Category: Bucks

Where Lakers, Heat, Raptors and Mavericks stand with Giannis Antetokounmpo

How Bam Adebayo’s extension affects Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Heat, Lakers, Mavericks and Raptors could sign the Greak Freak in 2021.

With training camp approaching, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo still has not decided on his supermax extension offer. As of now, that contract is worth a projected $228.2 million, at a minimum, over five years. The deal would keep Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee through 2026.

“That’s a lot of money to leave on the table!” one general manager told HoopsHype.

The one bright spot in the Bucks’ offseason is acquiring one-time All-Star Jrue Holiday from the Pelicans. While the Bucks will likely continue to dominate the regular season, Holiday gives them an edge that could help them get over the hump in the playoffs.

Aside from the Holiday acquisition, the Bucks’ offseason took an unexpected turn for the worse. Three days ahead of free agency, a botched sign-and-trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic was leaked. Whether there was a deal agreed upon or not, the Bucks did not end up getting Bogdanovic, and they had to change their plans dramatically. They filled out their roster instead by adding DJ Augustin, Bobby Portis, Torrey Craig, and Bryn Forbes.

Will the addition of Holiday be enough to offset the botched Bogdanovic acquisition that happened to the Bucks this offseason for Antetokounmpo to extend? Bogdanovic is a good player, but his inclusion shouldn’t be a make-or-break factor in this decision. Still, the Bucks have filled out their roster up to the hard cap, and there’s not much else for Antetokounmpo to wait on. He needs to decide soon whether he can trust Milwaukee’s front office and ownership group to keep the best team around him as possible over the next six years.

While we wait on his decision, let’s take a look at some of the teams that are looking to sign him next offseason. The current salary cap projection of $112,414,200 million for the 2021-22 season will be used in salary cap calculations. The maximum contract other teams can offer Antetokounmpo based on that projection is $145 million over four years, which has a starting salary of $33,724,200.

Latest NBA draft and free agency intel: Kelly Oubre, Danilo Gallinari, Gordon Hayward and more

With the draft upon us and free agency at the end of the week, here’s a look at the latest intel HoopsHype has gathered. * The Oklahoma City Thunder , who just acquired Kelly Oubre Jr. , is looking to flip him for a first-round pick, league sources …

With the draft upon us and free agency at the end of the week, here’s a look at the latest intel HoopsHype has gathered. 

* The Oklahoma City Thunder, who just acquired Kelly Oubre Jr., is looking to flip him for a first-round pick, league sources told HoopsHype. He’s entering the final year of his contract this season. As noted in our HoopsHype players most likely to be traded story, following the Chris Paul and Dennis Schroeder trades, executives believe the Thunder will continue to explore the trade market on their veterans, including Steven Adams. With Al Horford reportedly on his way to the Thunder, Adams could be on the move sooner than later.

* The Los Angeles Clippers, who currently own the 57th overall pick, are looking to buy a pick and move up in the draft, league sources told HoopsHype. 

* As noted a week ago on the HoopsHype podcast, the Boston Celtics are looking to upgrade in the frontcourt and are eyeing trading up in the draft to get Onyeka Okongwu or even James Wiseman, HoopsHype has learned the Celtics called as high as the Golden State Warriors at No. 2 overall to gauge trade interest. Marcus Smart was made available, but talks didn’t escalate. 

Once the dust settles from the draft, the focus will shift to free agency right around the corner, where there are several developments. 

* Gordon Hayward is the first major domino some free agents are waiting to fall. With the Atlanta Hawks trying to acquire Hayward, as Yahoo Sports reported, it could dilute the money available on the market even more. If Hayward ends up leaving Boston, it could open up the possibility for a sign-and-trade there for a free agent.

* Atlanta also has interest in Danilo Gallinari, one of HoopsHype’s top-ranked free agents this offseason, as the team looks to make a push for the playoffs next season, league sources told HoopsHype. 

