Milwaukee Bucks Thread 2008–2009 (part 2)

[trwi7]

For Vince Carter would that second thing be pouting?

Or his five rebounds and five assists. You know, same thing.

[Weirdos19]

The reason Redd was on the Olympic team is easy. He is a great shooter. When the big stars had the ball, they could kick it out to him. That was the only reason he was on the team.

 

For a career comparison, I give you Reggie Miller. Wasn't particularly good at anything else. Considered a superstar, but really just a great shooter. Got to the Finals once, but had a good center and good point guard too.

[ILuvDaBush]

Did anyone see DeMar DeRozen the last few days? The guy drinks his Red Bull. He flies.

[davego]

Very nice win today. I had a chance to go, but passed. Poor decision.

[Glennron]

Charlie Villanueva updates twitter during halftime

[ILuvDaBush]

When you get the itch, you have to twitter it.

[nodakfan17]

Hey Bucks Fans- does anyone know of a good place to find Bucks gear online? I live a considerable distance from Milwaukee, so online shopping is my only option, except for when I visit the BC. I occasionally check nba.com, Eastbay, the BC Shop online, and Kohls, but am curious if anyone here finds good deals elsewhere. Thanks.

[nodakfan17]

Hey Bucks Fans- does anyone know of a good place to find Bucks gear online? I live a considerable distance from Milwaukee, so online shopping is my only option, except for when I visit the BC. I occasionally check nba.com, Eastbay, the BC Shop online, and Kohls, but am curious if anyone here finds good deals elsewhere. Thanks.

[nate82]

Are the Bucks going to be able to get a top 5 pick in the NBA draft and if they do are they going to let Sessions and Villanueva go? I doubt Kohl is going to go over the cap next year and pay the luxury tax while other teams are cutting payroll.

 

I'm wondering if the Bucks get a top 5 pick who they are going to draft and if they don't have the cap room if they will trade that pick or sign a foreign player who won't sign with the Bucks or is unlikely to be coming to the NBA this year. It is sad that the Bucks are going to be in a position where they won't be able to sign their draft picks and at least one of the two players they will need for the 2009-2010 season.

 

I believe the Bucks are going to let Villanueva go and sign Sessions. Hopefully they don't sign Sessions to an above average contract. I would rather have Ty Lawson than Sessions if the Bucks have to over pay for Sessions. I really wish Redd wouldn't have gone down with an injury and that the Bucks would have at least have traded R.J. for an expiring contract. The Bucks really need the cap room for the next couple of years.

 

I'm hoping the Bucks get a top 5 draft pick and can sign Sessions and either draft Lawson or someone who can play the #4. I believe the Bucks made a mistake in taking Alexander last years Hansbrough. I'm hoping the Bucks can either get Lawson or take Dominic James in the 2nd round. James would be a good complement to Sessions as the backup PG.

[nohopspanther]

The Bucks are only eligible to move into the top 3 picks in the draft by winning a slot in the lotto, otherwise they will be picking in the 10-12 slot. After the top 3 picks, the lotto goes according to record.

[nate82]

The Bucks are only eligible to move into the top 3 picks in the draft by winning a slot in the lotto, otherwise they will be picking in the 10-12 slot. After the top 3 picks, the lotto goes according to record.

No it doesn't. Just look back a couple years ago the Bucks lost 1 or 2 spots in where they would have been picking. They also lost 1 spot last year in where they would have been picking. Record has nothing to do with the lotto other than how many ping pong balls you get.

[Katuluu]

Yes it does. The reason the Bucks fell is because teams with worse records moved up to the top three picks. You can't ever drop more then three slots.

[davego]

3 teams could jump over you, but the most you can slide is 3. That's how I understand it.

[trwi7]

The Bucks are 10th right now. The only possibilities for them are 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The only way you can move up in the draft is if you're in the top 3 and you can't move down anymore than 3 slots from your original slot.

 

So if you have the 5th worst record you can't move down any further than 8th. That's worst case scenario.

[nate82]

The Bucks are 10th right now. The only possibilities for them are 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The only way you can move up in the draft is if you're in the top 3 and you can't move down anymore than 3 slots from your original slot.

 

So if you have the 5th worst record you can't move down any further than 8th. That's worst case scenario.

I thought it was the top 5 slots are picked and then slotted by record. Well hopefully the Bucks can lose more games and the other teams ahead of them win more games. Looks like the Bucks can only finish with the 7th worst record at best for the draft. Not very promising especially with the talent in this draft.

[JJHardy7]

Not very promising especially with the talent in this draft.

 

I agree that it is a weak draft. We'll have to see what the Bucks feel their budget will be next year. Not being in the top 3 might actually be better since it would save some cash (or I guess they could draft an international player). I'd be interested in taking Lawson if the Bucks pick around 10 or so. I know he lacks some size, but IMO he'd be one of the quickest players in the league and he's also a pretty good shooter.

[davego]

Blake Griffin would be nice.

[nohopspanther]

The Bucks are only eligible to move into the top 3 picks in the draft by winning a slot in the lotto, otherwise they will be picking in the 10-12 slot. After the top 3 picks, the lotto goes according to record.

