OBJECTIVES:
Stay under the first Tax Apron ($17.5 million) to achieve the $5 million Taxpayer MLE.
Resign Brook Lopez at all costs. You could say he hit his prime last season, insane for his age.
Get younger. This team cannot succeed in the future without creating a youth movement under Griffin and company.
TRADES: Jazz receive: Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton Bucks receive: Collin Sexton, 2026 FRP (or seconds)
Why This Trade Makes Sense: At this point, the Bucks have already been looking at moving on from Portis. Knowing that there isn't a smash-mouth deal to be made, the next best thing is to package him and Connaughton to cut $3 million in cap and acquire a 24 y/o guard with scoring upside in Collin Sexton. The Jazz are reportedly also taking calls on Sexton, and looking to move on from him soon. Although it would be difficult to part with Portis/Connaughton, the youth and cost-cutting move ($17.5/3) is ideal.
Hornets receive: Grayson Allen Bucks receive: Bryce McGowens, 2029
Why This Trade Makes Sense: With Sexton's acquisition, the Bucks no longer need Allen to start on their team, and his expiring contract would be perfect for a team with cap space this season. Allen, who you could even consider a veteran, would be a good fir in Charlotte, who would give back guard Bryce McGowens, a draftee that played behind Bouknight, Rozier and more guards last season. McGowens would be a great addition as a scorer/defender to the Bucks' bench, and save them about $6 million in the process.
SIGNINGS: Khris Middleton (3/$102 million) Brook Lopez (2/$42 million) Jae Crowder (2/$16.2 million) A.J. Green (Tendered QO) Thanasis Antetokounmpo (1/$2 million)
Frank Ntilikina (1/$4 million) Mason Plumlee (2/$8.8 million, using the $5 million MLE)
These signings would be essential to keeping our team together and leaving room open for minimum contracts in the future. This would leave our lineup WITHOUT MINIMUM CONTRACTS looking like:
PG: Jrue Holiday, Frank Ntilkina, Lindell Wiggington SG: Collin Sexton, Marjon Beauchamp, A.J. Green SF: Khris Middleton, Jae Crowder, Bryce McGowens PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr., Thanasis Antetokounmpo C: Brook Lopez, Mason Plumlee
This team is probably worse than what it was in 2023. But what it does do is set us up for the future, with 2024/25 having our core locked in. If we look this team from a developmental standpoint, this sets up Marjon and AJJ to get real minutes in the league as soon as possible. The acquisition of another four is still necessary before the season starts (Summer League Jabari?!?!?!?), but I like the state of this team going into next season.
I obviously tried to make this as realistic as possible, but some places are difficult to maneuver, and I'm not an NBA general manager, so some cap figures will be off by a bit. But what do you guys think? This is a unique strategy opposed to "running it back" and "blowing it up".