Milwaukee Bucks Thread 2009–2010 (part 2)

[trwi7]

Ray and Delfino are alike in that they can both shoot. That's pretty much where the similarities end. And you want to surround Bogut with shooters that he can kick out to.

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

I loved this team from the get-go. Loved how hard they played. Grateful for such a fun season, one that revived my comatose Bucks fandom.

 

BUT, I'm not optimistic at all about next year. This team absolutely needs a power forward who can score a bit and defend. Luc does what he can, but he's so offensively limited. Also, their backcourt will more than likely be gutted. It'd surprise me if Salmons or Ridnour returned, and losing Salmons scares me the most. They need a consistent threat at the 2 guard. I think you can fill one of those in the draft, but getting a quality FA will be difficult.

[davego]

I'm hoping that Ersan grows into being that #4 guy.

 

Marc makes a point that there could be a dip next year before Danny G and Redd come off the books. Sure hope not...

[heresrobin]

Just doing a quick look at who might be there with the Bucks 1st pick, if they want to add some beef and a little shot blocking prowess, it looks like guys like Whiteside, Udoh, and Aldrich might be there. I want to like Aldrich, but he seemed like he took a step back from his sophomore to his junior year, so that sort of bugs me. He pretty much got worse in every department except Blocked Shots this past year. I didn't see Whiteside play at all and only saw a little bit of Udoh in the tournament. Mr QL mentioned Varnado as well, so he could be a guy worth looking at, but maybe not until the 2nd round.

 

I sort of like James Anderson a little too. Good size for a shooting guard, he's aggresive, and he's a playmaker.

[FVBrewerFan]

Hate to sound cliche, but they're in a posiiton to draft the best player available. Ridnour is a FA, so he may be gone. So this team could need a backup PG, a SG (especially if Salmons isn't back), a SF (since they don't really have one other than DelFino), and then the athletic big guy everyone covets. I don't see how they go wrong as long as it's a guy who can play. Still puzzled why they gave up on Meeks.

 

I think they're stuck with Redd for sure, but the Gadz contract may be able to get moved to a team looking for an expiring contract.

[rwa12]

I hate to use the stereotype, but Aldrich will most likely be Pryzbilla 2.0. He is a rebounder/defender, not all that exciting, but not necessarily a bad thing. I think Whiteside has too much Haislip in him. When it comes to the draft, the NBA just doesn't shine on athletes with no BBall IQ, if they did, Gerald Green would be an MVP. I'm curious why Mr. QL likes Orton, but not Patterson. Patterson seems to be a Skiles type player, Orton is a complete unknown.

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

If Greg Monroe is there when the Bucks are picking I take him in a heartbeat. Great offensive player, and an exceptionally good passer for a big guy. Can defend the position as well.

 

The two guard could be a little more tricky. I sure hope they can sign Salmons.

[Mr QL]

Size mostly, Patterson is vastly undersized for an NBA 4. He's smaller than Mbah A Moute and he's not known for his defense either. Limited upside, not that he'll be bad player in the league but I want no part of him at 15. He doesn't bring anything Ilyasova and Mbah A Moute don't. Orton is big and could back up at the 5, really young and has a lot of potential.

 

After watching our series with the Hawks we need some size and athleticism.

[davego]

Agreed. In most sports, I believe you take the best player on the board when you are drafting, but I think it applies more so in the NBA.

[rwa12]

I haven't heard anything about Orton's work ethic, but I will be curious to see what they say approaching the draft. I still believe pretty strongly in college results. He couldn't crack the rotation at Kentucky, and barely played. That makes me pretty wary. In this day and age long term projects are hard to develop, as coaches/GMs are in a win now mode. Job security is too important. This kid really should have stayed in school. My preferred situation for this draft is to trade the pick for a semi-star scorer. A Montae Ellis/Shawn Marion type. I'm also a David Lee fan, wouldn't mind prying him from the Knicks. I could see some big names moving around the draft, positioning for this free agent season. Wouldn't be surprised to see Iguodala move, or someone like him. I don't really have a lot of favorites in this draft. Beyond the top 5, I'm not that excited.