No it doesn't. Just look back a couple years ago the Bucks lost 1 or 2 spots in where they would have been picking. They also lost 1 spot last year in where they would have been picking. Record has nothing to do with the lotto other than how many ping pong balls you get.

My response is exactly how the NBA lottery works. Only the top 3 picks are drawn for and the order is 1, 2, 3 in which 4 number combinations are drawn. Each team by record gets a % of the total combinations and that is how the picks are won. The reason the Bucks are likely to pick in the 10-12 range is their record and how likely teams with better records are likely to jump into the top 3 of lotto picks. Teams with worse records than the Bucks jumping into the top 3 would not affect the order of the Bucks draft position.

[brewdude15]

Blake Griffin on the Bucks would be nice....but he wouldn't play. The Bucks have a decent team when they're healthy. They just had a very unlucky year, you could say.

[danzig6767]

Blake Griffin on the Bucks would be nice....but he wouldn't play. The Bucks have a decent team when they're healthy. They just had a very unlucky year, you could say.

You actually think if the Bucks landed Griffin that he wouldn't get much playing time?

 

If we were lucky enough to get Griffin, he'd get 30mpg or maybe even more.

[samwise]

Blake Griffin on the Bucks would be nice....but he wouldn't play. The Bucks have a decent team when they're healthy. They just had a very unlucky year, you could say.

Was this supposed to be in blue? If the Bucks are just a decent team when healthy why wouldn't they play a talent like Griffin? Would they say, "Yeah we are a decent team, we don't need to get any better, so lets just keep running the same guys out there and hope we can slide into the 7th or 8th spot in the East". Every team in the league would give that guy 20+ minutes a night, Lakers included.

[davego]

...and now the draft drama begins...

[samwise]

The Buck's season ended last night with a loss to the Pacers. While at times there was glimmers of hope and promise, in the end the season was a dissapointment. I may not be the biggest Michael Redd fan but his injury really put this team in a tough spot. Combine that with the injury to Bogut and there was just too much production lost to salvage the year. However we did see the emergence of two potential All-Star's in CV and Ramon Sessions which at least made them watchable after both Redd and Bogut went out. I really think Skiles did a good job this year in light of the injuries and he should bring some consitency from the head coach spot in the years to come. There are so many questions for the Bucks going forward.

- How will the economy affect the Bucks?: We will start to find out soon because season ticket renewals are going to be in the mail. I think the Bucks will suffer here for two reasons. 1. People are not going to spend discretionary income on NBA games. 2. The Bucks will see a dip in sponsorships and decrease in ticket sales to corporations due to business' cutting back. In this state it seems like the Brewers and Packers are almost recession proof something the Bucks cannot claim. There is some misery in company because there are a few NBA teams in some serious financial trouble, so Stern and the league may have some plans or ideas on how to keep these teams floating. While it appears that the economic outlook is a negative, in actuality it could turn into a positive. There is no telling what cash strapped teams are going to be doing, this could include trading there superstars or draft picks for little or nothing to save cash. The Bucks could strike while the iron is hot and change the outlook of the team.

- What to do about CV and Sessions: Both are restricted free agents, so in theory we can resign both of them, however that seems unlikely due to the $ situation. I really do not know what to do with these guys. Bill Simmons talks about the concept that good players can put up superstar numbers if given the minutes on bad teams, but they really don't make their teams better. Is this the case with these guys? The best five man lineup according to 82games.com was Ridnour-Redd-Jefferson-MbahaMoute-Bogut (http://www.82games.com/0809/USORT13.HTM) This is the hardest decision Hammonds has to make. What really sucks is that player talent is not the only deciding factor, money may just as if not more important in making this decision. There will have to be a decision about going over the salary cap number to sign one or both of these guys.

- The draft- as it looks right now the Bucks will probably end up in the 9-12 range with their pick. This is not a very talented or deep class, however Hammond got one of the gems of the draft in MbahaMoute last year so I would not count them out in getting 2 talented players. Once again the money question rears its ugly head. If the Bucks are near the salary cap number would they be willing to go over for a draft pick or will they trade the pick? Are there going to be any takers for the pick? Will they draft a Euro player and hope he stays there for a few years? The Bucks could use talent at any position so can this draft provide that talent?

[davego]

Steph Curry?

[patrickgpe]

here's what would be a good offseason for me

 

draft:

assuming they draft at 10 - dejuan blair. With CV being a restricted FA the bucks really have no options at the 4 position. I don't see alexander being able to play the 4 at a high level and the only other option they have is allen. Blair would give us an inside presence coupled with Bogut.

in the 2nd round I'd take McNeal. I know he is undersized but he has always been a defensively gifted player and with the 3 point shot added to his game I think he would be a decent backup for Redd

 

free agency

let CV go and match the offer for Sessions. I know Skiles is a big Ridnour fan but Sessions development has been one of the lone bright spots for the season.

 

As other has said this team is a decent one but had terrible luck. Doing what I suggested will improve the teams defense which has become clear does not have the talent to play like Skiles would like.