The Bucks and Lakers have taken at least one concrete step toward a possible deal.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the two teams have held exploratory conversations about a trade that would send Jericho Sims from Milwaukee to Los Angeles, with the Lakers attaching second-round draft capital to move Dalton Knecht’s contract. Fischer adds that Milwaukee would waive Knecht in that arrangement.
Even so, there’s real doubt that the deal gets done. Fischer reported hearing “some pessimism” about the trade actually coming together, and says the Lakers could simply waive Knecht if nothing materializes before Monday’s deadline to set the regular-season roster.
Milwaukee’s roster crunch doesn’t stop there. Fischer also says the Bucks have considered moving Caris LeVert and Kevin Porter Jr. as they sort through their options. One name they’d prefer to keep is Pete Nance, though there is concern another team could claim him if Milwaukee waives his non-guaranteed salary and tries to bring him back on a two-way deal.
Memphis is dealing with its own squeeze, and Fischer says Micah Peavy is a strong candidate to be waived. The Grizzlies are also exploring the trade market, with GG Jackson II and Walter Clayton Jr. coming up in discussions.
Memphis still needs to cut two players before opening night if it doesn’t make a move, and Fischer notes that while he didn’t identify any teams tied to Jackson or Clayton, the Warriors and Heat were both intrigued by Clayton before last year’s draft. Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal pushed back on one part of Fischer’s reporting, saying the Grizzlies are not talking about trading Jackson.
Charlotte has a similar decision to make with a veteran piece and a young lottery pick. Fischer says the Hornets want to keep Pat Connaughton, whose salary is non-guaranteed, but doing so may require them to trade or waive Tidjane Salaun, the No. 6 pick in the 2024 draft.
Fischer has heard several times that Salaun has improved this offseason, yet he has not stood out in the preseason and “realistically projects” as a possible rotation player. Charlotte once viewed him as having “star-level” upside.
Fischer also points to Liam McNeeley as another player who could be at risk if the Hornets decide to keep Connaughton, who is valued as a locker room leader.
Dallas is in a comparable spot with Dwight Powell. Fischer writes that the Mavericks are “known to be exploring pathways” to keep the veteran big man, whose partial guarantee rises from $1MM to $1.5MM if he makes the opening-night roster.
If the Mavericks keep Powell, that could mean moving on from a player such as second-year center Moussa Cisse. Fischer also says Sims and Cisse are both possible future targets for the Sixers, once Philadelphia starts looking for a backup center to replace Ariel Hukporti, who tore his Achilles during the preseason.
The Clippers already waived Cam Christie on Wednesday, but Fischer reports they’re interested in bringing him back on a two-way contract if the 21-year-old guard is willing.
In Other News...
Bucks Just Turned Their Home Opener Into A Milwaukee Sports Event
The Bucks are giving Milwaukee fans a rare doubleheader feel to start the season, moving their Oct. 23 home opener against the Bulls from 7 p.m. ET to 4 p.m. ET. The timing shift was made so the city could properly clear the runway for the Brewers, who are set to host Game 1 of the World Series that same night.
For a market that wears its teams proudly, it is the kind of scheduling concession that turns a routine opener into part of a bigger civic moment. The Bucks are clearly embracing the idea of sharing the spotlight, even if the arrangement leaves one of the nights biggest basketball questions hanging until the teams actually tip off. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Young Core Is Creating A New Question About Their Future
The Bucks young core is already drawing attention beyond Milwaukee, with the leagues annual General Manager survey singling out rookies Brayden Burries, Nate Ament and Kasparas Jakucionis as some of the biggest draft steals. Burries picked up the most votes for the biggest steal, while Ament and Jakucionis also landed on the list, a sign that around the NBA there is real curiosity about how this group might fit into the Bucks next phase.
What makes the recognition more interesting is the backdrop of a new coach in Taylor Jenkins, who now has a fresh set of options to mold as the franchise tries to balance immediate expectations with long-term development. For a team that has lived in the pressure of win-now basketball, the emergence of Burries, Ament and Jakucionis raises a different kind of question, one that could shape how Milwaukee looks not just this season but for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Roster Crunch Could Open A Bigger Role For Brayden Burries
The Bucks are staring at one of those late-summer roster squeezes that can shape a season before it even starts. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Milwaukee is trying to clear two standard contracts before opening night, and Kevin Porter Jr. has surfaced as a possible move that could help create the needed space while also bringing back draft compensation. Jericho Sims and Caris LeVert are also in the mix as the front office works through its options.
For the bench group, the ripple effect could be significant, especially for Brayden Burries. Any deal that opens a spot would make room for a deeper look at him in the second unit, giving Milwaukee another young piece to evaluate as it sorts out the back end of the roster. The Bucks still have decisions to make, but the path they choose could do more than just solve a numbers problem. [Read more 🡒]