Milwaukee Bucks

Keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee is clearly the top priority for the Bucks, and Monday's reported move may help do just that.  

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Milwaukee acquired Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans for Bledsoe, George Hill and draft compensation. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski noted the Pelicans will receive three future first-round picks and multiple pick swaps in the deal.

Marc Stein of the New York Times suggested the trade mortgaging so many future assets implies the Bucks "must believe" Giannis will sign his five-year supermax offer prior to the Dec. 21 deadline.

"The last two weeks have been filled with chatter that" he plans to do so, per Stein.

"He has about a month to decide on his supermax," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said of Antetokounmpo on the Lowe Post podcast prior to the Holiday trade (h/t RealGM). "I think he's going to decide a lot sooner. And I think there's a lot of warmth in Milwaukee right now. I'll just leave it at that."

According to The Athletic's Sam Amick, the Bucks' confidence on Antetokounmpo signing an extension was "high" even before Monday night's reported deals.

Frankly, what Giannis decides will likely determine the course of the next decade or so for the Bucks.

On one hand, they will be title contenders for years to come if the two-time MVP decides to sign the supermax. His presence alone makes the Bucks one of the best teams in the league, and he is also someone who could attract free agents looking for an opportunity to play for a ring.

However, the future will look quite bleak if he leaves following the 2020-21 campaign.

Not only is Milwaukee not exactly seen as a destination for other superstars if he isn't there, but the draft capital the Bucks gave up to acquire Holiday would also put a dent in rebuilding efforts. Even Holiday has a player option for 2021-22 and could depart following the upcoming season, which would leave the team with even fewer difference-makers.

That is a stark difference between the two scenarios, which makes it all the more notable that Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported an executive from another team said of the Holiday trade, "Giannis had to approve it. That's all that matters."

If playing with Holiday makes Antetokounmpo more likely to sign the supermax, giving up so many future assets will absolutely be worth it.

The Milwaukee Bucks apparently aren't done upgrading their roster.

Milwaukee is acquiring Bogdan Bogdanovic and Justin James from the Sacramento Kings in a sign-and-trade, with Donte DiVincenzo, Ersan Ilyasova and D.J. Wilson heading west in the deal, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor first reported Milwaukee was pursuing Bogdanovic.

Earlier in the night, Wojnarowski reported that the Bucks are finalizing a deal to get Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans. Per Wojnarowski, the Pelicans are getting Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three first-round picks and multiple pick swaps.

Bogdanovic averaged 15.1 points while shooting 37.2 percent from three-point range. The 28-year-old would be a great fit in an offense that looks to spread the floor and open the paint for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

As ESPN's Tim Bontemps noted, Monday night's reported deals give Milwaukee a formidable lineup:

Whether going all-in to this extent works is largely predicated on Antetokounmpo's decision about his next contract. According to the New York Times' Marc Stein, some around the league believe the two-time MVP is prepared to sign a five-year supermax extension.

If that happens, giving up three first-round picks and two picks swaps for Holiday isn't a massive overpay since those picks would be toward the back half of the first round. Likewise, the costs of a sign-and-trade for Bogdanovic—in terms of trade capital and salary—are easier to absorb.

However, the situation would look pretty dire for the Bucks were Antetokounmpo to leave. They'd still have a roster led by Holiday, Bogdanovic and Khris Middleton, but that squad isn't contending for a championship. And it would be years before the front office could trigger a true rebuild because it wouldn't have control of its picks for a long time.

Perhaps this aggressive approach speaks to a level of confidence from general manager Jon Horst about where Antetokounmpo is leaning.

The Milwaukee Bucks are all-in.

On Monday, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the Bucks were trading Eric Bledsoe, George Hill and draft compensation to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Jrue Holiday.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski added more details, noting New Orleans will receive three future first-round picks and multiple pick swaps in the deal.

Just more than an hour later, Milwaukee was back at it. Wojnarowski reported the Bucks acquired Bogdan Bogdanovic and Justin James from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo, Ersan Ilyasova and D.J. Wilson.

