Milwaukee Bucks Thread 2008–2009 (part 2)

[yoshii8]

Roster is taking shape:

C - Bogut, Gadz, Elson

PF - Thomas, Mbah a Moute, Sharpe

SF - Alexander, Delfino, Mbah a Moute

SG - Redd, Meeks, Bell, Delfino

PG - Jennings, Sessions?, Ridnour, Ukic

I think that both Hakim Warrick and Ersan Ilyasova are going to play major roles. Also, I think either Mbah a Moute or Delfino will be the starting 3. I believe/hope Kurt Thomas will see more minutes at backup C than both Gadz and Elson.

[monkeyman343434]

I, by no means, think this team can compete for a title or anything, but they should be a lot more exciting to watch than in the past few years. I would be even more excited if they were able to bring Sessions back, even if it was under the 1 year $1 million Q.O. Although, if they don't, they should be pretty decent 2 deep at each position, other than at C. I could see it being something like:
C Bogut / Thomas
PF Warrick / Ilyaslova
SF Mbah a Moute / Delfino
SG Redd / Meeks
PG Ridnour / Jennings

I also agree it'd be amazing if they could somehow deal Ridnour and bring Sessions back to clear up some P.T. at PG

[Diskono]

So now Chubby's NY-based spokesperson Alan Hahn says the Knicks won't be making a multi-year offer to Sessions:

 

http://www.newsday.com/sp...ions-situation-1.1394580

 

which is what I've been saying for weeks.

 

Now, what to do about this PG logjam?

[Baldkin]

Ridnour has to go, right?

 

He's got by far the least potential out of any of our PG's and his salary is the most disproportionate....

[trwi7]

Now, what to do about this PG logjam?

Not just a PG logjam. It's a roster logjam. We're already at 16 players and if we keep Sessions it's 17 which would mean we would need to get rid of at least two players.

[nodakfan17]

I would hate to see the Bucks trade Luke Ridnour now, because his expiring contract will be more valuable before the trade deadline. There are plenty of "win now" teams in the NBA that will look to add depth this winter. Assuming he stays healthy and plays well (even if in a limited capacity), his stock will only rise, right?

[Diskono]

Maybe. The thing with trading the expiring is that we have to take back something in return. We can probably get a much better player back, but they will be under contract for a longer period. If we want to built through trades, that may be the way to go.

 

Regarding the roster, cutting Walter Sharpe (who is out for the season anyway) is the obvious first choice. I think we might buy out Elson too. He would mostly likely sign elsewhere, so that would save us a little bit of cash too. That's all assuming we don't make any more trades, which would almost have to be 2+ out/1 in at this point.

[nodakfan17]

I noticed on bucks.com that Ersan Illyasova is going to be wearing #8 this season. The last time he was with the Bucks, he wore #19. During his first season with the Bucks, he wore #23 (I think that he vacated it for Ruben Patterson). Is this some kind of record, or has there been a Bucks player who has worn more than three different jersey numbers while with the team?

[davego]

I'd like to keep Luke too because of the contract. I also think he can play some, but if it comes down to either him or Sessions; Luke would have to go I guess.

 

I kind of like how the roster is coming together. They at least will have some athletes. That makes it much, much easier to play defense.

[Gobias Industries]

If Hammond can pull a rabbit out of his hat and some how keep Sessions I'll be pleased with this offseason. There's just no justification for letting him walk. The numbers he put up as a 23 yr old PG are pretty special.

 

As Diskono kinda mentioned, Ridnour's expiring doesn't have much value to the Bucks because they don't have any cap room to take something back. If they could trade him for a second round pick in this years draft, I'd do that. Then they could keep Ramon. The other option is to let his contract expire, and take the cap relief next offseason, but I'm not so sure Hammond knows that's an option. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[patrickgpe]

the promising news is that if RS takes the QO, he is a restricted FA next year and the bucks will better be able to afford him with Ridnour's contract off of the books.

[MarquesJohnson2000]

Sessions signs 4-year, $16M offer sheet with T'wolves.

[yoshii8]

I think he's gone but I hope they match that offer, he would still be an asset at that price. If they do match, you'd think Ridnour would be traded.

[brwrsfan]

It's going to really irk me when they don't match. He's young and pretty good to just let go for only 4 million a year. Especially when one of the potential 4 PG's on the roster is Luke Ridnour, who I don't think highly of and has only 1 year left on his deal. Dump him for virtually anything and then you can easily afford Sessions.

 

They dumped RJ's huge contract, let Villanueva walk and now are likely going to let sessions walk. They'd have the money if they hadn't signed Delfino to that silly contract as well. I really can't follow this. I know we drafted Jennings, but would having 2 good, young quality point guards really be that bad of a thing? You could always move one later if they're both really that good.

 

I really don't understand what they're doing. I thought Hammond would do a decent job and he's doing ok clearing out some of the excess salary and is a bit handicapped, but I'm really starting to question where exactly this team is going.

[Paulus88]

I thought Hammond's strategy was to follow the Pistons strategy of maximizing assets? If so, what gives? Who cares how many point guards you have, you're not winning now, but Sessions is literally one of three or four actual assets on the Bucks and they're going to let him walk for 3.6m a year or half of what Ridinour (the Jason Kendall of point guards becuase common folk can't understand his value) makes.

[Mr QL]

Match easy.

 

Trade Ridnour.

[RockCoCougars]

Makes no sense not to match that.

[davego]

I'd say no to the match. By year two Jennings will be the starter.

[patrickgpe]

you can't match it without getting rid of payroll. in these economically uncertain times, Kohl is not going to pay the luxury tax, which i can understand. Trading Ridnour won't work either (although i'd support keeping sessions over him). You would take salary back and it would become a wash. Signing Hakim Warrick guaranteed that sessions was not coming back for more than the QO.

[Mr QL]

I'd say no to the match. By year two Jennings will be the starter.

We could trade Sessions then. A lot better than letting him walk.

 

They could buy out Kurt Thomas to make room for some more cap and then another trade.

 

Get some value for this guy or we'll be regretting it for a long time.

[trwi7]

I'd say no to the match. By year two Jennings will be the starter.

You absolutely match this deal. There's nothing wrong with having two young, good PG's. This contract is a steal. Unfortunately I'm not expecting Hammond to match it.

[davego]

I'll disagree in the fact that I don't value Ramon as much as others here do.

[patrickgpe]

well atleast the fact that hammond has said nothing all weekend could mean they are trying to figure out a way to match.

[FVBrewerFan]

Does anyone have insight (or even an opinion) on who the Bucks are targeting for next year? I mean, we all know every move they're making is for the purpose of clearing cap space for next year and the following year. Have they gone a step beyond that and really targeted a certain player? Wade maybe?

 

It just seems like lots of teams have the same strategy, and there's only so many players that will be available worthy of the max. Why would any "star" want to come to Milwaukee when they can get the same amount playing in a bigger market and/ot more competitive team?

[patrickgpe]

i don't think the bucks will ever get a star via free agency for that reason, but that doesn't mean they are doomed for mediocrity forever. They drafted Bogut who is atleast an upper echelon center when healthy and extended his rookie deal. Hakim Warrick had other offers and chose to come here. The bucks, just like the brewers, need to draft well or they will be the clippers though.