Yesterday, I discussed ways the Bucks could upgrade the roster around Giannis while again dipping into their draft cupboard. For those of you who were against this, today is for you. We’re going to explore ways the Bucks can upgrade the roster, whether or not Giannis stays, without losing a pick in any future draft…. and maybe even gain picks. In this scenario, they can still acquire some really talented players, but without Giannis, they’re not big-time needle movers. None of them by themselves
can make the team meaningfully contend.
Since the Bucks have ample room under the tax line and the first apron, they should be in the business of taking on bad contracts if it also nets them draft assets. You might remember that in order to sign Myles Turner last summer, Milwaukee had to create every bit of cap room they could. That meant trading Pat Connaughton’s $9.4m expiring salary to Charlotte, and giving them two future second-round picks for the trouble. Now they’re going to be in Charlotte’s place, taking on teams’ unwanted money.
We begin in the Rocky Mountains, where you’ll find a squad with significant financial concerns this summer…
Christian Braun
The Nuggets need to cut a lot of payroll if they want to keep Peyton Watson in restricted free agency this summer. Braun’s five-year, $125m rookie-scale extension starts in July, but swapping him for Kyle Kuzma would only save them $1m in 2026–27, which is when they need the flexibility most, to say nothing of the future. Receiving Bobby Portis would instead save them $7m, and with five years remaining on that deal, Denver would have to give Milwaukee at least one of the firsts they control in 2026, 2031, or 2033. Their firsts from 2027–30 are encumbered by protections. Braun took a step back after his breakout third season, but he’s just 25 and is a nice player overall.
Cam Johnson
Johnson was widely discussed as a potential Buck last offseason and has a $23.1m expiring deal. Swapping the 30-year-old straight up for Portis is legal and would save Denver $8.6m. He shook off a slow start and actually set a career-high in three-point percentage, though he dealt with injuries a fair bit too, missing 28 contests. Perhaps Milwaukee could squeeze a couple second-rounders out of Denver for helping them save. The Nuggets only have two available to trade: no. 49 this year and their 2033 pick. They also have their 2028 second, but it’s protected only for picks 31–33, so if they don’t have one of the league’s worst records, it goes to Washington.
Zeke Nnaji
The forward has two years left (the second a player option) on his rookie-scale extension signed back in 2023. He showed some promise as a 22-year-old back then, but probably not enough to justify the four years and $32m he received. Denver would certainly like this one back. Milwaukee can help them here too, in the event that any of Gary Trent Jr., Gary Harris, or Taurean Prince opt into the final year of their minimum contracts. Swapping one of them for Nnaji could save the Nuggets up to $11.1m over the next two seasons. That’s definitely worth multiple seconds.
These Denver moves would be smart regardless of whether Giannis leaves or stays, particularly if Milwaukee can get a future first for bailing them out. But now I want to talk about some truly distressed assets. Admittedly, you’d have to squint for these to make sense, but if the Bucks can get some picks out of them, it softens the blow.
Ja Morant
I don’t think Giannis plus Morant necessarily makes the Bucks a top-tier contender in the East, but despite the baggage, I could learn to live with it. There are obviously long-term maturity/off-court issues with him, plus significant injury problems in recent years. There was some belief that Morant and Taylor Jenkins didn’t get along well by the end, though I’ve also heard those reports may be overblown. It’s anyone’s guess how they’d gel with a new franchise.
With two years and $87.1m remaining on his contract, the 26-year-old will probably fetch a similar return as Trae Young this past deadline: salary matching without picks attached. Morant is owed $38.1m more than the value of Young’s 2026–27 player option, which he reportedly plans to decline. Memphis would save $48.4m between now and 2028 if they took back Kuzma and Portis in return.
If I’m Jon Horst, I’d insist on the Grizzlies including draft assets for that bailout. Memphis has 14 firsts and 9 seconds in their cabinet between now and 2033. From a business perspective, getting any additional value alongside Morant, without trading picks, is a sound move. On the court? Maybe not, but a 32-50 team doesn’t exactly have a leg to stand on when debating how good the fit would be.
Kyrie Irving
Another option in a similar vein is Irving, whom Jeremy discussed late last month. Again, there are baggage and health concerns: he’s coming off a torn ACL that has sidelined him since last March. He also just turned 34, a full year older than Lillard was in 2023. He’s guaranteed several million less than Morant, but unlike him, Irving can opt out of his $42.4m final-year salary next summer. The age and injury demerits make for a trickier case: Dallas would only save about $7.5m next season if they swapped him with Portis and Kuzma, so what’s in it for them? They’re not facing financial constraints. They might need a pick to be convinced, and I’d only do that if it’s heavily protected or a swap.
Like I said yesterday, the Bucks are going to do something. But whatever happens with Giannis, I would really like them to deal with Denver. Yes, I wish the Nuggets had more than some crappy seconds to offer for Nnaji, but one of their future firsts in any deal would be an absolute coup. Whatever calls are being made, it would be a missed opportunity to restock if trades like the above aren’t being discussed.
