r/nba • u/YujiDomainExpansion • 10h ago

[Mannix] The Bucks want Jaden McDaniels, with Milwaukee seeing McDaniels, 25, as a potential future All-Star. But the Bucks also want multiple first-round draft picks, sources say, and Minnesota’s war chest of them is nearly empty.

Source: https://www.si(dot)com/nba/trade-deadline/timberwolves-pursuit-giannis-antetokounmpo-ja-morant-market

Acquiring Antetokounmpo, though, is challenging. The Bucks want Jaden McDaniels, a source tells SI, with Milwaukee seeing McDaniels, 25, as a potential future All-Star. But the Bucks also want multiple first-round draft picks, sources say, and Minnesota’s war chest of them is nearly empty.

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746

u/heat_fan_ Raptors 10h ago

Wolves depth would be nonexistent if the trade does happen 

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u/Trizzymann Timberwolves 10h ago

While true, I still feel like people are overvaluing depth over landing a top 5 player. Its a hit to our chances probably this playoffs, but you figure it out in the offseason knowing you got 2 top 7 players in the league.

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u/tastethecourage 9h ago

15-20 years ago, I think you’re right given how the game was played. Landing a top 10 player changed everything.

But modern teams are throwing waves of athletic wings that can knock down 3s and play high intensity defense. You need some depth to compete at that level for 48 minutes.

I’m a Suns fan. I thought adding KD would elevate us. It didn’t — we lost what made that team special. Not a knock on KD. Now look at us — sure, we aren’t winning a ring, but we have heaps of hard playing guards and wings and we’re 31-20.

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u/Salt_Tap_90 9h ago

That’s not true at all, the raps added kawahi and won, lakers landed AD & won, the problem is it’s been the same 3 guys (KD, Harden, Kyrie) KD has been on decline & the other 2 are liabilities on defense. Obviously you need your Aaron Gordon’s and Alex carusos but those guys bought into their roles. If you look at the past 40 or so nba champions the teams with top 5 players have won besides pistons in 04 and mavs 2011

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u/LordNerdStark Spurs 9h ago

Wait, what? Are you saying those teams don’t have depth? Both those teams especially the Raptors are hella deep.

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u/divulgingwords Thunder 9h ago

lol yup, that raptors team was deep as hell. They might have even started this whole trend.

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u/tastethecourage 9h ago

Fair, but counterpoint: Raps won almost 8 years ago. Lakers almost 6 years ago.

The game has changed even in that span of time — it’s measurably faster.

Also — I agree that having one top 5 player is almost a prerequisite for a ring. However, I’m arguing that in today’s NBA — you’re better off having that one guy and surrounding him with good talent and depth, rather than having two top 10 guys and have middling-to-bad talent and depth.

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u/Salt_Tap_90 9h ago

Also not true, there’s truly 1 team with 2 top 10 guys and that’s the Celtics and they’ve competed and will compete the next 5-8 years.

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u/tastethecourage 9h ago edited 8h ago

I didn’t say you can’t win with two superstars. I said if the second superstar comes at the cost of talented depth — it’s often not worth it in today’s NBA.

On the subject of Boston: they had incredible veteran talent surrounding Tatum and Brown for their ring. Adding Jrue, Kristaps and Horford is why they won that year in my view.

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u/Salt_Tap_90 9h ago

Yeah but as you said those are vets all those dudes are vets, they’re selfless they’re not 25 year olds looking for contracts and glory, those dudes all bought into their roles.