FanPost

DBB's mock draft, I GM'd the Bucks

Hello Brewhoopers!

Over in DetroitBadBoys, the piston's SB sector, we're currently doing a mock offseason this year, and was assigned to the Milwaukee Bucks. As a Pistons fan, I'm envious of some of your talent, but question many pieces on your roster when Greek Freak needs only the finest and youngest core to surround himself with. Thus, my goal as the new GM of Milwaukee Bucks was to get younger talent, clear up some cap space, and wheel & deal pieces in attempts to build a dynasty.

Keeping: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thon Maker, Jabari Parker. I have full belief that Jabari will make a solid recovery and bounce back to his former 20 ppg self. Giannis is a once in a lifetime talent, and I won't trade him for any player in the NBA. Period. Thon Maker has an elite size and flow to him that goes undetected and he will make a great right hand man to Greek Freak.

Leaving: Everything else possible. Middleton is a superb talent, but let's see what I can do to knock out some of the bad contracts on this team, get younger, and get some solid pieces that will make the Milwaukee Bucks an instant contender.

It

Milwaukee's first step to soaring

TRADE 1:

Milwaukee Bucks receive: Andrew Wiggins, Zach Lavine, Cole Aldrich, Nikola Pekovic

Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Kris Middleton, Matthew Dellavedova, Jon Henson, 2017 #17 pick, Malcolm Brogdon

Ok, hear me out before the pitchforks come out. Brogdon has great talent, Middleton's a great shooter. But Delly and Henson's contracts are holding back future additions and will be tough to move. I found Minnesota was interested heavily in Brogdon and Middleton, so I landed Wiggins, Lavine, and 2 contracts that aren't so great.... however, I should note that Pekovic's contract will clear 11+ million due to medical retirement, and helps us get under the cap for the future. Now, I've got the newest starting Shooting Guard in Zach LaVine, a solid 19 ppg shooter with highlight reel dunks for days. With Lavine making only $3,202,218.00 this year, it's definitely an upgrade financially.

TRADE 2:

Milwaukee Bucks receive: Kyle O’Quinn, 26th pick

New York Knicks receive: Nikola Pekovic, Gary Payton II, 48th, and ’19 First rounder (lottery protected)

Knicks were looking to shed salary, and I used the Pekovic contract earlier, as well as a few pieces to land a first for this year, as well as Kyle O'Quinn. In mock drafts, future first rounders have little value as it's relating to the future, but as I plan on bringing in talent now, future firsts are expendable. This trade led to....

TRADE 3:

Milwaukee Bucks receive: Eric Bledsoe, TJ Warren, Nik Stauskas, Devin Harris

Phoenix Suns receive: Andrew Wiggins, Mirza Teletovic, Kyle O'Quinn, Vaughn, 26

Ahhhh, most of the bad salary has been shed. Teletovic was near impossible to trade, but I found someone willing to toss in a few pieces in a mega deal to land the new point guard, in my opinion a definite upgrade over Delly. Eric Bledsoe is a solid 20ppg scorer and has never really had a chance to shine with a solid big man like Giannis (unless you include the aged Chandler).

TJ Warren I'm not sold on, and will use for trade bait, considering he's an expiring contract and I hope to not lose him for nothing. Nik Stauskas will be the new bench's SG and hopefully add fire to the bench. I chose Devin Harris as a crowd pleaser. Born in Milwaukee and went to Wisconsin for college basketball, I think the veteran Harris would enjoy coming home and playing some solid minutes off the bench.

At this point, Spencer Hawes has accepted his option, and in the mock offseason, Greg Monroe declined his option and I lost him to free agency. Knowing I needed assets and sat with 25 million UNDER the cap, Washington gave me a call.

TRADE 4:

Milwaukee Bucks receive: Marcin Gortat, 24, 52

Washington Wizards receive: TJ Warren

At this point, my need for a starting center was dire, and I wanted a short term contract which no free agent center wanted to listen to. Wizards tossed me Gortat and two draft picks for the expiring Warren.

THE ROSTER AS IT STANDS:

Giannis Antetokounmpo SF / SG $22,471,910.00
Eric Bledsoe PG $14,500,000.00
Zach LaVine SG / PG $3,202,218.00
Jabari Parker PF $6,782,392.00
Marcin Gortat C $12,782,609.00
Spencer Hawes PF / C CAP HOLD- accepted $6,021,175.00
Nik Stauskas SG $3,807,147.00
Thon Maker PF / C $2,684,160.00
Devin Harris PG $4,402,546.00
Cole Aldrich C $7,300,000.00
(Larry Sanders cap stretch)
<!--br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> $1,865,546.00
24 $1,105,800.00
52

$543,471.00

<!--br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> Cap Total $87,468,974.00

Cap Space $14,531,026.00

So, feel free to bash me or praise me. I'm considering drafting some very intriguing prospects tomorrow and still working trades left and right. With a starting lineup of Giannis / Jabari / Bledsoe / LaVine / Gortat, it's going to send waves into free agency and I hope to trade away a few more pieces to get even better and make Milwaukee the dynasty it deserves.

<!--br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->

&amp;lt;!--br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;!--br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;!--br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;!--br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--&amp;gt;

FanPosts are user-generated blogs-within-the-blog. We require that members abide by our <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/community-guidelines" target="new">community guidelines</a> and keep things respectable.