* The Miami Heat previously showed interest in the Italian forward at the trade deadline. If Giannis Antetokounmpo signs an extension with Milwaukee, some around the league expect Miami to extend Bam Adebayo, try to bring back Goran Dragic, and upgrade at forward. That could open the door for Gallinari to land with Miami as a free agent on a multi-year deal. At the trade deadline, Miami didn’t want to tie up a ton of money for the next offseason to chase Antetokounmpo. However, Milwaukee’s pending acquisitions of Jrue Holiday and Bogdan Bogdanovic has many convinced that Antetokounmpo isn’t going anywhere. If the Bogdanovic sign-and-trade falls through, as The Athletic reported could happen, it’s unclear what it’ll mean for Antetokounmpo’s future.

* Another Miami note, Heat center Kelly Olynyk is exercising his player option, as expected, a league source told HoopsHype. 

* The Dallas Mavericks also had interest at the trade deadline in Gallinari and have been shopping their 18th overall pick. With Thunder GM Sam Presti collecting as many first-round picks as he can, the Mavericks can use their pick to facilitate a sign-and-trade.

As Gallinari noted during an appearance on the HoopsHype podcast, he and New York Knicks President Leon Rose remain close. If the Knicks can land a star point guard like Russell Westbrook on the trade market, it would increase the chances of New York going after Gallinari in free agency. Another relationship that’s worth noting is Detroit Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem previously represented Gallinari when he was an agent. Currently, Arn’s son, Michael Tellem of CAA Sports, represents Gallinari. However, both teams are headed for a rebuilding season, which would lessen their desire to make a run at Gallinari. 

* The Hawks also had plans to make a big run at Joe Harris in free agency, but rival executives expect him to remain with the Brooklyn Nets and land a three or four-year deal worth an average of $18 million annually. The Charlotte Hornets were another team who had Harris on their wish list, but the team is expected to pivot towards less expensive guards who can provide veteran leadership and shooting off the bench instead. 

* The Hawks have also been heavily linked to Rajon Rondo, who they view as a potential veteran mentor and backup to Trae Young. A multi-year deal could entice Rondo to join the rebuilding Hawks, HoopsHype has learned. 

* Another veteran who could be changing teams is Paul Millsap. The Ringer reported Millsap is an expected target of the Portland Trail Blazers. Some NBA talent evaluators believe Millsap could be worth Portland’s mid-level exception this offseason.  

* Finally, the Memphis Grizzlies will extend a qualifying offer to De’Anthony Melton. The 22-year-old guard becomes a restricted free agent this offseason. He’s a noteworthy player who could draw an offer sheet from another team this offseason. 

You can follow Michael Scotto on Twitter: @MikeAScotto

 

NBA execs on Jrue Holiday and Bogdan Bogdanovic: ‘Perfect reasoning for Giannis to want to re-sign’

The Milwaukee Bucks rocked the NBA world by agreeing on two separate deals to acquire Jrue Holiday and Bogdan Bogdanovic to improve their chances of competing in the East and re-signing Giannis Antetokounmpo to an extension. HoopsHype spoke with …

The Milwaukee Bucks rocked the NBA world by agreeing on two separate deals to acquire Jrue Holiday and Bogdan Bogdanovic to improve their chances of competing in the East and re-signing Giannis Antetokounmpo to an extension. 

HoopsHype spoke with several executives and an NBA scout to get their thoughts on what the moves mean for Milwaukee’s future. 

“I applaud them,” an NBA scout told HoopsHype. “Perfect reasoning for Giannis to want to re-sign. They had to, honestly. They’ve got to win now.”  

After taking a step back and losing in the Conference Semifinals and Antetokounmpo entering a contract season, Bucks general manager Jon Horst acted swiftly. 

“I think they must have had an indication that Giannis was staying since they gave up two unprotected firsts,” one Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. 

Milwaukee landed one of the most coveted guards on the trade market in Holiday for Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, a 2020 first-round pick (via Indiana), two unprotected first-rounders, and two pick swaps. Milwaukee will also land Bogdanovic via a sign-and-trade with Donte DiVincenzo, Ersan Ilyasova and DJ Wilson headed to Sacramento. For Sacramento, they may not be done making moves with Buddy Hield also a candidate to be traded. 

On paper, the Bucks gave up significant draft compensation for Holiday, but if landing him helps keep Antetokounmpo long-term, it’s invaluable to a franchise that’s not a traditional destination for free agents. 

“They overpaid for Holiday, but I think it was similar to the OKC deal with Paul George,” one former executive told HoopsHype. “If you’re David Griffin, you’re paying us for both players, Holiday and Giannis, because if you don’t do this deal, you may not keep Giannis.” 

