(Before you comment, check my explanation)
Unfortunately, Dame and Giannis didn't work together. So i've made a few trades to retool the Bucks. First i'll explain these trades and then i'll explain why they need this retool for the future.
Trade 1: Damian Lillard for Dejounte Murray and Kelly Olynyk a 2026 Indiana pick and both team swap their own picks back. After the injury it's very difficult to make a trade for Dame, but let's not pretend that he will be worthless. The Pelicans take a cheap risk with this trade. Yes, we don't know wat Dame will look like when he is back healthy. But they are pretty much trading Dame for Dejounte Murray (who is also injured at the start of the season) and a nothing special Indiana first round pick. A really cheap price for Dame! The Bucks do this trade because they get Dejounte Murray. His playing style fits so much better around Giannis, like it did with Jrue Holiday. Also Kelly Olynyk's expiring contract, what i'll explain to you after the trades. With swapping these picks, the Bucks basically have their 2026 and 2027 picks back, so they can afford to be bad this 'retool' year.
Trade 2: The Bucks give Bobby Portis and the 2026 Indiana Picks they got from the Pelicans trade to the GSW for Kuminga. Bobby Portis fit's perfect on the GSW and may be their missing piece. Bobby has championship experience and a playing style that Steve Kerr will like. Kuminga has a great potential, but his poor decision (Unexperienced) making right now hurts their current championship ambition and it's no secret that Golden State want's to trade him. The Bucks can give Kuminga the time and space to blossom into a great forward next to Giannis. Getting Kuminga (22 Years Old) will also help future of the Bucks, because they don't own a lot of picks.
Trade 3: The Bucks make this trade so they get rid of the last year of Kyle Kuzma's contract and more money to resign players this off season. The Bucks convince the Hornets by giving a slightly better player than Nurkic and a second round pick. The main reason the Hornets accept this is because they can use Kyle Kuzma's contract that next season for a big name trade. See Charlotte is not an attractive free agent destination, so they have to get big names through trades. For example after next season, the contracts of Kuzma, Miles Bridges and maybe Grant Williams (Who are then all on their last year of their deal) make over 60 Mil in contracts together! Now that + some picks can get you a big name.
The Bucks Resign these players:
Gary Trent Jr - 43.1 Mil/3 years: After a rough start Gary Trent Jr got better especially when it mattered the most, the playoffs. Good 3pt shooter, good defender back on a friendly deal for both.
Kevin Porter Jr - 34.2 Mil/3 Years: In the games that Dame was out, Porter Jr fulfilled that Point guard position perfectly. Which he is going to do again for the time Dejounte Murray will miss at the start of the season. Coming off the bench, this guy was great and brought the right energy.
Ryan Rollins - 13.8 Mil/3 Years: Despite battling the season through an injury, Ryan Rollins played very well with the time he had. I've mentioned the poor future off the Bucks, so resigning a 22 year old with potential, won't hurt.
The Bucks starting lineup after these moves:
-PG: Dejounte Murray, SG: Gary Trent Jr, SF: Kuminga, PF: Giannis, C: Kelly Olynyk.
The Bench Positions:
-PG's: Porter Jr and Rollins, SG's: Aj Green and Connaughton, SF's: Jackson Jr and Livingston, PF's Tyler Smith and 47th pick or free agent, C's: Nurkic and 47th pick or free agent.
Now let me explain why this retool must happen.
The Bucks won't win the championship with these moves and roster, but after that season is over, they have a lot of cap space and a lot of flexibility for the missing pieces. After this year, the contracts of Kelly Olynyk, Pat Connaughton and Nurkic will expire and Livingston's team option probably decline. Which means the Bucks free up 44,3 Million in Cap space! Don't forget the inflation of the currents contracts and probably a nice contract for Aj Green, so the Bucks have 30 Million at least to land free agents or potential trades. In this retool year, young players like: Tyler Smith, Jackson Jr, Kuminga and that 2nd round pick, get a lot of time and opportunity to develop. Especially giving Kuminga the room to develop. He can be the 2nd star next to Giannis like Middleton was. Tyler smith was actually good every game and ready with the little time he got. You could see the potential Tyler Smith has in the last game of the season against the Pistons. Giving him all the backup Power Forward minutes behind Giannis could maybe develop him into a bench piece like Bobby Portis was and maybe even a starter/star when Giannis is gone/retired. The roster overall develops and get's to play better with each other after the year. The Bucks even got their own pick back, which could be a nice pick, if they aren't that good. Dejounte Murray will fit so much better with Giannis and the way the Bucks and Doc Rivers want to play. They now have a younger, better defensively and energetic lineup with potential. Also a deeper roster with multiple year contracts starting and off the bench. The Bucks basically take this year a step back, so that they can move forward with a bright future around Giannis.
Let me know what you think about these moves! Do i need to involve more/less picks maybe? (Don't forget that these moves are not for them to be a contending team this year, but to set up a potential championship winning team in the future)