Pat Connaughton

The biggest exception they had at the moment starting is the $15 million one.

Only decision they had to make as far as options is opting in Pat Connaughton, which they did, but he remains non-guaranteed.

And then they pretty quickly came to agreement with a couple of two-ways.

So this is their current two-way situation.

If they don't make any trade, like maybe they try to do a two-for-one to help, if they're just going to straight-up cut anyone, have you thought about how that might go?

Yeah, Pat Connerton and Dorian Finney-Smith would be the obvious answers.

They love Pat Connaughton's leadership presence.

I mean, I even wonder if they cut him, would they want to add him as an assistant coach or something of that nature? They really value him, and it wouldn't surprise me if they did waive him, if they then brought him back later in the season, if a roster spot opened up or something.

No, no, no, no. [laughs]

If the Bucks do win it all, Pat Connaughton's numbers should be in the rafters.

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And so this is another one where he's gonna be at the end of his deal, and we might look at this as, oh, he signed another super team-friendly pact.

Uh, they picked up Pat Connaughton's, uh, $3.8 million team option.

They did acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from Houston for more seconds than I remember when the news came out, but three second-round picks essentially.

He does have three years and $40 million left on his deal, but the final two years are non-guaranteed.

That was part of a five-team deal.

They also received from the Cavs 4.4 million in cash, which comes pretty close to offsetting the difference between Tre Mann's salary and Dennis Schroder's.

Uh, did I for- I basically went through their whole transaction tree because everything, maybe, maybe I didn't have to say Pat Connaughton but, uh-

Well-

For a team with a lot of people to write them off as far as a rebuild go, that's generally not a bad selection of players to basically have in your starting five And then he goes for the bench.

He c- basically puts out the bench step of Dennis Schröder, Christian Anderson at the point guard, shooting guard Grayson Allen, Zion James, Pat Connaughton, small forward Royce O'Neale, Liam McNeilly, Tejon Salon, power forward Grant Williams, Dorian Finney-Smith, and center Ryan Kochburner and Hennes Stombach.

He said, "This is exactly what a 20-win ceiling idea falls apart for me." He said, "Bad NBA teams just does not have a loaded second unit with proven players." Schröder is obviously not the player that he was five years ago, but he could still run a bench unit, and he can still run a second unit.

He can push the pace and take some of the creation off of White as well.

Maybe there's two, but how do you see that shaking out for this team a- as they need to cut it down, when they eventually need to cut it down to 15?

Finney-Smith and Connaughton.

Like, and I think, and I think they really like Pat Connaughton.

I don't think, like, I don't think they wanna get rid of that contract.

They may find another way.

It wouldn't surprise me if he's that, but I think the answer, unfortunately, is Finney-Smith for right now.

I, again, I don't, I don't think I ever expected Finney-Smith to play or suit up for this team, and I think that was the expectation for a lot of folks.

And I don't expect Pat Connaughton to be here, but I do expect Pat Connaughton to be around the team in some sort of role at some point.

Uh, you know, I think Dorian Finney-Smith could get cut.

Um, Pat Connaughton, we think he's probably getting cut, as I mentioned at the top.

They still got two guys they gotta shed.

Um, and one last player I do wanna talk about is Dennis Schröder.