Holiday is on the books for $26.13 million this season and has a $27.02 million player option for the 2021-22 season. The 30-year-old guard is eligible for a contract extension, which colleague Yossi Gozlan previously wrote about on HoopsHype. Given the massive trade to land Holiday, it’s expected Milwaukee will try to convince him to sign an extension at some point. 

“I thought they were solid moves but did give up a lot in the Holiday trade,” another Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “I hope they have a commitment from Giannis to stay long term. Not sure Giannis commits this offseason or if he waits to see how things play out. The deal will be available at the end of the season, so better to have the ability to apply pressure to the front office by not signing until later.” 

Bogdanovic is also reportedly a player Antetokounmpo is fond of. At 28, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard is in the prime of his career and will provide floor spacing for the Bucks. He’s shot 37.4 percent from beyond the arc for his career. The Serbian guard has started and come off the bench during his three seasons with the Kings. In Milwaukee, he’s expected to become a full-time starter. 

“He’s a well-rounded offensive player,” the scout said. “He can really shoot the ball and be a secondary ball-handler who can create for others. I really like his offensive versatility.” 

Heading into next season, the Bucks have made it clear they have championship expectations led by their back-to-back MVP. Horst will need to add several bench pieces for depth looking ahead, but he’s got an improved starting lineup and core now. 

You can follow Michael Scotto on Twitter: @MikeAScotto

Finding the right pick-and-roll partner for Giannis in the 2020 draft

Despite the success of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks once again did not look as good in the playoffs.

Despite the success of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks once again did not look as good in the playoffs.

When opponents have additional time and consecutive games to plan how to defend the reigning MVP, the eye-test suggests that the Milwaukee superstar suddenly looks far more human during the postseason. His numbers and statistical output still look fairly consistent when comparing the regular season to the playoffs. But there are still some glaring holes that the front office will need to adjust for the team to avoid similar issues next season.

For example, Kevin O’Connor recently lamented the lack of opportunities that the Bucks have given Antetokounmpo in the pick-and-roll (via The Ringer):

“The pick-and-roll has been a missing piece of Giannis’s game throughout his career. Giannis scored a dominant 1.4 points per roll to the rim over the past two seasons, per Synergy Sports, but he’s logged only 156 plays in those 135 games. By comparison, this season alone, Domantas Sabonis had 211, Rudy Gobert had 207, and Bam Adebayo had 161. All of those bigs have guards capable of creating efficient shots for them out of the ball screen. Giannis doesn’t.”

This is an incredibly fair observation considering that Antetokounmpo actually finished possessions as the ballhandler in the pick-and-roll (137) more often than he did when rolling to the basket (71) in 2018-19.

Even though Milwaukee’s superstar has above-average on-ball skills for his size, there is some questionable logic in the distribution of that output simply considering how much of a force he is to be reckoned with near the rim.

While they had the best record among all teams in the regular season, adding more advanced playmaking in the backcourt would assuredly help them last longer into the postseason moving forward. Expect this to be a major agenda for the organization this offseason.

O’Connor mentioned New Orleans’ Jrue Holiday and Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul as two potential trade targets for the Bucks. But both of those players come with heavy price tags that the organization likely does not have enough assets for in a trade.

But the front office does have the No. 24 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, a viable first-round selection secured from the Indiana Pacers during the 2019 offseason via the sign-and-trade for Malcolm Brogdon.

Then in his recent mock draft, Sam Vecenie echoed this sentiment (via The Athletic):

“I also think the point guard position makes a lot of sense to target. Milwaukee will know if this is the case again before the draft, but if Bledsoe struggles again in the playoffs, the team is going to have to try to find a different option in the backcourt. And even if he doesn’t, it would make some real sense to target a backup at the position anyway given George Hill’s age and the fact that Donte DiVincenzo profiles best off of the ball.”

If they chose to find a guard to complement Antetokounmpo, the best prospect would be an NBA-ready distributor in the pick-and-roll.

So for this exercise, we examined the most prolific passers pick-and-roll passers available in the upcoming draft. Our methodology was to sort derived offense of P&R ball handler passes to the roll man by scoring on these possessions in their most recent season.

We adjusted for the rapid pace of Milwaukee’s offense, which helped to neutralize the international players and the college players and also account for the faster speed of the NBA.

Here is how that would have looked for LaMelo Ball: The Illawarra Hawks (80.2) recorded a pace 1.32 times slower than the Bucks (105.5) did in 2019-20. Ball’s passes to the roll man accounted for 3.7 points per game, so when we multiply that by 1.32, we can say that his pace-adjusted scoring as a pick-and-roll passer was approximately 4.87 PPG.

Stats via Synergy Sports Tech, RealGM, KenPom.com and NBA.com

It is incredibly unlikely that Milwaukee trades up to select Ball in the 2020 NBA Draft. However, there are several other guards who could help make an impact on the pick-and-roll scoring for Antetokounmpo moving forward.

Other candidates that could be more realistic trade targets include Tyrese Haliburton and Killian Hayes. If either begins to slip, it would be wise for the Bucks to potentially to try to trade up to secure

But the player who makes the most sense in their draft range is San Diego State Aztecs guard Malachi Flynn, who led the nation in win shares (7.4) last season.

Vecenie has Flynn’s range “anywhere from No. 25 to 45” and Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman pegged him between 31 and 45. This is also aligned with where he ranked on our most recent aggregate mock draft, falling at No. 33. It also means he should be right in the range of when the Bucks are on the clock.

It would be unreasonable to expect that he is their immediate, plug-and-play option. But considering he is polished and already 22 years old, he is further along in his development process than many other potential first-rounders in this class.

Flynn, 22, won Mountain West Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and was a Consensus All-American. He also led his conference in assists, assists per game and assist percentage.

He was especially impressive when playing against top-100 competition as a junior for the Aztecs. His box plus-minus in those appearances ranked as the best in the NCAA.

When including passes, the guard averaged 1.16 points per possession as the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets. This ranked in the 96th percentile among all D-I college basketball players, per Synergy, and the best for high-volume players.

Zach Milner describes Flynn as “one of the best” pick and roll players in this class because he “can make a wide variety of passes (via The Stepien):

“One of the best PnR passers in this class and has very few flaws. Able to make a wide variety of passes and does a great job reading the floor. The passes that he is able to make include: pocket passes, crosscourt skip passes going right or left, perfectly timed passes over the top to the roll man, baseline passes with either his left or right hand, and sometimes dump-offs. He has even shown a few live dribble bounce passes with his left to the roller. He has a really nice touch on his passes when throwing it over the top to his roll man and puts it out of the defender’s reach.”

Not only was he efficient but he was also one of the most prolific creators among pick-and-roll distributors to the roll man as well. Below are his pick-and-roll possessions in 2019-20 to get a better sense to show how often he is able to run these plays.

(via basketball.instatscout.com)

Teammates scored 95 points when rolling to the basket after passes from Flynn. This led all draft-eligible prospects, trailing just a few seniors — all of whom (Jonah Radebaugh, Zavier Simpson, TJ Haws, Jermaine Marrow and Markell Johnson) have already signed professional contracts overseas.

While there are other seniors (e.g. Cassius Winston and Grant Riller) who fit a similar profile of willing pick-and-roll passers, the Bucks should have a lot of interest in Flynn even if it means selecting him early than expected.

He may not be the most conventional pick as he is an upperclassman from a mid-major program. But he would be the best overall player to help take them over the hump when it comes to recent playoff woes.

[lawrence-related id=1381900]

Chris Paul trade scenarios for the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 2021 free agency

https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/show/1ttIdLU9DIBJoarp5YXFQb On this episode of the HoopsHype podcast, Michael Scotto is joined by colleague Yossi Gozlan, our salary cap expert. Scotto and Gozlan discuss Chris Paul trade scenarios for the …

 

On this episode of the HoopsHype podcast, Michael Scotto is joined by colleague Yossi Gozlan, our salary cap expert. Scotto and Gozlan discuss Chris Paul trade scenarios for the Bucks and teams who could sign Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021. They also discuss whether it makes sense for the Bucks to trade Antetokounmpo if he declines a super-max extension.

