Category: Bucks

Jrue Holiday traded to Boston: What’s next for the Celtics, Trail Blazers, 76ers

HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan previews what moves are next for the Celtics, Trail Blazers and 76ers following the Jrue Holiday trade to Boston.

Three months ago, Miami was coming off an NBA Finals run where they struggled to score against Denver. The Heat needed a scoring boost, and it felt like they would get exactly what they needed to push them over the top in the East when Damian Lillard requested a trade to them.

Fast forward, and not only is Miami stuck with the same roster, but the Blazers facilitated trades that would improve contending teams that Miami defeated in the playoffs. Following the blockbuster trade sending Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks for Jrue Holiday and draft picks, the Blazers have traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, and two first-round picks.

The Bucks were viewed as the title favorite upon acquiring Lillard, but oddsmakers now favor the Celtics after the acquisition of Holiday. They still have work to do toward fortifying the backend of the roster, while the Blazers still have more moves to make that would further increase their surplus of draft picks.

NBA Rumors: Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton, Jusuf Nurkic, more

Reporting on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future, the Bucks trading for Dame Lillard, where Jrue Holiday can go, Jerami Grant’s future, and more.

The Milwaukee Bucks pulled off a blockbuster trade acquiring seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team blockbuster trade highlighted by Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, an unprotected 2029 Bucks first-round pick, and multiple pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 going to Portland, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson also joined the Phoenix Suns.

Following the trade, HoopsHype spoke with league sources, NBA executives and scouts for the latest intel on what’s next to keep an eye on.

Damian Lillard traded to Milwaukee: What’s next?

How the Damian Lillard trade impacts the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future, where the Heat go from here, and more.

After nearly three months, the Damian Lillard trade request saga finally ended with Lillard joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team blockbuster trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns.

Now, it leaves many questions for the teams involved and several others in the league, as noted below.

Ranking: Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade destinations

Here is a ranking of teams mentioned on The Lowe Post based on their chances of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The pressure on the Milwaukee Bucks organization been cranked up considerably after an early playoff exit. They are now two years removed from winning a championship and have only won one playoff series since. As we explained when the Bucks nearly lost Brook Lopez in free agency, the Bucks’ window could be closing faster than we think. The top starters around Giannis Antetokounmpo are all in their early-to-mid 30s and the team is limited in assets to significantly improve the roster around him.

Antetokounmpo seems well aware of all these factors after making a series of comments this offseason regarding his future, starting with not planning on extending with the Bucks this offseason. He is extension-eligible from September 22 through the day before the start of the regular season, but can only add up to three years by extending now. Even if he plans on getting a new deal with Milwaukee, it makes more sense to do it next season when he can add up to four years.

Antetokounmpo further fueled speculation earlier this week on his future when he said that he would be open to better opportunities to win a championship outside of Milwaukee. Whether Antetokounmpo truly has a wandering eye or not, he is finally starting to apply pressure on the Bucks’ organization. His contract situation with only one year left before he can opt out and become a free agent in 2025 should give Milwaukee a strong sense of urgency.

Although the Bucks still have time to make things work, the rest of the league is keeping an eye on the situation. ESPN’s Zach Lowe recently discussed Antetokoumpo’s comments with Ramona Shelburne and believes the Bucks actually might trade Antetokounmpo instead of playing things out through his free agency. Lowe also added that interested teams are probably holding onto their assets in anticipation of a trade request.

They went on to list teams they could see eventually getting in the mix for Antetokounmpo in a trade. Below is a ranking of those teams based on how realistic their chances are of successfully acquiring him.

Bobby Portis: ‘I just come in every day and be Bobby Portis’

Milwaukee Bucks fan favorite Bobby Portis is only 28, but he will be the oldest player on Team USA at the 2023 World Cup. Dubbed ‘Crazy Eyes’, the stretch five took a break from shooting on the last day of training camp in Las Vegas to talk to …

Milwaukee Bucks fan favorite Bobby Portis is only 28, but he will be the oldest player on Team USA at the 2023 World Cup. Dubbed ‘Crazy Eyes’, the stretch five took a break from shooting on the last day of training camp in Las Vegas to talk to HoopsHype about his journey through his career, the opportunity to represent the USA, the upcoming season for the Bucks, and more.

NBA rumors: Jaylen Brown, Lauri Markkanen, Austin Reaves, Sixers, Rockets, Heat, Suns, Thunder, more

Reporting on Austin Reaves, Lauri Markkanen, Jaylen Brown, and updates on Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Thunder and Grizzlies from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan report on Austin Reaves, Lauri Markkanen, Jaylen Brown, and share updates on the Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Grizzlies, and more on the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

NBA Rumors: James Harden trade talks, Joel Embiid, PJ Tucker, Rudy Gay, Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, more

Reporting on James Harden trade talks and the potential affects for Joel Embiid and PJ Tucker, updates on the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, and Mavericks, plus free agency notes on Rudy Gay, Edmond Sumner, and more on HoopsHype.

With free agency relatively at a standstill, all eyes around the league have shifted predominantly to trade talks surrounding Damian Lillard, James Harden, and potentially Pascal Siakam.

Below is the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on the Harden trade talks and how they could affect Joel Embiid and PJ Tucker, free agency updates on Rudy Gay, Edmond Sumner, and Nerlens Noel, along with notes on the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, Mavericks, and more on HoopsHype.

NBA rumors: Damian Lillard, Tyler Herro, Pascal Siakam, Knicks, Suns, Pacers, Nets, Mavericks, Hornets

Reporting on trade talks surrounding Damian Lillard, Tyler Herro, Pascal Siakam, a three-team trade discussed by the Knicks, Suns, and Pacers, plus the latest free agency updates on the Nets, Mavericks, Hornets, and Summer League interviews from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Three questions predominantly arose when bumping into executives and agents during NBA Summer League on the concourse between the Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas: 

What’s the word on Damian Lillard?

Where’s Tyler Herro going to end up?

What are you hearing about Pascal Siakam?

Below is the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on trade talks surrounding Lillard, Herro, Siakam, a three-team trade discussed by the Knicks, Suns, and Pacers, plus the latest free agency updates on the Nets, Mavericks, Hornets, and Summer League interviews on HoopsHype. 

NBA Rumors: Paul George, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Mavs, Bucks, Celtics, more

Reporting on Knicks trade talks for Paul George involving RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley’s looming extension talks with New York, free agency updates for the Mavericks, Bucks, Suns, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Pelicans, Hornets, and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the end of the NBA’s moratorium and Vegas Summer League beginning, here’s a look at the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on Knicks trade talks for Paul George, Immanuel Quickley’s looming extension talks with New York, free agency updates for the Mavericks, Bucks, Suns, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Pelicans, Hornets, and much more.

Bucks (early) offseason review: Is this the beginning of the end for them?

The Bucks have Brook Lopez back for now, but they’re in a downward trend that puts the team’s future in question.

The Houston Rockets came into the offseason with plans to destabilize the Eastern Conference. After coming to terms on a three-year, $128.5 million agreement with Fred VanVleet, they were working hard to steal Brook Lopez from the Bucks. Ultimately, Lopez returned to Milwaukee for two years, $48 million, and according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Rockets had a similar contract offer.

Losing Lopez would have been a significant step back for the Bucks that they probably wouldn’t have been able to recover from this season. Although they’re fine for now, they are limited in ways to improve the roster this year. But for the first 24 hours of free agency, their mortality was on bright display as they absolutely could not afford to lose Lopez. This iteration of the Bucks could be closer to finished than we think, which could lead to questions surrounding the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo.