2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Luka / Bronny
Smart / Kennard
Giannis / Jake
Lebron / Adou
Turner / Hayes

is a championship roster

 

No doubt

 

I don't think it is.
Turner is a good archetype but he is awful. He had a very bad season with Giannis. He has tools to be a good player but never translates in the court. Kind of like Rui or Ayton.
I hate Luka/Giannis pairing. Giannis still hasn't worked out with another ball handler. He was bad with Dame and good with Jrue. Luka is more Dame than Jrue.
That's an insane short roster (even if you fill up with ring chasers) when every year it has been proved that depth is key for success. Bronny and Thiero can't be the 9th/10th guy. Jake can't be the 7th/8th. Even worse when all but Turner of the starting 5 are injury-risk guys.
We also have only a good shooter in Kennard. All the rest are between bad and average. You need shooters around either Luka or Giannis, even more with both. You also don't have 2-way role players which we need a lot.

It basically addresses close to none of our needs while enhances even more those flaws

Then, we are screwed on the long term. Lose all our picks. Bron is a short rental. Giannis game won't age well. He's been injured the last years, Bucks haven't made the 2nd round in years too. I just don't buy it.
Finally no way AR is traded. It can only happen in a S&T (otherwise we can only trade him in Dec/Jan) and he has to accept going to Milwaukee, a bad city to live in and a franchise that starts a rebuild. He would only do it for the money and that's not him. Don't think you can have a 3-way trade with a S&T.

This summer will define our next 5-7 years. We either choose star hunting or depth. Last years have proven going for depth and defense bring success, so I really hope we follow that path.
We are in a GREAT position to bring 2 to 5 really good role players that fit the team and set us up to fight Shai and Wemby for the years to come

 

agree. we'd have to count on several recent strong trends (both in terms of individual players and team-building strategies) just abruptly reversing for this to work.

 

Meh..that's a rather pessimistic take IMO. Luka is on a whole different planet than Dame. Luka and Giannis would be best duo in the league for the next 4 season at least. Why do you need even more shooters around Luka and Giannis? Nobody can do anything with Luka or Giannis as it is. These guys don't need anyone to set them up, it's the exact opposite, they create the good looks for the role players. Stacking role players don't equate to Superstars, rotating 3 different guys onto Luka or Giannis, doesn't somehow make it an even matchup.
As far as Austin, he said he thought he was originally going to Milwaukee, so I doubt he'd turn down that kind of money.
Injuries are a part of the game..Austin and Rui are done for the playoffs right now, while Giannis is complaining about not playing. Young guys get hurt too, we don't know who will be hurt or now in years to come.

Luka's window is right now IMO..

 

Who had the opportunity to put together a Luka/Giannis combination?