0:55 – What went wrong for the Bucks against the Heat

3:17 – Giannis and the supermax extension scenarios

Gozlan: “From Giannis’ perspective, if he doesn’t take the supermax, two things: One, If he’s really interested in signing a supermax and wants the long-term security, wants the money, I think he would want it, but what could be holding him back could be what the salary cap is going to be. We still haven’t gotten any guidance from the NBA. The recent cap projection was $115 million. The following year was $125 million. Now, it could end up being the same salary cap figure for the next two years. If it were to be much lower and closer to what it is now, even less, then I would imagine Giannis would want to hold back on signing the supermax because that’s a lot less money to lock down versus what he was expected to get earlier. Under the $125 million salary cap, he was going to get around $250 million over five years. If it’s going to stick closer to the current $109 million salary cap or lower, he’s looking at closer to $210 or $220 million. That’s a big difference right there.”

6:31 – Should Milwaukee consider trading Antetokounmpo?

Scotto: “If I’m Milwaukee, purely from a basketball standpoint in trying to win a championship, whatever he says (about an extension), he’s not going anywhere in my opinion, because Milwaukee’s never been a traditional free agency destination. It’s a cold-weather city, and it’s not a location that’s really been desired by a bunch of free agents in the past. If you try to trade him, you’re not going to get equal value back for the reigning MVP in a trade. For me, it’s never going to get better for the Bucks. I think you’ve got to push all the chips into the center of the table and really go for it.”

7:35 – Is Chris Paul the missing piece for a Bucks title run?

10:33 – What a CP3 trade could look like

Gozlan: “Eric Bledsoe, Ersan Ilyasova – assuming you guarantee his $7 million salary for next season – and then you can do a variation of George Hill. I don’t think they want to trade George Hill. I think he was awesome for them, and they want to keep him. In that case, you can get away with Robin Lopez and DJ Wilson. After that, then you start talking about the incentives, maybe Donte DiVincenzo. On OKC’s side, they’d love to get a lot of picks and young players.”

Scotto: “At that point, if you’re OKC, you’re signaling you’re fully rebuilding, and you’re going to really start to gut that roster. If you get rid of Chris Paul, Steven Adams will probably be talked about in trades. Dennis Schroder as well. Danilo Gallinari (free agent) probably wouldn’t be brought back at that point, or you try a sign-and-trade to get him to a certain destination.”

16:00 – Evaluating Milwaukee’s current roster

20:00 – Where Milwaukee ranks in the East if the acquire Paul

23:11 – Are there other trade targets for the Bucks who could make sense?

27:10 – Which teams could make a run at Antetokounmpo in 2021 free agency?

31:40 – The Miami Heat’s chances of landing Giannis

Gozlan: “The interesting thing about how the Heat positioned themselves is that they’ll have a maximum contract slot for 2021, but they’ll also still be able to re-sign Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson, and Kendrick Nunn while still having Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro still on the roster. Robinson and Nunn have minimum free agent cap holds. They can just keep their Bird Rights, and it won’t cost them anything or take away their max cap space. Bam, who I think is an unbelievable talent and the modern center of what centers will be over the next decade, he deserves a max contract or close to it. Unfortunately, the Heat are not likely to give him the extension now just because then they would lose that cap flexibility to sign Giannis later in 2021. But with the way they positioned themselves, they can hold off on the extension, sign Giannis and then re-sign all those guys I was talking about, including Bam.”

34:28 – The Toronto Raptors’ chances of landing Giannis

Scotto: “They’re going to have an interesting decision with Fred VanVleet. I think Fred is a guy who can command a Malcolm Brogdon type of contract. A couple of general managers I’ve spoken with and executives around the league agree with that.”

37:48 – The Dallas Mavericks’ chances of landing Giannis

Gozlan: “They don’t need to do that much. Under that $125 million projection, they don’t have to do anything. If it’s closer to the $115 million, they’d be around $8 million short. They would just have to trade one guy like Delon Wright, Maxi Kleber, or Seth Curry.”

38:53 – The Golden State Warriors’ chances of landing Giannis

Gozlan: “They have one of the more difficult paths to getting Giannis because they’re not going to have cap space as long as they have Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. They’re not going to be able to sign him outright. Their easiest path to getting him would be a midseason trade or a trade during this offseason. What they’re probably hoping to do is trade Andrew Wiggins, whose salary alone will basically equal Giannis’ this year and package the No. 2 pick, the Wolves’ pick and maybe some more future picks. Maybe they throw in Eric Paschall? Throw in everything they’ve got now for Giannis.”

