A few weeks early. Always have to take reports like this with a grain of salt, but interesting if true.
https://twitter.com/brewcitypaul/sta...29773996191745
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A few weeks early. Always have to take reports like this with a grain of salt, but interesting if true.
https://twitter.com/brewcitypaul/sta...29773996191745
I just hope the Bucks don't overpay for Middleton. He should not get top level free agent max type money.
We want to keep our core, but if you are planning to give a guy a max deal, then try to get a max deal type player. I see Middleton in a next group of players after the top max free agent guys.
Problem is there are about 20 max slots available, and only about four free agents out there worth the max salary, and one of them just tore his Achilles. Someone is going to pay Middleton, and we would not be able to replace him it we lose him. Keep in mind even a guy like Jabari Parker got 20 million last year, albeit really only on a one year deal.
That is my concern, far more slots than players deserving of the money. I'm ok with giving Middleton money, but have to make sure it is reasonable so we can sign others too. I think a lot of teams will be giving out big money contracts this offseason, and two years from now will be tying to unload those players.
To me it is not a matter of how much he gets, it is more of an issue of how much luxury tax are the Bucks owners willing to swallow. The NBA salary cap is designed to let you keep your best players if they want to stay. Losing Khris does not create cap room to go out and get other free agents. The Bucks can go over the cap as much as they want to resign guys like Middleton and Brogdon. Bucks are most likely going to have to overpay to keep both because the market is very soft. If they time the contract signings in the right way they probably would also be able to sign Lopez. I'm not worried about two years from now, because if we are in a position to have to unload a max Khris contract, it probably also means we don't have Giannis, and a complete rebuild would most likely be necessary. I personally think Khris gets a bad rap, and he actually needs to be encouraged to shoot more, including some of the analytically bad two pointers that he is deadly at, that coach didn't want him taking.
Bucks have the unique ability, owning Middleton's Bird Rights, to exceed the cap to re-sign him. The CBA makes it easier to retain your own versus signing free agents who were with other teams. The Bucks could practically re-sign everyone, but then you are talking about how much luxury tax you are willing to spend. Quite honestly, despite a career year from Bledsoe, he would have been the guy I would not have worried about re-signing. Middleton, Brogdon and Lopez would have been the priorities. Bledsoe is good, a great defender, but deep in the playoffs, when it becomes more of a half-court game, Bledsoe's offense can struggle (saw that against Toronto).
I also believe DiVincenzo and Wilson can take the next steps and be part of the rotation in next season's playoffs.
I think Hill is the kind of guy that has made the big money (ending an $18 mil per year deal), and may stay for a more reasonable $10 mil type deal if he really did enjoy playing here. Hill has bounced around a bit the last few years being on 5 teams in 4 years.
Brogdan is restricted, but some team may make it difficult to keep him. I really like the Brogdan, Bledsoe, Hill trio and hope we can keep them all. I think Lopez is a key too.
As was stated earlier, a lot of this depends on what the Bucks owners are willing to spend.
Check out the tax penalties the Warriors will pay if they decide to offer KD an extension
Warriors With Durant
SEASON SALARY TAX TOTAL
2019-20 $176.2M $203.5M $379.7M
2020-21 $180.2M $169.8M $350.0M
2021-22 $196.2M $231.6M $427.8M
2022-23 $203.2M $229.0M $432.0M
Total $1.59B
And now you can see why owners may not want to go over the luxury cap. In three of the four years listed, the tax is greater than the actual salary paid.
Here is something from Hoops Hype on the tax.
https://hoopshype.com/2018/10/11/nba-luxury-tax/
I'd have to think Klay's injury (though terrible) is good news for Khris. If he wasn't before, he's damn near guaranteed to get maxed by somebody.
Between KD and Klay, there is going to be a lot of money spent on players that won't see much of the court next season.
If you are the Knicks do you offer both, have them sit out, and get another lottery pick next season and then shoot for the following year as the big year?
It will just be interesting to see what happens with both of those players.
More on Middleton. Says Bucks and Middleton expected to work towards a new deal. Hopefully not the max:
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1141361656703926277
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1141361811540852736
Lopez will be interesting... sounds like there are a few teams willing to go 4/50+ for him. I don't know if the Bucks need to do that.