That is a lot to give up for Holiday and Bogdanovic, but the Bucks have one of the best rosters in the Eastern Conference as a result. Here is what the updated depth chart and roster may look like after the blockbuster trades:

• PG: Jrue Holiday, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Frank Mason III
• SG: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Jrue Holiday, Kyle Korver, Sterling Brown, Khris Middleton
• SF: Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton, Sterling Brown, Kyle Korver, Justin James
• PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
• C: Brook Lopez
  

There is no doubt Holiday is a talented player who can provide veteran leadership on both sides of the floor for a championship contender.

The two-time All-Defensive selection averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range in 2019-20 and can generate looks for himself, hit from the outside when Antetokounmpo draws double-teams and defend the opponent's best perimeter playmaker.

Meanwhile, Bogdanovic is coming off a season in which he averaged 15.1 points while shooting 44.0 percent from the field, including 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. The 28-year-old is a career 37.4 percent three-point shooter. Like Holiday, Bogdanovic will help take some attention away from Antetokounmpo.

Still, these trades are about more than just acquiring Holiday and Bogdanovic.

Antetokounmpo is set to enter free agency following the 2020-21 campaign, and convincing him to stay is the biggest priority for the Bucks. Wojnarowski and Marc Stein of the New York Times suggested this trade was part of those efforts:

As for the actual lineup in 2020-21, there is plenty to like as it's currently constructed.

Giannis is arguably the top player in the league, and there is plenty of shooting around him for when opponents form a wall around the basket to cut off his penetration.

Bledsoe is also someone who has struggled in the postseason of late, so Holiday is likely a better option in what is shaping up to be a championship-or-bust campaign.

Still, the Bucks could use some depth in the backcourt behind Holiday and Bogdanovic, especially if they plan on going small at times with Antetokounmpo as the de facto big man. Fortunately for them, they still have plenty of time in the offseason to acquire just that.

As the Oklahoma City Thunder shopped Chris Paul, the Milwaukee Bucks "never engaged" on the 10-time All-Star, according to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix.

Paul is headed to the Phoenix Suns, a year after the Houston Rockets sent him to the Thunder in a trade for Russell Westbrook and draft picks. Last season, the 35-year-old was named an All-Star for the first time in four seasons, posting 17.6 points, 6.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.

A move for Paul could have helped the Bucks' chances at bringing back two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been noncommittal about his future with the team that drafted him 15th overall in 2013. Antetokounmpo told Swedish daily newspaper Aftonbladet that his future in Wisconsin "depends on what decisions they make" (h/t Alexander Nilsson).

"If they make the right decision, I'll be there for many years. If they do not, we'll see," he said. "The NBA is business and we take it day by day. Hopefully we can succeed together."

According to Ben Standig, Mike Vorkunov and others of The Athletic, one NBA agent was more explicit about what it would take for the Bucks to convince Antetokounmpo, who is entering the final year of his deal, to sign a five-year super-max contract this offseason.

"They're on the clock with Giannis. I think it would be they just have too much at stake. They have potential championships hanging in the balance if you lose this guy and I think he's going to want to see some kind of improvement from them. I think Chris Paul, financially they'd have to figure it out, but he's exactly what they need there."

Paul's decision to head to Phoenix and a reported lack of effort on behalf of the Bucks to pursue him could have major implications on the future of Antetokounmpo and the Bucks' success.

Milwaukee Bucks center Robin Lopez declined his $5 million contract option for the 2020-21 season on Monday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, making him a free agent.

Lopez, 32, was a solid backup to his brother Brook at center in Milwaukee after previous stints with the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls. He was a part of a Bucks bench rotation that also included Donte DiVincenzo, George Hill, Ersan Ilyasova, Pat Connaughton, Kyle Korver and Marvin Williams.

He averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game during the 2019-20 campaign.