[yoshii8]

With the 15th pick I'm really hoping the Bucks take a good look at Gordon Hayward from Butler. I absolutely love what I've seen from him in his young career. He's 6-8, has a great shooting touch, is an underrated athlete, and has a very good understanding of the game. I know he's a bit of a tweener defensively, but I think he will be better than people think at that end of the floor, and will make up for those shortcomings w/ his diverse offensive game.

 

I've heard people compare him to Steve Nowak, Mike Dunleavy, Kyle Korver and other guys w/ one-dimensional games, but I think he is a much different and more complete player than any of those guys. I think he will eventually be an all-star, and will also be able to help a team right away. I could be very wrong, but thats the feeling I get.

 

Other than that I'm not interested in the other guys that are projected to be available at 15, but I trust that John Hammond and the Bucks F.O. will find the right player.

 

As for the 2nd round, I like Dominique Jones from South Florida, I think he will become a solid 6th/7th man, and if he ever develops a consistent jumper will be a very good player.

[Mr QL]

I haven't heard anything about Orton's work ethic, but I will be curious to see what they say approaching the draft. I still believe pretty strongly in college results. He couldn't crack the rotation at Kentucky, and barely played. That makes me pretty wary. In this day and age long term projects are hard to develop, as coaches/GMs are in a win now mode. Job security is too important. This kid really should have stayed in school. My preferred situation for this draft is to trade the pick for a semi-star scorer. A Montae Ellis/Shawn Marion type. I'm also a David Lee fan, wouldn't mind prying him from the Knicks. I could see some big names moving around the draft, positioning for this free agent season. Wouldn't be surprised to see Iguodala move, or someone like him. I don't really have a lot of favorites in this draft. Beyond the top 5, I'm not that excited.

Well gotta remember, we're drafting this guy for what he can do in the NBA not what he did back in college. That Kentucky team was pretty dang stacked and after a lil poking around on the internet it sounds like he has a pretty dang good work ethic. Brandon Jennings didn't play much in Europe either and that just made his drive even stronger. Kid is 6'10" 260 and athletic so you def want to take a look at least.

 

I agree Novak and probably Korver are probably unfair comparisons for Hayward but Dunleavy seems about spot on. I think Dunleavy is probably the ceiling for the guy which isn't that bad and worst case scenario is Luke Jackson/Adam Morrison. Not the direction I want this team to go in. Dunleavy is bigger and a better shooter.

[yoshii8]

I like Hayward a lot more than I liked Dunleavy coming out of Duke, I think he has way better basketball instincts and will be a better player.

[rwa12]

I don't think Euro-College is a fair comparison. Very tough for "kids" to get minutes overseas. Orton was a blue chip prospect who stalled on a good team. I have no doubt he could develop, but his numbers at UK didn't warrant leaving early. This to me screams that he is gunning for the check while people still believe in his potential. Another bad year and he's maybe not a first round pick. Always wary of players that come out for what appears to be no reason. He was certainly blocked in College, but he didn't make much of a case for more minutes. I believe that college performance is a decent indicator to an extent. Marvin Williams would be an example of this, he shows flashes of his potential, but has shown why he didn't start at UNC. This is a team on the upswing, I would prefer they take more of a sure thing with a lower ceiling, than a flyer on a guy who may eventually be dominant. A few years ago, I'd be all for Orton. I look at it kinda like the Brewers now. The window with Braun/Fielder/Yo is narrow, draft for sooner impact, IMO.

[Roscoe Chill]

I think you're expecting too much when going for a sure thing at pick 15ish. Marvin Williams was being considered as the #1 pick overall, so your argument actually is a good one. In the crapshoot that is the NBA draft, when you get out of the lottery, I think if you have a chance at a guy who could be dominant you should almost always go for that over a sure thing...unless your team is already loaded.

[Mr QL]

Well Orton was coming off an injury too so that could be part of the reason he didn't get that much playing time but I'll plead ignorance on that.

