4 Very Early NBA Offseason Questions

Where does Milwaukee go from here?

The Milwaukee Bucks flamed out of the playoffs this year and it's pretty easy to see why. They're a one dimensional team who, though they have the MVP don't have much else. Teams learned last year that you've just got to take any steam that Giannis has away by basically making a wall and once you do that Giannis has to pass the ball, that's the last thing that the Bucks want to happen on offence. Khris Middleton is a good player and I'm sure he would blossom on another team, maybe the Spurs, but he doesn't fit with what Giannis needs, in my opinion. Giannis is not an elite shot creator and I'm not sure he ever will be. He didn't come into the NBA with offensive potential like Kevin Durant (I compare them because they were about the same size when they got drafted) and he hasn't developed into have a game similar to Durant in the last 7 years, and I don't think he should. Nothing about Giannis screams finesse (Look at his highlights), his game is dunks and swatting the ball which is great. The hypothesis from Milwaukee seems to be that they can run their offence through Giannis like he's Lebron when really he's a center. I know a lot of players don't like that designation, like Anthony Davis, but Giannis is absolutely a center, oh my god, it's insane how much of a center he is. Can he get better at creating his shot and playing at the perimeter? Sure. That shouldn't stop the Bucks from building a team around him like he's Shaq. I think there's a ceiling to his outside game but inside the paint he can get to any spot and finish almost anything. He needs an elite shot creator next to him and if he wants to stay in Milwaukee that means selling some of their talent at a high like Middleton, Bledsoe, or Lopez and probably a couple picks for a Bradley Beal or Devin Booker and have a third guy who can be a third guy on a championship team, like Kevin Love or Draymond Green.

There is also the option of Giannis just say he wants out to Milwaukee and him getting traded and if that happens I have no clue what they would even want. He's the reigning MVP and defensive player of the year, I'm not sure if there's a package big enough, Milwaukee would definitely be settling, unless they got a bigger deal than the Thunder or Pelicans did for Paul George or Anthony Davis.

It seems like Giannis currently wants to stick with the Bucks and at least see his contract with them through but he should be asking more from the front office this off season. I think they should look for a new coach and I'd be interested to see VanVleet with Giannis and Middleton. Then you can use Middleton as a mid season trade piece with some picks to get Beal of Booker if it's just not working for the Wizards or Suns.

Who is the biggest free agent this year?

I think free agency this year will have less big name movement that previous years for two reasons. First, there aren't a lot of big names. Two, I think some teams are going to be more careful spending money this year than previous years. I predict almost every player option is picked up.

Free agents

Anthony Davis (Player option, Not Leaving)

Brandon Ingram (Will Chase the Max)

DeMar DeRozan (Player option, stays with the Spurs, he's probably the perfect Spur)

De'Aron Fox (Club option excised, his real free agency will be 2022)

Andre Drummond (Player option picked up because it's probably his last max year)

Gordan Hayward (Player option, he's not getting paid the max anywhere else)

Danilo Gallinari (UFA, he could be a good third option but I don't think he should be a first or second option)

Mike Conley (Early termination option, I don't see him picking it up, he's not getting big money anywhere else)

Montrezl Harrel (UFA, Harrel could be a big addition to a team that just needs some energy and rebounding, I could see him going to the Rockets)

Evan Fournier (Player option, I think he stays) (Side note: I have no clue how to evaluate Orlando's talent, I have no idea how good Vucevic or Fournier are)

Fred VanVleet (UFA, a great guard who's pretty young (26) and likely looking for the max. I think Toronto will pay him)

Goran Dragic (UFA, he's good and fits well in Miami but he's getting up there in age (34))

Tim Hardaway Jr. (Player option, won't get $18 million from any other team)

Marcus Morris Sr. (UFA, would it really be an offseason if a Morris brother didn't change teams)

Hassan Whiteside (UFA, I don't know who wants a 31 year old center who chases blocks and is bad in the locker room, but he'll probably get a contract)

Serge Ibaka (UFA, he's had a resurgence but I wouldn't pay him anything over $10 if I was the Raptors, he's going to be 32 and is a bench player)

That's enough for now

What happens in Brooklyn?

I don't think it's controversial to say that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are two of the biggest, and depending on who you are most destructive, personalities in the NBA. I think they're two guys who care about personal relationships and trust more than they care about business relationships and that's when you get on their bad side. I don't think they turn on each other because they chose to be with each other. I do think it could flip onto the other players on the team and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a bit of a hostile take over by Durant and Irving on the Nets. They already got their coach, Steve Nash, and they have one of their guys, Deandre Jordan. I don't know who they'll want to stay on the team and get off of the team but the most interesting pieces Brooklyn has at their disposal are the guards not named Kyrie Irving. I'm typing Caris LaVert, Spence Dinwiddie, and Joe Harris. If the Nets really want to have a chance at winning a championship they're going to need a consistent third option. If we look at what I laid out for the Bucks a couple scrolls up, teams really two players that are elite scorer's and one that is a consistent option. They've got Durant and Kyrie, now they need a Draymond-like player.

How much do people talk about Zion losing weight?

Too much. He doesn't need 30 year old bloggers telling him he overweight.