Having two 7-footers is critical for a Milwaukee team that could tangle with talented centers like Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference playoffs. If Lopez doesn't return, Milwaukee will likely be in the market for another backup big man.

Having the Lopez brothers together in Milwaukee was nothing if not fun. Brook was happy with the signing of Robin last offseason.

"It's obviously great to have another player who really fits into the way the Bucks are mentally, how we approach the game," he told Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. "A tough player who is trying to play the right way. Defense first—we're based on our defense. And who's unselfish and wants what best for the team."

However, that pairing may be one-and-done.

Wesley Matthews' time with the Milwaukee Bucks appears to be over.

The Marquette product will decline to exercise his $2.7 million player option for the 2020-21 campaign to become a free agent, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Sunday.

This comes after Marc Stein of the New York Times reported the Los Angeles Lakers were interested in bringing Matthews aboard as a potential replacement for Danny Green.

Matthews has played for a number of teams during his career, which started in 2009-10 when he was a member of the Utah Jazz. He has since suited up for the Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and Bucks.

While Matthews was not as consistent of a scorer in 2019-20 as he was in his prime, he averaged double-figure scoring totals nine straight seasons following his rookie campaign. He scored as many as 16.4 points a night in 2013-14 when he was on the Trail Blazers and even posted 12.2 points per game in 2018-19 when he played for three teams.

It was with that resume as a backdrop that the Bucks signed him heading into a championship-or-bust 2019-20 season. The move made sense considering Matthews is someone who can take advantage of the spacing created by playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo with his outside shooting and relieve some of the defensive pressure on his teammates.

Matthews held opponents to 4.9 percent worse shooting than their normal averages last season, per NBA.com, which helped make up for his own drop in offensive production. He was still a solid outside shooter at 36.4 percent, but his scoring fell to 7.4 points per game behind 39.6 percent shooting from the field.

Matthews is past his prime at 34 years old, but he is still a capable rotational piece because of his solid defense and outside shooting. If he can maintain those skills while other players carry the offense, he can help the Lakers or whichever team he joins compete for a playoff spot in 2020-21.

As the Milwaukee Bucks explore options to upgrade their roster before the start of next season, the Houston Rockets have emerged as a potential trade partner. 

Per The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, the Bucks are "in pursuit" of Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker leading up to the 2020 NBA draft. 

The Bucks have been one of the most discussed teams in rumors and speculation because their clock with Giannis Antetokounmpo is rapidly ticking down. The reigning two-time NBA MVP can become a free agent next summer, though he is eligible to sign a supermax extension this offseason. 

After back-to-back disappointing playoff losses, the Bucks seem to be aware that something needs to change. ESPN's Zach Lowe reported last week they "love" Bogdan Bogdanovic and would like to find a way to make a sign-and-trade work with the Sacramento Kings for the restricted free agent. 

The Rockets might make an easier trade partner if they decide to start rebuilding. Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported on Wednesday that Russell Westbrook wants to be traded. Charania and Kelly Iko added that James Harden is "locked in" with Houston for next season. 

Covington and Tucker are both wing players, which seems to be an area that Milwaukee is focused on upgrading. Covington has two years and $25 million remaining on his current contract. Tucker is owed $7.97 million in 2020-21 before being eligible for free agency. 

Both players are excellent on the defensive end thanks to their wingspan and versatility. Covington is a more prolific scorer with a career average of 12.7 points per game and a 35.6 three-point percentage. Tucker doesn't shoot as much, but the 35-year-old averaged 6.9 points per game with a 35.8 three-point percentage last season.

Milwaukee has had the best record in the NBA during the regular season in each of the past two years, but it has yet to reach the NBA Finals. 

The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly been shopping guard Eric Bledsoe in trade talks ahead of next Wednesday's NBA draft. 

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported the Bucks have offered Bledsoe to "several" teams, but it's unclear what the level of interest is around the league.

Bledsoe is owed $35 million over the next two seasons and is guaranteed $3.9 million of a $19.4 million salary in 2022-23.

