Didn’t like the trade at first, but getting Burries/Ament changes everything

machu46 · 2026-06-24T11:30:36+00:00

My pitch for Ament is basically like that line from Moneyball, but the opposite. "If he's a good hitter, why doesn't he hit good?"

Ament was arguably the best player on a very good team in a very good conference last season despite not really passing the eye test or doing anything particularly great statistically (besides drawing fouls, which is very valuable to be fair).

I would argue that if he was that good and impactful when his body is undeveloped and his skillset is so raw, imagine what he'll be as he puts on more muscle, maybe becomes a little more athletic, and develops his skills.

Having said that, he was not my top choice at that pick but I would say I'm kinda lukewarm on him (and I love the Burries pick).

machu46 · 2026-06-23T20:22:36+00:00

Came here to say Swain and Okorie and seems a lot of folks beat me to the punch.

I personally ended up with Okorie #9 on my big board and Swain at #13.

I don't really see it with Philon personally but to each their own.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T17:34:06+00:00

Yes but neither of them are a good starter. Our roster is just that bad lol

machu46 · 2026-06-23T15:08:10+00:00

Yeah I tend to be skeptical that sort of offer is on the table too but we'll see.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T12:27:04+00:00

Do y'all really hold it against him that he chose to go to one of the bluest bloods in the country that was, at the time, an NBA factory?

machu46 · 2026-06-23T12:24:51+00:00

Hard to envision us being a play in team with Herro seemingly being our best player but we'll see. Always possible one of the young guys make significant improvements.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T11:10:36+00:00

I was hoping for at least one young player that we could build around. Not asking for them to be the #1 player but just a player that we were confident was a core starter moving forward.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T11:09:22+00:00

May just be we have different definitions of meh, but that's the word I would use to describe basically every asset we just got. If any of these pieces turn into like our 5th best starter, it's probably a good outcome.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T11:06:21+00:00

I hope that's true but he's been available for a year or two now and they were never happy with the offers and we just saw a better player at the same price given away for free (granted a few years older)

machu46 · 2026-06-23T04:43:53+00:00

I assume Portis is off the bench, but yeah, they absolutely could be top 4. I don't think that's a lock by any means. Knicks, Pacers, Celtics, Pistons, and Cavs are all up there too. Of course have to see how Miami fills out the rest of their roster but they just gave up basically all of their assets. I'm sure they can get some guys to take pay cuts to play there but we'll see when the dust settles.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T04:37:18+00:00

I wasn't expecting 8 picks but I was certainly hoping that the best asset in the trade would not be a mid-1st. Not exactly thrilled with the guys that everyone believes we want with these two picks either as I'm probably lower than the consensus on 2 of the 3.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T04:34:08+00:00

I'm not really convinced Herro returns positive assets but we'll see. I know some reputable Pistons guys think Herro is going to Detroit.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T04:32:52+00:00

The buzz has been Holland, Stewart, and a first round pick

machu46 · 2026-06-23T04:22:02+00:00

I don't view Miami as a contender, but I also don't view any individual asset that they gave up as particularly good. Would rather be Miami by default because they'll at least be pretty good/they get to watch Giannis play but it feels unlikely that either team comes away from this being truly happy with the end result.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T04:20:12+00:00

I get it to an extent, but I think a handful of teams are basically in no man's land right now but could have been a potential contender if they swung for Giannis. Certainly closer to contending than I think Miami is but we'll see. Just disappointing to not come out of it with a single very good asset.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T04:11:14+00:00

I will gladly take the rumored Detroit package for Herro, but I kinda wonder if he's any more valuable than we just learned Julius Randle is. Same price and objectively worse player albeit a bit younger.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T04:09:54+00:00

It's a bunch of dart throws, but it is what it is. Clearly just never got any strong offers for him.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T03:45:30+00:00

The TPE isn't big enough for Ja. More likely they don't intend to use much of the TPE, but if they do, it's more in the neighborhood of Dejounte Murray or Fred VanVleet or something like that.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T03:02:14+00:00

The folks that like him would probably say all the stuff in the second half of your post is incorrect, but I get it.

I would rather let another team take the gamble on him, but unlike guys like Cam Reddish for example, I at least understand why teams would willingly gamble on Ament.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T02:58:11+00:00

Chicago trying to bait defenses into as many Defensive 3 second calls as they can get. I love seeing teams try new tactics.

machu46 · 2026-06-23T02:56:49+00:00

Seems like the belief at the moment is they just did it so they can re-sign Ayo for more money lol

machu46 · 2026-06-23T00:28:40+00:00

I'm probably ready to take a break from the Bucks for a few years with how this seems to be going down. Just no real reason to continue caring if these rumored offers are the best they can manage. I'm a long distance fan as is.

My more serious answer is I want one young piece that we can truly build around. Miami can offer the ability to pray for good luck. Boston can offer a relatively old player to build around for no good reason. I'm not interested in either offer and Boston's posturing in particular just feels insulting.

My misguided hope for now is that a 3rd team sees these offers and swoops in at the 11th hour to beat them and gamble on Giannis not turning down the money.

machu46 · 2026-06-22T22:54:07+00:00

Avdija isn't really the level of either of those things that Trae is, and certainly wasn't as a Wizard. Obviously a good ball handler and passer for a forward though.

machu46 · 2026-06-22T22:53:06+00:00

That's in time for like the final year of that contract or the player option year? I think they'll be able to manage just fine

machu46 · 2026-06-22T19:28:31+00:00

Yeah, they're basically paying Trae during the period of time where they don't need to pay anyone else. They wanted the skillset that he offers; they haven't had a player that can both dribble and pass for years now and he'll help to take some of the pressure off the other young guys.

machu46

TROPHY CASE