News - Milwaukee Bucks - EthanC21

As the trade blocks lifted, the floodgates opened across the NSL.

Here in Milwaukee, we had been active leading up to Week 9 and engaged in many talks with other GMs across the league. We found ourselves at a crossroads deciding whether to continue pushing for a championship this season or shift focus toward the future by acquiring key pieces for sustained success. After careful consideration, we landed on the latter, which meant saying goodbye to NSL Champion and fan favourite Paul George. PG13 had been having a stellar season alongside his running mate, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, making this a tough decision for the organisation and fans alike.

In exchange for sending out Paul George, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jaden Springer, and Johnny Juzang, we received Jabari Smith Jr., Marcus Smart, Kevin Huerter, Andrew Nembhard, and Kevon Looney. This deal brought us a mix of valuable rotation players and young talent with upside particularly in Jabari and Andrew. Additionally, it provided much-needed financial flexibility. Before the trade, we were facing a daunting offseason with nearly $175 million committed to just five players. Now, that same amount is spread across eight to nine players, giving us more breathing room to manoeuvre moving forward.

While some may view this move as a step back from immediate contention, we believe we are still firmly in the mix when fully healthy. The additions of Smart, Looney, and Huerter bolster our defense, rebounding, and shooting, while the depth we’ve acquired ensures we can compete on any given night. We’ve built a roster that can adapt to different matchups and withstand the rigors of a long season.

We are excited about what this group can accomplish, both this season and in the years to come. This may not be the final move, either who knows what could be waiting around the corner?

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Paul George for his commitment to excellence during his tenure in Milwaukee. 
PG13 forever a Milwaukee Bucks legend.