July 6: The Hornets have officially acquired Connaughton and the Bucks’ 2031 and 2032 second-round picks in exchange for Micic, the team confirmed today in a press release.
July 1: The Bucks have agreed to trade veteran forward Pat Connaughton and two second-round picks to the Hornets for guard Vasilije Micic, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The second-rounders heading to Charlotte will be Milwaukee’s own in 2031 and 2032, Charania adds.
As Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron tweets, Micic ($8.1MM) only makes about $1.3MM less than Connaughton ($9.4MM) next season, but the Serbian has been repeatedly rumored to be seeking a return to Europe this summer, and could give up a significant portion of his salary in a buyout. Assuming that comes to fruition, it should give the Bucks enough cap room to sign Myles Turner after waiving and stretching Damian Lillard.
Connaughton, 32, was an important reserve for the Bucks when they won the title in 2021 and has been with the team for the past seven years. However, in part due to injuries, he hasn’t looked like the same player in recent years, having been out of Milwaukee’s rotation for much of 2024/25.
Connaughton averaged 5.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists on .469/.321/.774 shooting in 41 regular season games last season (14.7 minutes per contest). He only played 14 minutes over three appearances during the Bucks’ first-round playoff series vs. Indiana, which Milwaukee lost in five games.
Charlotte will acquire a couple of second-round picks for taking on Connaughton’s expiring contract. The Hornets just reacquired Micic yesterday when the Mark Williams trade with Phoenix became official.
Still doesn’t solve who plays pg for the Bucks… unless it’s going to be Giannis.
KPJ.
They also run the offense through Giannis (and previously Middleton), they don’t need a traditional PG (i.e. why Jrue was perfect).
I’m not mad at Charlotte bringing in another 3&D vet. But man idk about that Kon Knueppel pick. If Ace was willing to go to SLC, surely Hornets coulda talked him into NC. Plus I’m watching Nik Khamenia rn playing for Team USA & 1st thing comes to mind is that he looks like a taller/longer/better version of Kon. I like Kon as a prospect & see him being a productive efficient guy for a long time in the league. But it def seems like they could have used 1 of those bigs, specifically DQueen but Maluach too. I get pretty strong Naz Reid but bigger vibes from Queen & I get strong Matt Harpring/Harrison Barnes/Linas Kleiza vibes from Kon. Even disregarding the fact that they need a big more than they need a wing, I’d rather have Queen (or Ace or Fears)
“Hoping for a buyout” doesnt seem like good business. Why would Micic take a buyout when he knows they will cut him either way. That was the whole point when his salary became guaranteed. This dude didnt work in the NBA and will be cut anyways, so why not wait till they cut you and then sign for extra money in EU?
If they went ahead with this deal, it’s probably more than “hoping.”
One would assume. Seems like a bit of hopeium with Giannis though too. I wonder if they are just desperate and flailing about trying to keep Giannis. It doesnt even seem like this team will be as good as last years.
Oh also not sure if its just me but none of the clickable things on the site like comments on a post or buttons on a comment work when they are visible but at the bottom of the window. All your clickable features dont respond till they are 3-4 inches up from the bottom of the window. Im using Chrome.
With the trades the Bucks and the Nuggets have made it should open up other teams (like Miami) not waiting on Giannis and Jokic (next year wanting out) to start trading and getting in the mix.
Michael Jordan leaves and the Hornets become the whitest team in the league.
Eh he still owns like 30% or something after selling the majority
No Jordan is completely out
Jordan still owns a minority share above 15% and is alternate governor for the team. You cant be a Gov if your below a certain %.
Still think Dennis Smith Jr would be a good fit in Milwaukee
Can’t play with Giannis. If you thought Eric Bledsoe was a tough fit…
MIL already had Delon Wright last year and what that looked like when he forgot how to shoot.
Why the second rd picks. Hornets won’t even play this guy. Micic was playing well in Europe before he came over. Hasn’t really been given a chance in NBA. He is a vet. And Bucks need him badly. So this is chance to prove he deserves mins.