If Memphis waives Korver, I'd absolutely let Niko walk and kick the tires there on a reasonable deal.
I remember reading/hearing the Bucks tried to trade for Korver during last season. Played for Budenholzer in Atlanta. Also interesting that Horford has opted out, rumors that he is done in Boston.
https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/sta...84699505512449
If Kawhi goes to the Clippers, then the Bucks owners should see $$$ in their eyes and a pretty good path to the NBA finals. Go over the luxury tax limit to keep the team in tact (and keep Giannis happy). Kawhi leaves Toronto for Clippers, Kyrie leaves Boston for the Nets, Horford moves on, Jimmy Butler goes elsewhere. If the Bucks bring their guys back, who is the main competition for the Eastern Conference Finals?
My guess is Lopez take a deal just under the 4 for 50 to stay in MKE. Middleton comes back for just under the max, Brogdan comes back, overpriced, but Bucks have to match. Hill takes the $1 buyout, and comes back for just under $10 mil. I'd also watch to see if Memphis waives Korver as you suggest, could be an interesting piece.
The Bucks are in a perfect spot in the East if the owners don't mind spending a few $$.
Bucks just dumped Snell and the 30th pick to Detroit for Leuer. Saves about 2.5 million on this years cap in salary difference, plus the cap hold of the draft pick. Got out from under Snell's second year of about 12 M. Bucks could theoretically waive Leuer and use stretch him over three years and create 6.5 million more in cap space, or even look to trade Leuer for something else.
Solid move. Bucks' focus is clearly Free Agency and retaining their own. Based on Jon Horst's press conference today, it sounds like the owners have no problem in paying top dollar to keep this team intact (and be one of the contenders).
No KD and no KT next season. What does Kawhi do? A great opportunity, especially if Giannis continues to diversify his game in the offseason. It will be interesting to watch this unfold.
Boston the front-runner for Kemba.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1144227344892272647
No idea what Boston is doing. You drop one ball dominant PG for an even more ball dominant PG. Kemba is worse in nearly every statistical category that matters, is older and isn't the type of PG that's going to help facilitate the development of Brown and Tatum. The last point should be the priority for them, IMO. Happy for the Bucks because this one makes me scratch my head.
Durant and Irving to the Nets
Lopez and Middleton 5-year, $178M deal re sign with the Bucks.
Terry Rozier has agreed to a 3-year, $58M deal with the Hornets
JJ Redick has agreed to a two-year, $26.5M deal to join the New Orleans Pelicans
Derrick Rose has agreed to a two-year, $15M deal to join the Detroit Pistons
Jonas Valanciunas has agreed to a three-year, $45M deal to return to the Memphis Grizzlies
Kemba Walker has agreed to sign a four-year, $141M maximum contract to join the Boston Celtics,
Khris Middleton back with the Bucks. 5 years/$178 million. Lopez expected to re-sign for 4 years/$52 million.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...ying-milwaukee
https://www.brewhoop.com/2019/6/30/2...r-52m-contract
Malcolm Brogdon has agreed to a four-year, $85M deal with Indiana.
Indiana is trading a first-round and two future second round picks to the Milwaukee for Malcolm Brogdon.
Brogdon is gone. A bit disappointed by that. Bucks might be worried about his recent injuries.Traded to Indiana for a 1st round pick and two 2nd round picks.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1...712884736?s=19
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1...391973889?s=19
Brogdon gone might allow George Hill to return now.
Indiana's Bojan Bogdanovic has agreed to a four-year, $73M deal with the Utah Jazz
Garrett Temple has agreed to a two-year, $10M deal with Brooklyn
Terrence Ross has agreed to a four-year, $54M deal to return to the Orlando Magic.
Free agent forward Tobias Harris has agreed to a five-year, $180M contract to return to the Philadelphia 76ers
Durant to Brooklyn and Brogdon to Indiana have been the biggest surprises so far. $21 million/year for Brogdon proved to be too steep a price for the Bucks.
Bring back George Hill and an opportunity for Donte DiVincenzo to take on a bigger role.
Julius Randle agreeing to a $63M deal with the New York Knicks.
George Hill has agreed to a 3-year, $29M deal to stay with Milwaukee