 

I'd be for a "safer" pick but unfortunately there usually aren't safe bigs with NBA size and athleticism at that point of the draft. If Cole Aldrich or Ekpe Udoh were there I'd take them but I'm not confident that they will so otherwise I think Daniel Orton and Hassan Whiteside are def guys I'd like too look at if we go looking for a big at 15.

 

Patrick Patterson is anything but a safe pick. He doesn't have an NBA position, is a poor defender, weak rebounder. I just don't think he'll translate to the NBA well. We already have a superior player in Mbah A Moute.

[wallus]

Why do all sports comparisons use the same race? How is this not racist in at least a small way? Sorry if this is off topic.

[Mr QL]

I dunno, it just turns out that way most of the time in basketball. You like to make comparisons on similar body type and game. Most of these comparisons have been on a guy for a long time.

[Baldkin]

It is odd. All the media does it, no one ever seems to call them on it.

Honestly, after watching him, if I could pick one guy Hayward reminded me of, who's ceiling he could hit, it's Rashard Lewis.

[Mr QL]

I'm not seeing Rashard Lewis. Lewis is a lot bigger, better athlete, more length. It'll be interesting to see how Hayward measures out at the combine. I just can't see Hayward beating NBA athletes off the dribble in the NBA and he isn't strong enough to bang down low, his "diverse offense" now becomes a lot less diverse. He'll have to primarily be an outside shooter in the NBA. He only shoot 29% from the college 3 this past season too so that's somewhat concerning. I def don't see him being able to rebound at 4 or guard them in the NBA like he did in college either so he'll have to change position which is a red flag for me. I think some are overrating Hayward because of Butler's Cinderella run. How is Gordon Hayward better than Kyle Singler? Kyle Singler wasn't even sure he'd go in the 1st round so he pulled out.

 

Don't get me wrong, he'll find a home in the NBA but I can't see being a starting SF on a good team in the NBA. I don't want that with the 15th pick.

[trwi7]

Atlanta comes off the high of winning game 6 on the road and game 7 at home by losing by 43 to the Magic in game 1.

[Mr QL]

Dang, that could of been us losing by 43.

[Baldkin]

I'm not seeing Rashard Lewis. Lewis is a lot bigger, better athlete, more length.

I'm not quite sure how 6'9 215 (at the age of 20) is that much smaller and shorter than 6'10" 230. As I said, I'd see his ceiling as Rashard Lewis. Picking 15, and getting a guy as a rookie who can fill minutes at the 3 or the 4, rebound, and play solid defense is more than the Bucks can ask for. I just don't think he'll come out and be able to rebound or play defense just yet.

 

Do I think they pick him? Not really. Having him, Ilyasova and Delfino would be pretty redundant.

[trwi7]

I'm not seeing Rashard Lewis either and I'd be shocked if he came close to being as good as Lewis. I want no part of him at 15.

[Mr QL]

I'm not seeing Rashard Lewis. Lewis is a lot bigger, better athlete, more length.

I'm not quite sure how 6'9 215 (at the age of 20) is that much smaller and shorter than 6'10" 230. As I said, I'd see his ceiling as Rashard Lewis. Picking 15, and getting a guy as a rookie who can fill minutes at the 3 or the 4, rebound, and play solid defense is more than the Bucks can ask for. I just don't think he'll come out and be able to rebound or play defense just yet.

 

Do I think they pick him? Not really. Having him, Ilyasova and Delfino would be pretty redundant.

well he's listed 6'8" 200lbs most places I've seen and generally they're pretty generous most of the time. It'll be interesting to see how he measures out. If he has a 7 foot wingspan, he'd be a lot more attractive as a prospect. He's way too slight to ever play the NBA 4 so he will have to play the 3 probably which just screams bust to me. Can you imagine him vs the Josh Smiths and Al Horfords of the league? His best chance to stick in the league it to become a primarily a spot up 3 point shooter of the bench probably. If ever becomes the player Mike Dunleavy Jr. has I'll be surprised honestly, you guys are underselling Dunleavy. He almost averaged 20ppg the last year he was healthy. How is he better than Kyle Singler who gets no hype? Luke Babbit is another guy who is similar who might be there in the 2nd round or late 1st.