Lillard + sign Turner, can the Bucks retain Antetokounmpo with this wave of operations?

Who is the craziest team in the NBA offseason recently? Not the Rockets, not the Nuggets, but the Milwaukee Bucks!

On July 1, the Bucks suddenly announced the use of "extended clauses" to cut Lillard, paying his 113 million contract in five years, making room for Turner; then settled Turner for 107 million in four years, renewing Portis for 3 years, and leaving Gary Trent Jr. for 7.5 million in two years... This wave of operations was astonishing - the Bucks management engraved the four words "Keep Antetokounmpo" into DNA.

1. Lillard: A hero cuts off his arm and survives when he dies

Let me first talk about the most heartbreaking thing: Lillard.

Lillard tore his Achilles tendon last season and was basically reimbursed next season. He kept his 113 million contract. The Bucks could not sign Turner at all, and there was no hope of winning the championship. If Antetokounmpo sees that the team is not moving, he might apply for a deal directly - this is the Bucks' most panicky.

So they made up their minds and used the "extended clause" to lay off the people: Lillard's money will be paid as much as possible, but they will give it slowly for 5 years to make room to sign Turner. Where is Lillard? Although he was a little confused by being cut, more than 10 teams were snatching him, and he could still win the middle class or even the basic salary to compete for the championship team - for him, this wave is not a loss.

For the Bucks, this is "survival": if Lillard is not cut, there is no chance to compete for the championship, Antetokounmpo may leave; if Lillard is cut, it will make room to strengthen, even if there is little hope for the championship, it can at least give Antetokounmpo a signal that "the team is working hard."

2. Signing Turner: Antetokounmpo's most suitable "Dallow 2.0 "

The core of this operation is to sign Turner for 107 million in four years.

Turner averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2 blocks per game last season, and 2.2 three-pointers and 39.6% shots - this data is simply "the 2.0 version of Lopez". Daluo was awkward last season in the playoffs and was signed by the Clippers for 18 million in two years; Turner was younger, more flexible in defense switching, and more accurate in three-pointers, perfectly filling the Bucks' shortcomings in the inside. What does Antetokounmpo need? Can stand at the No. 5 position outside the three-point line! Space-type insiders like Daluo, Turner, and Porzingis can open up space for Antetokounmpo to break through. Turner's arrival made the Bucks' pick-and-roll tactics more flexible - Antetokounmpo rushed in, Turner ambushed outside the three-point line; Antetokounmpo passes the ball, Turner can shoot and pass, this is the correct way to open the "Antetokounmpo system".

3. Renewing role players: The cost-effectiveness is so good, all depends on "chicken soup"?

In addition to Turner, the Bucks' contract renewal operation is even more amazing - Portis has 44 million in three years (the average salary is less than 15 million), Gary Trent has 7.5 million in two years (the average salary is 3.75 million in two years), Kevin Porter has 11 million in two years (the average salary is 5.5 million).... The market price of these role players at least doubled, and they all stayed at the team at a low price.

Portis is 30 years old, can 4 and 5, and averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 three-pointers per game last season, and has an average salary of at least 20 million yuan in the free market - but he loves the Bucks, and fans call him his name more loud than Antetokounmpo, and restaurants give him free for life; Trent playoffs hit (37 points against the Pacers G3), averaged 11.1 points per game in the regular season, with a market price of 12 million+, and he signed a base salary; Kevin Porter Jr., after joining in the mid-term, averaged 10.3+3.7+3.4, 31.1% of three-pointers, with a market price of 10 million+, and the result was 5.5 million to stay in the team...

Some people say that the Bucks coaching team "drink soup" has the first ability in the league, and they coaxed the players to be willing to cut their salary. In any case, these contract renewals have made the Bucks lineup full-Portise play five small players at the top of the 5th position, and Trent and Kevin Porter Jr. make up for the backcourt, which is much better than last year.

4. The shortcomings are obvious: the backcourt is shabby + the front line is poor, and it is still one step away from winning the championship. However, the Bucks' problem is also obvious: the backcourt is too weak and the front line is poor.

The start and back court is Kevin Porter Jr. + Trent Jr. The organization is OK, but the defensive colander is colander; Trent's three-pointer is accurate but too nervous (the playoff G5 mistakes ruin the game). As the main backcourt of the championship team, this configuration is too shabby. The management also knows that he is chasing Brogden and CP3 (but he only wants to go to the West Coast), so he has to quickly add a stable point guard.

The forward line has a headache: Kuzma is the starting No. 3 position, and he averaged 5.8 points per game last season (G1 is 0), and was directly removed from the starting lineup by the old coach. Kuzma's problem is even bigger than Trent - he has no defense and no key ball ability, so the Bucks have to find a way to send him away and change to a forward line that can fight tough battles.

5. Prospects for championship: There are opportunities in the East, but it is difficult to surpass the Western powerhouses in the East. Now "there are no leaders": Tatum and Halliburton have injured their Achilles tendons, the Celtics and Pacers withdrew from the competition; the Cavaliers, Knicks, Magic, and Pistons have opportunities. The Bucks have the inside of Antetokounmpo + Turner + Portis, and the backcourt of Trent and Kevin Porter Jr., so it's okay to compete for the top four in the East District, and they can even make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

But in the entire league, the Bucks are still a little bit short. The Western Conference strong teams such as the Thunder, Nuggets, and Rockets have a more complete lineup and higher talent. Even if the Bucks break out of the Eastern Conference, they will most likely lose the championship in the Western Conference - unless Antetokounmpo is super gods or the character players explode collectively.

The Bucks' operation is "betting on the future with the present" - deducting Lillard, signing Turner, and renewing the role player, all for Antetokounmpo "Hope for the championship". They know that as long as Antetokounmpo feels that the team is working hard, there will be a chance to keep him; as long as Antetokounmpo stays in the team, the Bucks have a future.

But this is the problem: Lillard's contract is paid in five years, and the Bucks' salary will be accounted for more than 20 million in the next five years; the key players are lacking, and the positional combat ability is weak... These hidden dangers may make Antetokounmpo unable to survive these five years.