While his performance level has failed to live up to his contract, Bledsoe is still a solid rotation player who could help a playoff team. He finished the 2019-20 regular season with averages of 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 34.4 percent from three-point range. Bledsoe's actual defensive performance never quite lived up to his potential, but the Bucks were 3.5 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor.

Milwaukee's second playoff failure in as many years has highlighted the team's need to retool the roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo, particularly by adding a better lead ball handler. Chris Paul has often been mentioned as a potential target, and the Bucks could use Bledsoe as part of matching salary for the 10-time All-Star.

As a solo piece, Bledsoe probably won't garner much interest on the trade market—at least nothing that would improve the Bucks' chances of making a deep playoff run. 

Bucks guard Sterling Brown and the city of Milwaukee have reportedly agreed on a $750,000 settlement for the lawsuit he filed accusing police officers of using excessive force and carrying out a racially motivated unlawful arrest in January 2018.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the city will release a statement admitting to "a constitutional violation" and "commit to incorporate changes to the Milwaukee Police Department standard operating procedures."

"Because of the unpredictability of a trial, and the City's risk for exposure to compensatory and punitive damages, as well as additional attorney fees and costs, we recommend that this matter be settled for that amount," Milwaukee city attorney Tearman Spencer and assistant city attorney Robin Pederson wrote Wednesday to the Common Council seeking permission to authorize the settlement, according to Charania.

Officers arrested and tased Brown outside a Walgreens after finding his car double-parked across two accessible spaces in the early hours of Jan. 26, 2018. While Brown was awaiting a citation, several officers arrived on the scene, and the incident escalated when one officer ordered Brown to take his hands out of his sweatshirt. When Brown did not comply, officers took him to the ground and used a taser to subdue him.

While Brown was initially charged with resisting arrest, that was later dropped after the incident became public.

Brown told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated in July 2018:

"During the day I'm not going to park double handicap. I was literally in and out. But I parked in a double handicap. I should have been given a ticket, no doubt about it. That has [been] no justification to what escalated afterwards. So I did it, but what came after, you can't even compare it to what I should've gotten for what happened."

Brown said he feared for his life and his mindset was to stay as calm as possible so he could "get home." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called video of Brown's arrest "disheartening."

The video has been used as one of several examples of police brutality against Black people in recent times, even those in a position of privilege. In 2015, New York City police officers broke the leg of NBA player Thabo Sefolosha during an altercation. He later sued the city and won a $4 million settlement.

The NBA has made an increasingly concerted effort to highlight racial inequality, particularly during the resumption of the 2019-20 season in Orlando, Florida. When Bucks players helped lead a strike following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August, one of their stipulations to return to play was that the NBA agree to form a social justice coalition to advocate for police and criminal justice reform, among other things.

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly looking to the Sacramento Kings for potential upgrades on the wing as they attempt to retool their roster in pursuit of an NBA championship next season. 

Per ESPN's Zach Lowe, the Bucks are interested in Bogdan Bogdanovic in a potential sign-and-trade and "have kicked around scenarios in which they also absorb Harrison Barnes" if they could make a deal work. 

It hasn't been a secret that the Bucks are going to pursue Bogdanovic this offseason. 

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported last month that Milwaukee is expected to be a "strong suitor" for the 28-year-old. 

Bogdanovic is a restricted free agent, giving the Kings an opportunity to match any offer sheet he might receive. It's unclear if Sacramento's offseason approach is going to change with Joe Dumars taking over as chief strategy officer and Monte McNair entering his first season as general manager. 

The Kings' payroll is estimated to be $107.6 million next season, but that figure assumes a full 82-game schedule and Bogdanovic's $10.7 million qualifying offer. Barnes is owed $60.9 million over the next three seasons. 

Milwaukee figures to be active on the trade market in an attempt to add talent before the start of next season. The team has had the league's best record in each of the past two seasons but has been eliminated from the playoffs before reaching the NBA Finals.