42:53 – The Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of landing Giannis

45:00 – Ranking the teams that can land Antetokounmpo in 2021

MORE: What’s next for Antetokounmpo, Mike Budenholzer and the Bucks? NBA GMs and executives weigh in

You can follow Scotto and Gozlan on Twitter by clicking their names.

What’s next for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mike Budenholzer and the Bucks? NBA GMs and executives weigh in

Will Giannis Antetokounmpo accept an extension offer? Can Mike Budenholzer get this team over the hump to win a championship next season?

With Miami up 99-92 over Milwaukee with 18.8 seconds left, television cameras showed an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo staring at the court blankly and Khris Middleton scratching his beard wondering what just happened?

A season that began with title expectations went up in flames thanks to the Heat.

Now, the Bucks face several questions heading into the offseason. Will Antetokounmpo accept an extension offer? What does Milwaukee do if he doesn’t sign an extension? Can Mike Budenholzer get this team over the hump to win the East and a championship next season? How can the roster be improved to topple Miami, Boston, Toronto, and other contenders in the East?

HoopsHype spoke with two general managers, two executives and one scout on the condition of anonymity to get their takes on the future of the Bucks and answer those questions.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

ANTETOKOUNMPO’S FUTURE

Antetokounmpo sounded like a man who is committed to remaining in Milwaukee for the foreseeable future based on his comments following the Game 5 loss.

“Hopefully, we can learn from this and get better as a team and come back,” Antetokounmpo said. “Hopefully, we can build a culture in Milwaukee, that for many years we can come out and compete every single year for a championship.”

Next season, Antetokounmpo is owed $27.5 million according to our Bucks salary page. Milwaukee can offer Antetokounmpo a five-year, $222 million super-max extension. Any other team is limited to only a four-year, $141 million offer when he enters unrestricted free agency in 2021.

While Antetokounmpo has always praised the organization, expressed trust in his teammates, and showed a visible presence in the community, there will be a defining moment when he’s offered the super-max extension soon.

If he signs the extension, the Bucks will breathe a sigh of relief and lock up the reigning MVP through the prime of his career, giving the organization more time to build a championship supporting cast around him.

If he doesn’t sign an extension, Milwaukee must decide if it’s willing to go all-in and sacrifice young players and draft picks to improve the supporting cast in the short term or trade him before potentially losing him for nothing.

“I’d want him to be honest,” an Eastern Conference general manager told HoopsHype when asked what he would do if Antetokounmpo didn’t sign an extension. “Are you not taking the extension because you don’t want to be here? Are you keeping your options open? I’d keep him because you have as good a chance to win next year as anyone. That’s why we all are in this thing. If things are not going your way by the trade deadline, then it’s a different story.”

Milwaukee has never been a traditional free agency destination, and the Bucks won’t get equal value back for the reigning MVP in a trade. To land a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber is rare, and having failed to win a title since 1971, many around the league believe the Bucks won’t move their Greek star.

Despite Milwaukee ending the regular season with the league’s best record and Antetokounmpo on his way to a consecutive MVP season, speculation regarding his 2021 free agency buzzed. It’s the league’s worst-kept secret that Miami hopes to make a run at Antetokounmpo if he becomes a free agent. Toronto has also been linked as a potential suitor for the 25-year-old forward.

As a result, one gambling website recently adjusted its odds on his next team.

“At least it’s not like Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard,” an Eastern Conference scout told HoopsHype. “I still don’t believe the Miami and Toronto rumors just yet.”

Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks

BUDENHOLZER’S FUTURE

Budenholzer became emotional as he reflected on Milwaukee’s short-lived time in the bubble, which included the team boycotting Game 5 against the Orlando Magic in the first round before eventually returning to play.

“I think what the team stands for, and I think the character and humanity to stand and be on the right side of history like we did led by George (Hill) and Sterling (Brown), was emotional,” Budenholzer said following the Game 5 loss. “It’s such a great group. I think winning’s important. We had high expectations starting the season, throughout the season, coming here. You always want to realize those expectations, but the relationships, the character of this group. I think it’d be great if we could have both, but I think if you’re going to choose one, I’d like to be with guys that are high character and stand for something.”

