Category: Bucks

Podcast: Turmoil surrounding Ben Simmons, Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and NBA award predictions

The latest updates surrounding unhappy NBA players, Ben Simmons, Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley, and NBA season awards predictions.

On the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast, hosts Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan discuss the latest turmoil surrounding Ben Simmons, Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley. Plus, the duo reports on players who agreed to rookie-scale extensions, those who didn’t sign extensions and share their NBA awards predictions for this season.

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.

Bucks season preview: Is this team capable of repeating as champs?

The Milwaukee Bucks have Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. But they’re only going to go as far as Giannis Antetokounmpo can carry them.

The Milwaukee Bucks have Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. But they’re only going to go as far as Giannis Antetokounmpo can carry them.

Even though Antetokounmpo recently said that he is not the best player in the world – he still feels that title belongs to LeBron James – he already has an insanely impressive resumé at 26 with two MVPs, one Finals MVP and a Defensive Player of Year award.

Now that he has won the NBA title, his game is on another level of historical greatness. But the superstar could take that success to another stratosphere if he is able to lead Milwaukee to back-to-back titles with another win this year.

Below, check out our preview for the 2021-22 Bucks campaign.

NBA roster spot battles with Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan

Which NBA players will earn spots on the Blazers, Timberwolves, Nets, Raptors, Bucks, Hornets, Spurs, Grizzlies, Warriors, Thunder, Pelicans

On the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast, hosts Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan discussed which players could earn roster spots on the Blazers, Timberwolves, Nets, Raptors, Bucks, Hornets, Spurs, Grizzlies, Warriors, Thunder, Pelicans, and more.

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 offseason winners: Knicks, Lakers, Bulls, Heat, Wizards, more with Michael Scotto & Yossi Gozlan

Why the Knicks, Lakers, Bulls, Heat, Wizards, and others were winners of the 2021 NBA offseason and reporting on DeAndre Jordan trade talks.

On the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast, hosts Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan discussed which teams came out as winners this offseason, including the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, and more.

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.

Kyle Lowry rumors, Bucks offseason and Richaun Holmes’ free agency with Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan

A look at NBA free agency for Kyle Lowry and Richaun Holmes, plus an offseason preview for the Milwaukee Bucks on the HoopsHype podcast.

On the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast, host Michael Scotto is joined by HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan. The duo discussed the offseason for the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks, including the free agencies of Bobby Portis, PJ Tucker, and Bryn Forbes. The duo also discussed the rumors surrounding the New Orleans Pelicans having interest in free agent point guard Kyle Lowry and four teams expected to be in the mix for free-agent center Richaun Holmes.

This episode is brought to you by Sports Business Classroom. If you’re looking to jump-start your career in the business of basketball, you can sign up for classes from August 9-14th and learn from the experts on topics like the salary cap, scouting, analytics, media, and broadcasting.

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.

Bucks offseason preview: Three challenges facing Milwaukee going forward

Milwaukee will face challenges improving this roster against age-related regression with little-to-no flexibility going forward.

The Milwaukee Bucks are NBA champions for the first time 50 years. This team will likely remain a contender going forward, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo locked in for five more seasons… but it will still be challenging getting back to the Finals assuming good health to the rest of the top of the Eastern Conference.

The botched Bogdan Bogdanovic sign-and-trade would’ve dwelled over the franchise had they not won. At the same time, maybe it was better things worked out this way because the hard cap issues wouldn’t have allowed them to sign Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis. They also wouldn’t have been able to use the mid-level exception, meaning they would’ve had difficulties matching salaries for PJ Tucker in a trade while remaining under the hard cap.

Head coach Mike Budenholzer made an impressive 180 going from potentially not being with the team anymore to likely locking himself in for the foreseeable future. Milwaukee will still be facing challenges improving this roster against age-related regression with little-to-no flexibility going forward.

NBA media poll: Nikola Jokic is the near-consensus MVP

HoopsHype conducted an anonymous poll of NBA MVP media voters for their current picks to win the award.

Nikola Jokic has taken a commanding lead in the MVP race, according to our HoopsHype media MVP poll for April.

As for the best of the rest, Stephen Curry has made the biggest jump while LeBron James has seen his MVP chances take the biggest hit compared to our March MVP media poll.

To determine the top contenders for the MVP award, HoopsHype anonymously polled 17 media members who voted on last year’s awards for their current top five MVP rankings.

As with the official vote, the top player received 10 points, the second received seven points, the third received five points, the fourth received three points, and the fifth player received one point for each ballot. Below are the results of the poll.

Joe Johnson eyes NBA comeback with Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks will bring in seven-time NBA All-Star Joe Johnson for a workout, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports.

Seven-time NBA All-Star Joe Johnson has an upcoming workout with the Milwaukee Bucks later this week, HoopsHype has learned.

Johnson, 39, has appeared in 120 career playoff games and could add a veteran presence to Milwaukee’s locker room who can stretch the floor and create in isolation situations if needed.

In February, Johnson was a headline member of the USA Basketball Men’s AmeriCup Qualifying Team. He averaged 11 points, nine rebounds and 6.5 assists in 26 minutes per game on 50 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from downtown in two games.

After playing well in the BIG3 during the summer of 2019, Johnson signed with the Detroit Pistons in September but was waived a month later.

He last appeared in the NBA with the Houston Rockets during the 2018 playoffs. Now, he’s hoping to make a comeback with the Bucks as they gear up for an arms race for the Eastern Conference title with the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.

The 17-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 16 points, four rebounds and four assists per game.

The Bucks currently have one open roster spot remaining as they brace for the playoffs.

You can follow Michael Scotto on Twitter: @MikeAScotto

NBA media poll: Joel Embiid is the current MVP favorite ahead of LeBron James

NBA media voters share their top five MVP rankings through the first two months of the season anonymously with HoopsHype.

Two months into the NBA season, we’ve seen a ton of parity throughout the league – not just in the standings but in the Most Valuable Player race as well.

In our January media MVP poll, Kevin Durant took the top spot. Now, he doesn’t rank in the Top 5 according to the same media members.

So who’s standing out through February? HoopsHype anonymously polled 15 media members who voted on last year’s awards to find out.

As with the official vote, the top player received 10 points, the second received seven points, the third received five points, the fourth received three points, and the fifth player received one point for each ballot.

These are the quality players who become extension-eligible this month

HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan explains which NBA players can sign an extension starting in February and the chances they do so.

The 2020 offseason saw 16 players getting extended. Most players on expiring contracts are already eligible to sign extensions before the first day of 2021 free agency. Several are set to have extension restrictions lifted throughout the season. The following players will have theirs lifted this month.