On an Instagram post with this report I see so many people creating mock trades with Middleton, Bobby, and/or Brook and debating about whether or not Middleton is better or Ingram is better (which personally I think Middleton) but regardless it doesn’t matter because this trade isn’t even possible.
Like I’ve explained in a previous post, due to CBA rules we can only trade 1 player out per trade and that one player has to be making equal to or less than the player(s) we receive. Ingram makes 36 mil in the 2025 season and other than Giannis and Dame we don’t have anyone making that much or more, Middleton only makes 31.6 mil and Brook only makes 23 mil so trading for Ingram is not even possible.
Everyone criticizing the bucks off season needs to learn this new CBA and second apron rules, please stop making mock trades that 1. Are not equally fair for the other team at all, and 2. Are NOT even POSSIBLE.
by bryxnvo
11 Comments
[Post that explains the 2nd apron](https://www.reddit.com/r/MkeBucks/s/MCEtDd1TQ9)
I stopped reading after Brandon Ingram to Milwaukee.
Bill Simmons can’t even figure out the team. Guy breathes basketball. No chance in hell Ingram can get here
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the “cannot aggregate contracts” penalty only applies if we would be over the 2nd apron after the trade. Meaning if the trade nets roughly -5 million for the bucks (i.e., Bobby + Khash for BI), it would be legal. I’m not saying that’s a good or bad trade, buy I think you’re wrong in saying it’s impossible.
Just wondering but hypothetically could we do a 3 or 4 team trade to make it work? Like Middleton and Brook go to different teams, and we get Ingram and another player from another team? I guess I’m just confused.
I’m shocked Bucks fans would even consider trading Khris for a guy like Ingram, who has some of the worst body language in the NBA and hasn’t done shit in his career…*especially* after what Khris did for us in the playoffs this year without Giannis & (most of) Dame.
Mark my words, NBA history will look back far more favorably on Khris “KHA$H MONEY” Middleton than it ever will on Ingram (if NBA history ever even looks at the latter much at all).
But to OP’s point, yeah we can do this shit either way.
ETA: immediate downvote says it all about some “fans” lmao
Super bad fit
It actually is possible just difficult. We aren’t actually hard-capped yet because we haven’t done any transactions that would trigger salary capping at either apron, which also doesn’t actually mean anything until the end of the league year. Aggregating salary in the trade (lopez+connaughton+portis for example) would trigger a hard cap at the second apron but as long as that and all of subsequent transactions leave us below the apron at the end of the league year it doesn’t matter. We would need to shed a meaningful amount of salary (~4m i think, including counting the minimum signings needed to fill open roster spots) in a trade but it definitely can be done, especially if a third team with less cap and apron limitations takes on some of that salary.
Unless we can get a good younger player I don’t see many options where we lose Khris and get better. We had a down year in many aspects. Khris showed us flashes in the playoffs and I feel like when we have everyone healthy and together for a while, he will really shine as our third scorer.
The next mock trade I have seen that is realistic and not foolish…will be the first
I like to tell myself that Horst has a plan; like there’s gotta be a reason they haven’t been very aggressive to sign the final spot. Maybe waiting to latch onto a 3 teamer later in the offseason to pick up a piece or dump PC to make room for a portion of the MLE wouldn’t be enough for a full MLE contract.
I fear this could all be false hope, but I won’t believe it until the offseason is completely over.