Bucks trade ideas that don’t involve Giannis: Accumulating more draft picks

Yesterday, I discussed ways the Bucks could upgrade the roster around Giannis while again dipping into their draft cupboard. For those of you who were against this, today is for you. We’re going to explore ways the Bucks can upgrade the roster, whether or not Giannis stays, without losing a pick in any future draft…. and maybe even gain picks. In this scenario, they can still acquire some really talented players, but without Giannis, they’re not big-time needle movers. None of them by themselves can make the team meaningfully contend.

Since the Bucks have ample room under the tax line and the first apron, they should be in the business of taking on bad contracts if it also nets them draft assets. You might remember that in order to sign Myles Turner last summer, Milwaukee had to create every bit of cap room they could. That meant trading Pat Connaughton’s $9.4m expiring salary to Charlotte, and giving them two future second-round picks for the trouble. Now they’re going to be in Charlotte’s place, taking on teams’ unwanted money.

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We begin in the Rocky Mountains, where you’ll find a squad with significant financial concerns this summer…

Christian Braun

The Nuggets need to cut a lot of payroll if they want to keep Peyton Watson in restricted free agency this summer. Braun’s five-year, $125m rookie-scale extension starts in July, but swapping him for Kyle Kuzma would only save them $1m in 2026–27, which is when they need the flexibility most, to say nothing of the future. Receiving Bobby Portis would instead save them $7m, and with five years remaining on that deal, Denver would have to give Milwaukee at least one of the firsts they control in 2026, 2031, or 2033. Their firsts from 2027–30 are encumbered by protections. Braun took a step back after his breakout third season, but he’s just 25 and is a nice player overall.

Johnson was widely discussed as a potential Buck last offseason and has a $23.1m expiring deal. Swapping the 30-year-old straight up for Portis is legal and would save Denver $8.6m. He shook off a slow start and actually set a career-high in three-point…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/bucks-trade-ideas-don-t-140000077.html

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Publish date : 2026-06-19 14:00:00

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