH fastballs like 20 yards over the heads of his WRers. Full crow-hop and just...lacing them. Every announcer pointed that out and they weren't exaggerating. But I think you might be right. Rather than coming out and getting the running game going, come out in pace and run the first series like a 4 minute offense. I get what you're saying about him not giving the receivers a chance, but on at least a few of those, I don't think it was his fault. Time was running out and NO was in really good coverage. They kept highlighting that Taylor, but Lattimore was an AP CB and Mathieu is very good in coverage. He clearly just missed some and the margin of error being what it is, 2 feet inside vs 2 feet outside is a massive difference and he has to be more consistent than that. The throw to Musgrave, I disagree a bit on that one. He was really open there. They've missed multiple times. But again, did Musgrave slow down thinking he was going to sit down between the safeties or did Love just completely miss it? What we totally agree on is that I don't care if they're 7-10 or 10-7, that's far less important to me than how they get to those. You could look at it that Musgrave is so open so often, that's telling in and of itself. He's a huge weapon. Love makes me a little nervous throwing his guys into coverage also. IOL, we're just going to have to accept that without Jenkins, we're average at best inside. Probably a little better in pass pro, but not very good vs the run. And I'd abandon some of that zone blocking and just run some more power and ISO. Obviously not the outside zone, that's their bread and butter and Jones can run that fine, but they're just not good at beating their guys to the spot on the inside and it's easier for one player to blow up a run play. Should help Deguara as well. Dillon was blocking pretty effectively in the same situation last year...albeit in limited snaps. This game vs Detroit is going to be HUGE. The clear favorites IMO from the last game of last year, they're beat up. Hutchinson is going to be a problem if Tom or Bakh aren't playing. Another good showing from Love on TNF would be huge. I'd also really like to see more Heath. He was such an impressive hands catcher and in traffic. I think he's a good fit with Love. Doesn't have to become the #1. I'm just really excited about what this team could be. The 2022 draft is looking like a franchise altering draft and the '23 draft in a year may as well. Quay-Future All Pro? Wyatt-He's been shockingly solid vs the run given he's a little bit mis-matched in this system. Watson-Even if he doesn't develop into a complete WRer, he's a huge asset. Doubs-HR for a 4th Rd pick, and appears to be at worst a really good supplementary WRer. Tom-Just a HR for any Rd. I remember seeing him mocked to the Packers in so many places...even called the "typical Packers OL." By the way, in this draft, that's the kid from Duke, Barton. Walker-I feel a little like him like I did about Bakh after Bakh's rookie season. He's competent, but you can do better. I hope to be as wrong about him as I was about Bakh. Enagbare has been slightly disappointing to me, Toure has been reliable, Rhyan...a typical 3rd, but time to turn it around. But 6 starters already?

Sure, I wasn't trying to sound like a dick and re-reading it-it didn't sound like I wanted it to. This is also your own off-season kinda dream, not a prediction. I knew how unlikely trading Yelich would be.

You think trading Burnes right now you really won't get a return that much better than a shot at the ~40th pick? C'mon. Of course it will. Now...the answer to this question; I can't possibly answer this. Was it worth keeping Aaron Rodgers last year instead of getting 3 1st round picks, 3 2nd rd picks and saving a ton of cap space? Well obviously NOW I can say it wasn't, I know how it played out. If they won the SB, of course it would have been. I'll never root for them to trade their best players, I'm a fan, I always want to see them win, but there is a huge difference in what you can get for these guys in a trade vs in offering them the QO. I'm also conditioned to expect them to trade away these types of players. What the hell though, they want to keep it together and go all in for another year, I'll convince myself those comp picks are already better than Abel or Painter!

Ok...these three team trades and then getting Bobby Witt Jr and Sandy Alcantra, do you really think teams are going to trade away the most important players in their franchises like that? Cheap, young, Cy Young and MVP potential players? And the 3 team deals, they're exceptionally rare. The White Sox wanted 3 souls and a top 5 prospect for Cease. I doubt that's changed. If we're going to make all these massive moves, they're almost certainly going to be trading players in their last year for prospects in HiA or maybe AA. And I don't think we're going to add the type of payroll you're suggesting. I also know I kinda started the Yelich trade suggestion, but I think we're on the wrong coast. The Yankees have 600M invested i their OF and I feel like Yelich would hear Horace Greely's words..."go west young man." He's a West Coast kid. With him being a 10/5(AND a NTC) you're trying to navigate a trade in which both he and LeMahieu have to agree to make it work. And to agree, they usually want something out of it. I think it's really fundamentally simple. 1-You decide to run it back and go all in on the draft picks and keep trying to develop; 2-You trade the pitchers and maybe Adames and you're cutting payroll or at least not adding a bunch in Jiminez, or others, you'd be putting that back into your own young players in a re-tooling year. I don't think you'll sell Burnes and then add these expensive players and kinda go half way in on each.

I'm not-not on that bandwagon. I think you try and re-sign Woodruff, you guarantee him 100M+ but nothing near what Burnes will earn and if he bites...then keeping Burnes makes more sense. I'd also trade all 3, though Adames struggles have made that less appealing. I'd see what you could get for BOTH Woodruff and Burnes and if the answer is 2-3 top 50-60 pitching prospects and then 2-3 other nice, but younger prospects, I'd do that as I think it keeps our window open much longer. I also think our attention should start to shift to extending Chourio. You don't want to get a year or two into an Acuna like career where he realizes how stupid it is to sign away up to 4 FA years. But with the farm system doing as well as it is, I'm really find with whatever they do. You always want to see your team win. Most of us just wanted to see us get some pitching talent back for the best two RHPing prospects we've developed.