The Bucks needs to be thought of a greater contender than you suppose

Completely satisfied Friday, of us! Welcome again to Layup Traces. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of me immediately. I hope you’ve had an awesome week and that your rhythm wasn’t utterly thrown off like mine was due to the Thursday vacation.

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Sufficient about that. Let’s speak in regards to the NBA for a second — particularly the Jap Convention.

Is it simply me or have we forgotten in regards to the Milwaukee Bucks?

The East’s panorama has drastically modified. The 76ers are signing Paul George, which considerably boosts their championship odds. The Knicks — who have been the convention’s second-best workforce in 2024 — simply traded for Mikal Bridges. Even the Orlando Magic simply made a transfer for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope that can actually damage the Nuggets.

Due to these strikes, we’re speaking about all these groups proper now. And we have been already speaking in regards to the Celtics as a result of they’re the champs. That’s what occurs while you win a championship. Of us suppose Boston is likely to be a dynasty in ready.

The speak has been about a type of 4 groups profitable the East for a lot of the summer season. However no person has something to say about Milwaukee lately.

I get it. The Bucks simply petered out final season. After making the transfer for Damian Lillard final season, the workforce fell flat and obtained eradicated by the Pacers within the first spherical final yr. That was after Milwaukee ousted Adrian Griffin for Doc Rivers who did a worse job working the workforce.

You’ll be able to blame the tip of the season on accidents. Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounpo have been absent on the finish of that sequence towards the Pacers. However the Bucks by no means actually felt like a championship risk this season at any level, it doesn’t matter what the explanation. Folks can’t appear to shake that.

However I believe they need to.

It’d be a mistake for everybody to neglect in regards to the Bucks right here. When wholesome, this Milwaukee workforce is definitely among the best within the NBA. It has among the best trios in basketball: Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and Khris Middleton.

That three-man unit was +17.5 final season in 758 minutes collectively. Clearly, it might be greatest in the event that they performed collectively extra. Well being will at all times be an enormous obstacle for this workforce, contemplating their core’s age. However nonetheless, that’s spectacular, particularly contemplating how tumultuous the season was.

Milwaukee is working that very same core again. Some might imagine the core is stale, however with a yr of expertise and a full coaching camp, the match collectively would possibly look a lot cleaner than most anticipate.

Does that imply this workforce will beat the Celtics subsequent yr? No. However I don’t suppose we should always speak about Milwaukee as if the workforce is lightyears behind Philadelphia and New York, both. The Bucks have their share of issues and people groups do, too.

Let’s be sure that we’re placing a little bit of respect on Milwaukee’s title by the point the season rolls round.

LeBron’s reign isn’t over but

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports activities

LeBron James might have simply signed a brand new take care of the Lakers, however of us shouldn’t anticipate this being his final one.

I wrote about how he has a few instruments at his disposal together with his new contract that make me suppose he’s obtained a deal or two left in him — partially as a result of I believe he’ll find yourself signing one other new one subsequent season.

Right here’s extra:

“Two key inclusions within the contract sign that he is likely to be taking part in extra: The included no-trade clause and the participant choice he’s getting in yr two.

The no-trade clause is self-explanatory. James received’t be leaving the Lakers until he needs to depart the Lakers. The workforce has to get his approval earlier than buying and selling him and, if he doesn’t need to go anyplace else, he received’t. They’re locked in for higher or worse.

What’s extra key right here, although, is James’s participant choice in yr two. It is a clear flex of energy for James. He principally signed a one-year take care of the Lakers right here, with the choice to come back again for a second yr subsequent season.”

For these of you who suppose Bron would possibly attempt to stick round to get Bryce James on the Lakers, too, that is the place all of it begins.

Shootaround

— DeMar DeRozan’s cameo within the “Not Like Us” video is known. Right here’s Mitch Northam with extra.

— I completely NEED this Kobe jacket Aaliyah Edwards wore. That is superior. Meg Corridor has extra.

— This pic of MJ on Tyler Reddick’s automobile is so superior. Right here’s Mitch once more with extra.

— Right here’s Bryan Kalbrosky with extra on how the Lakers are type of caught due to LeBron’s new deal.

That’s a wrap, of us! Thanks a lot for studying. We recognize you. Have a unbelievable weekend. Peace.

-Sykes ✌️