Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri May 29, 2026 8:16 am
AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:24 am
But.... It is an argument that has more and more convinced me that trading for Giannis, at the right price would be ideal. The right price means keeping Jaden, that's critical in my opinion. You also have to move Rudy and I don't know who is your 5 that can space the floor next to Giannis, but ultimately I think it's the right fit and the right opportunity.
We'll see what happens but I think I'm most in favor of this move more than any else, assuming you keep Jaden
I would be willing to bet my drawer-full of Midwest Volleyball tchotchkeys that Tim Connelly and his front office staff are working the phones hard to put together a deal that would be acceptable to Milwaukee while NOT including Jaden.
Rudy would fit really well on Charlotte, a team on the cusp of making the playoffs and a PG capable of delivering him the ball in places where he can catch it. They were #5 on offense and #12 on defense last season, but their Centers are kind of "meh" overall. I have to believe he would be an attractive piece for them.
Charlotte also happens to have quite a few 1st round draft picks this year and next and Rudy would likely be worth at least two, if not three, of those first rounders along with the matching salaries of existing role players on their roster. Those 1sts would be valuable currency in the pursuit of Giannis in addition to the two 1st the Wolves have of their own that can be traded (this year's and, gulp, 2033 I believe).
Now let's turn to Randle. Milwaukee was terrible when Giannis didn't play last season and the new anti-tanking rules provide a disincentive for teams to end up among the bottom 3. Their Center happens to be Myles Turner, one of the few stretch 5 starting Centers in the NBA. Randle would help replace some of Giannis's scoring while being a decent fit next to Myles. This may be enough to make Milwaukee solidly mediocre, which is the sweet spot that yields the most lottery balls.
You'd have to make all the other salary matching work and I'm positive we'd need a big assist from Giannis' camp as a preferred destination, but I do think a deal centered around Randle and the assets Rudy gets from a 3rd team could be a compelling package.
Or may be I'm just dreaming....
Q - I think your drawer will remain full with your Volleyball tchotchkeys.
No doubt in my mind you’re right about TC working the phones feverishly to pull off an Giannis deal. You’re also right that the Hornets have a bevy of attractive 1st round picks this year and next.
Where your analysis goes astray in my view is the assumption that the Wolves could get 2 or three of those Charlotte picks for Rudy Gobert. Sadly, I think you’re grossly overselling Rudy’s trade value. We can’t look at Rudy through the overpay lens of Tim Connelly and his overpay was back when Rudy was 30 years old, not 33 as he is now. And I don’t think the Bucks would view Randle as a significant value-add to their team as they enter full rebuild mode, although I get your point about not becoming too bad under the new lottery rules.
The Hornets have picks 14 and 18 this year. Next year they have their own 1st along with the Mavs’ pick (top 3 protected) and Miami’s pick (top 15 protected). So they’re likely to have at least two high to mid-first round picks next year and possibly as third mid to low first rounder. Yes, they’re loaded with four likely 1st round picks this year and next combined. The Bucks would likely insist on getting at least three of those picks, including this year’s #14, for Giannis. Maybe the Hornets would trade #14 for Rudy but I don’t see them giving up more. And I can’t see the Bucks seeing enough value in Randle to accept less than three of those four Charlotte picks - probably all four.
Honestly, if we can get two of those Charlotte picks (including their #14) for Rudy and our #28 (probably the best we could expect) I’d jump on that deal and use those picks to add young talent.