Budenholzer, a two-time Coach of the Year, owns a 116-39 regular-season record (.748 winning percentage) and now has a 15-10 (.600) overall playoff record with the Bucks.

Against Miami, Budenholzer was questioned for not playing Antetokounmpo and Middleton more minutes until the Bucks faced elimination. His rotation also relied on veterans Marvin Williams and Wes Matthews while he decreased the minutes of Donte DiVincenzo at the start of the series and benched Ersan Ilyasova and Robin Lopez for the entire series against Miami.

“I don’t understand all the Bud hate,” the Eastern Conference general manager told HoopsHype. “They were underachieving with Jason Kidd. Bud gets there, and then they become the NBA’s best team in the regular season. I get where people say he doesn’t adjust in the playoffs. They were up 2-0 on the champs last year before losing.”

Despite the criticism for Budenholzer after an underwhelming playoff performance for the Bucks in the bubble, other talent evaluators agree with the general manager above and support him returning next season.

“Milwaukee was the best team in the league before the lockdown,” an Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “I think what happens in the bubble is too out of the norm to make any decisions on yet.”

“It’s not his fault,” another Eastern Conference executive added. “He definitely doesn’t adjust, but what could he have done? Play Sterling Brown more? Matthews is, at best, a situational player.”

The biggest supporter Budenholzer has going for him is Antetokounmpo, who has always praised his head coach. In a league where star players dictate the fate of coaches more than ever, that should go a long way towards his return.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat

ROSTER CHANGES

Milwaukee’s core of Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Brook Lopez, Eric Bledsoe, Hill and DiVincenzo are all signed for next season.

“I think they’re good enough to win,” the Eastern Conference general manager told HoopsHype. “We definitely overreact to certain things. They’re a contending championship team. It’s like OKC back in the day. Play it out. If Giannis leaves, he leaves. His brother is on the team, for crying out loud.”

Defensively, the Bucks boast a trio that would suggest they’re good enough to win. Antetokounmpo was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team while Lopez and Bledsoe earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors. In doing so, the Bucks became the first team to have at least three players named to the NBA All-Defensive Team since the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012-13 (Tony Allen, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol).

Offensively, if the MVP can improve a glaring weakness in his game, multiple talent evaluators believe the Bucks will be able to get over the hump and reach the Finals.

“I think it’s hard to put too much stock in it because of the circumstances,” another Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “If it were my decision, I think you run it back next year with the same squad. I think over the summer, Giannis will learn to extend past the 3-point line consistently. Then, if things aren’t looking good at the deadline next year, you see what you can get for Middleton, Bledsoe, DiVincenzo. I think they should look at a guy like CJ McCollum. Miami is f—— good. People sleep on how good of a teammate Jimmy Butler is when he’s surrounded with guys that work hard.”

“Giannis needs to take a jump as a shooter,” the Eastern Conference scout told HoopsHype. “Some guys work hard, and it never pays off. They need that third guy. Who is that third guy? They need guys who are more multidimensional than shooters. Get tougher guys.”

Barring a trade, Bledsoe or Lopez will vie to be the team’s consistent third scoring option. There will also be some bench spots that need to be filled. Williams retired following Game 5, and Kyle Korver will consult with his family to determine if he’ll play again next season, according to The Undefeated. Ilyasova’s $7 million salary is non-guaranteed, Brown is eligible for a $2 million qualifying offer, and Robin Lopez and Matthews both have player options.

“Once you pay one or two guys significant money, it’s hard to build around them,” one Western Conference general manager told HoopsHype. “When you have a guy on a rookie scale deal, it’s much easier. The superstars are just paid an exorbitant amount of money.”

With the Bucks expected to be over the cap, Milwaukee will need to probe the market for cheaper veterans trying to chase a ring or take a flyer on a player who is looking to reinvigorate his value by proving himself on a short-term deal.

MORE: HoopsHype’s 2020 Free Agent Rankings

Behind the scenes of the Bucks’ boycott of Game 5 and NBA players meeting

In a year that will be written about in history textbooks for many generations to come, a new chapter will be dedicated to August 26th.

In a year that will be written about in history textbooks for many generations to come, a new chapter will be dedicated to August 26th.

