MAVS NEWS:

[DanSchwartzgan]

This. 

Kidd's name was leaked not only because of his relationship with Brunson, but also, and maybe even MORE SO because of his relationship with Giannis. The play is to get Giannis to want to play in NY, which would make crafting a deal to trade for him much more plausible. 

From Kidd's POV, I can also see how the possibility of coaching both Brunson and Giannis in NY might have some allure, so maybe he's not killing it for that same reason - waiting to see what Giannis thinks about it. 

I hadn't heard anyone connect those dots before your post, but it makes all the sense in the world. A team without a PG is not a contender, and there's just no way Jason Kidd doesn't know that.

I think Milwaukee is smart to let this thing get closer to the draft.  It might be quite the free-for-all the final day or two.  Meanwhile, teams are dropping (not so) subtle hints through the media that they are open for business.  BTW, I think it is wrong to say Milwaukee wants this guy or that guy or this many picks from NY (or anyone else).  There isn't anyone on NY or any pick from another team that fixes the Bucks.  

The better question is what does New Orleans (and to a lesser extent) Portland want.  They control Milwaukee's draft.  With Lillard out and GA gone, the Bucks need to tear it down.  The Pelicans also want to be bad next season.  Swap rights with Milwaukee is just more ping pong balls for them.  It isn't a second asset.  But, releasing those rights could create a second asset.

NY would do itself a favor by getting under the first apron first before it does anything.  I'll point out that Mitchell is from Louisiana and fits in a $13mm TPE they have.   I'm not saying Mitchell is worth releasing the swap rights at all.  I'm just saying Mitchell to NO might be part of a larger deal that also helps NY start the process as a non-apron team.  I could see this thing (whether NY, Atlanta, Toronto or whoever) being a massive massive deal as teams try to deal with apron-omics and satisfying the needs of multiple parties to get Milwaukee's swap rights back.