RealGM Basketball Wiretap

24 September 2023

• RealGM Radio: East Over-Unders With Arturo Galletti (2023-24)

  Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Arturo Galletti (@AmericanNumbers) continue their annual tradition of breaking down the over/under lines for the Eastern Conference.

  They go through over/unders and other relevant odds for the Pistons (3:44), Hornets (12:01), Wizards (18:11), Magic (24:18), Pacers (28:25), Raptors (33:12), Bulls (37:45), Hawks (43:30), Nets (47:27), Heat (54:01), Cavaliers (58:47), Bucks (1:03:18), Knicks (1:11:21), 76ers (1:19:55) and Celtics (1:29:08).

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• Khris Middleton: Uncertainty Surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo Is 'Business As Usual'

  Khris Middleton said that Mike Budenholzer's firing caught him by surprise, though he admitted that a change needed to be made for the Milwaukee Bucks to reach another level.

  "I think you could always feel some change can happen when you lose in the first round when you're expected to contend for a championship... I think this time it just happened to be Bud, which kind of caught us by surprise a little bit. But I think we kind of knew something was going to happen," said Middleton in a wide-ranging interview with ESPN.

  The Bucks hired Adrian Griffin to replace Budenholzer.

  Middleton also addressed the uncertainty around Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, saying that the situation won't affect the team.

  Antetokounmpo revealed last month that he won't sign a contract extension with the Bucks until 2024.

  "I think it's kind of business as usual either way. It doesn't affect me personally. I don't think it affects us as a team. I think this is something he said almost every year he's come up in contract extension talks," said Middleton.

  Middleton added that he's been back in the gym after struggling with injury issues and is "getting myself back together into being back to my old, natural self."

• Mavs, Sixers, Bucks Have Registered Interest In Buddy Hield

  The Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks are among teams that have registered recent interest in Buddy Hield, according to Shams Charania.

  "The Lakers were long rumored for Buddy Hield. You look at teams like Dallas, Philly, Milwaukee. Those are the types of teams that could definitely use a shooter like Buddy Hield, and they've had a level of interest in him over the last several months," said Charania on The Rally.

  The Pacers started trade talks on Hield after the two sides failed to reach a contract extension.

  The Lakers and Pacers reportedly discussed a trade involving Hield last August.

• Teams Preparing For Possibility Of MVP Candidates Hitting Trade Market In Next 12 Months

  With Giannis Antetokounmpo openly questioning his future with the Milwaukee Bucks, teams have begun to plan for the possibility he becomes available via trade. The futures of Joel Embiid with the Philadelphia 76ers and Luka Doncic with the Dallas Mavericks have created a situation where multiple MVP candidates become available in a trade over the next year.

  This situation is one of the factors that has also diminished the trade market for Damian Lillard.

  "What the trade market, the NBA portal, is going to look like next summer," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "There could be some massive talents available for trades next season. Maybe at the trade deadline. Maybe next year. You have teams weighing the assets they might use to trade for Damian Lillard versus who could be available that 'we don't want to be out of the game for some players younger.' First-team All-NBA type of players who may be in that marketplace."

• RealGM Radio: Caitlin Cooper, Dan Feldman On The Central Division (Sep 2023)

  Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux), Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote (@C2_Cooper) and Dan Feldman of Dunc'd On Prime (@DanFeldmanNBA) break down the NBA's Central Division.

  They discuss how the Bucks, Bulls, Cavs, Pacers and Pistons fared in the off-season and predict the season to come, including projected finish, breakout players and rookies they are most excited to see.

  Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed.

• Bucks Sign-And-Waive Iverson Molinar

  The Milwaukee Bucks signed-and-waived Iverson Molinar, sources told Keith Smith of Spotrac.

  The Bucks will retain Molinar's G League rights.

  The Bucks also recently signed-and-waived Alex Antetokounmpo.

• Bucks Waive Alex Antetokounmpo, Retain G League Rights

  The Milwaukee Bucks signed and waived Alex Antetokounmpo.

  The Bucks will retain Antetokounmpo's G League rights, making him eligible for a $75,000 bonus should he spend at least 60 days with the Herd.

• Bucks Sign Alex Antetokounmpo

  The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Alex Antetokounmpo. The deal reunites the youngest Antetokounmpo brother with Giannis and Thanasis on the Bucks roster.

  The 6-foot-8 forward played for the Wisconsin Herd of the G League last season. Antetokounmpo averaged 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game.

  The youngest Antetokounmpo's deal is likely partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed. The plan is likely to have the 22-year-old return to the Herd for the 2023-24 season.

• Drew Timme, Bucks Agree To Deal

  The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Drew Timme. The deal is likely a partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed training camp contract.

  Timme was a four-year player at Gonzaga. As a senior, Timme averaged 21.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

  The 6-foot-10 forward/center played for the Bucks at 2023 Summer League. Timme played 37 minutes in four games for Milwaukee in Las Vegas.

• TyTy Washington Jr., Bucks Agree To Two-Way Deal

  The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to sign TyTy Washington Jr. to a Two-Way deal.

  Washington was the 29th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft and appeared in 31 games with the Houston Rockets as a rookie. Washington averaged 4.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 14.0 minutes.

  The Rockets traded Washington to create cap space and was waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder this month.