A day that started with the Indiana Pacers firing coach Nate McMillan two weeks after signing an extension became a distant memory a few hours later when the Milwaukee Bucks decided to boycott Game 5 of their series against the Orlando Magic. The decision came days after Jacob Blake, 29, was shot by police in the team’s backyard, Kenosha, Wisconsin.

One Magic player told HoopsHype he learned of Milwaukee’s decision seven minutes before game time. That same player added he wasn’t sure if he’ll continue to play this season regardless of whether the league continues playing or not.

Bucks players and coaches warmed up thinking they were going to play Game 5 as scheduled before a last-minute decision was made to sit the game out. Bucks guard George Hill, who has been outspoken about racism, sparked a conversation pregame to boycott the contest, according to The Athletic. A few other Bucks players agreed with Hill and said they’d follow suit. For context, Sterling Brown also had cops kneel on his neck, stand on his ankle, and tased him in a parking lot, as he noted on The Players’ Tribune. There was a discussion amongst players for about 15 minutes or so. Once the decision was made by a few players, the rest of the team joined in solidarity. No player openly spoke against boycotting the game. To be clear, Hill and a few other Bucks players didn’t ask or force their teammates to join them. The final decision was due to the closeness of the team and a joint effort to make a difference.

Once the decision was made, the team spoke for hours trying to prepare themselves for what was going to come following their decision and how they could take action after creating this platform. The Bucks called Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, as ESPN reported. During the call, players advocated for changes they’d like to see and asked questions about what was feasible or not. The goal was to put pressure on political leaders for legislative changes.

The Bucks didn’t necessarily plan on starting a trend of other players wanting to boycott their games too. This was a decision made given the circumstances in Kenosha, Wisconsin, that has reverberated throughout the league.

Despite the NBA being in Florida, a hotbed for COVID-19, racism in the country could be what shuts down the league ultimately. With another meeting scheduled by the players at 11:00 in the morning on Thursday.

Later in the evening at 8:00, several of the league’s top NBPA player representatives, including Chris Paul and Andre Iguodala, spoke. Bucks forward Kyle Korver, Clippers players Patrick Beverley and Kawhi Leonard, and coaches Doc Rivers, Armond Hill, and John Lucas, Portland’s C.J. McCollum and many others spoke.

According to one source who was in the meeting, the major themes included voting, police brutality, and more direct action with owners. Another source said more open discussion got done once coaches left the players’ meeting. For reference, Rivers has spoken about players remaining in the bubble and using their platform to continue speaking on the issue of racism in the country.

“The play has been good, there have been no positive tests, and people have been watching,” one coach told HoopsHype when asked for his view on the current situation. “Let’s hope this brings change.”

However, not every player agrees with the assertions of those coaches.

There was a sense some players didn’t want to speak up around coaches, according to some in the meeting. Some players wanted to learn what the financial ramifications would be if the season was canceled. Players, including Boston’s Jaylen Brown, stressed the fight for justice is not over once the season concludes. Brown was also among the players who didn’t mind what the Bucks did. Other players would have preferred more transparency and a heads up for more of a united front. Looking ahead, players also emphasized figuring out a way to present that desired united front once they leave the bubble.

Despite strong feelings and tensions from players over racism in the country, one high-profile agent believes there is a path to finishing the season if a sticking point is resolved.

“Hopefully, there will be an appeasement if there is communication with the owners and the players to work together to get in front of politicians,” the agent told HoopsHype.

Another agent with multiple players remaining in the bubble who spoke to his players about the current situation over the past 12 hours said, “They seem like they want to continue playing.”

However, there are others on the opposite end of the spectrum of whether to continue playing in the bubble.

One agent with a popular player on a championship contender thinks it’s time for everyone to pack up and leave.

“They shouldn’t be playing,” the agent told HoopsHype. “The sad thing is a lot of the players will not unify because they can’t see the big picture.”

Another agent said his client, a younger player on a minimum salary, isn’t concerned about taking a financial hit.

“He would be all in,” the agent told HoopsHype. “He’s very supportive of the boycott. He’s very bright. He sees the bigger picture.”

One agent who represents numerous coaches and executives said his clients will support whatever decision is made by the players.

Ultimately, the ball is in the players’ court Thursday with the future of the playoffs at stake.

For the latest on the NBA players boycott, click here.