2012-13 Milwaukee Bucks
Draft Grades, Needs, Free Agents, Season Preview
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Milwaukee Bucks
2011-12: 31-35, 9th in Eastern Conference
2012-13 Predicted Conference Finish: 9th
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Drew Gooden/Samuel Dalmbert/Larry Sanders/Joel Przybilla
PF: Ersan Ilyasova/Ekpe Udoh/John Henson
SF: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute/Mike Dunleavy/Tobias Harris
SG: Monta Ellis/Marquis Daniels/Doron Lamb
PG: Brandon Jennings/Beno Udrih
Head Coach: Scott Skiles (5th season)
Milwaukee's offseason was:
... pretty boring. The team added some needed size inside by dealing a few role players to Houston for Samuel Dalembert, signing the well-traveled Joel Przybilla, and draft John Henson. The Bucks also ponied up $40 million over five years to re-sign Ersan Ilyasova, who was coming off a career year. Other than that, Milwaukee remained relatively quiet this summer.
2012-2013 will be a success if:
... "Fear the Deer" returns. That was the slogan during the Bucks' 2009-10 season when they nearly upset the Hawks in the opening round of the playoffs. Professional basketball actually became relevant again in the city of Milwaukee, but the past two seasons, things have return the normalcy of the Bucks being a less than average team.
For Milwaukee to get over the hump and into the postseason, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis must lead the way in the backcourt while getting solid contributions from Ilysova, Drew Gordon, and Mike Dunleavy. The defensive effort, which is typically a staple of any Scott Skiles coached team, has to improve which is why the team added Dalembert and Henson as hopeful shot-blocking bodies inside and let Carlos Delfino walk. Not giving up fourth-quarter leads, which Milwaukee did far too often a year ago, would help the cause as well.
2012-2013 will be a disappointment if:
... nothing changes. Small-market teams are clearly at a disadvantage in the modern-day NBA. Teams like Milwaukee must build their rosters through the draft and smart trades since they can't convince any big-name free agent to join their team. GM John Hammond has experimented with his team's makeup several times in the past few seasons and still just cannot get the Bucks to be anything more than a mediocre team. This current roster at best will finish .500, so Hammond must continue to be open to changing things up and trying to make a savvy trade or two that can at least get Milwaukee to be a dangerous lower seed come playoff time.
Looking Ahead to Next Summer:
Plenty of change could be on the horizon with Ellis holding a player option on the final year of his deal and Jennings becoming a restricted free agent (and reportedly very open to leaving Milwaukee, shocking huh?) Beno Udrih, Dalembert, and Dunleavy will all be free agents, while the organization will have to make decisions on the team options for Ekpe Udoh's and Larry Sanders' rookie contracts.
While that would clear out a good amount of cap space, Milwaukee is by no means a hot spot for NBA free agents to land, so it will be interesting to see if the Bucks try to deal some of their expiring contracts prior to the trade deadline for a proven veteran who can possibly help catapult them into a playoff spot rather than having to overpay some free agents in the summer to get and upgrade their lineup.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 17
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 16
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 15
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Milwaukee Bucks
2011-12: 31-35, 9th in Eastern Conference
2012-13 Predicted Conference Finish: 9th
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Drew Gooden/Samuel Dalmbert/Larry Sanders/Joel Przybilla
PF: Ersan Ilyasova/Ekpe Udoh/John Henson
SF: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute/Mike Dunleavy/Tobias Harris
SG: Monta Ellis/Marquis Daniels/Doron Lamb
PG: Brandon Jennings/Beno Udrih
Head Coach: Scott Skiles (5th season)
Milwaukee's offseason was:
... pretty boring. The team added some needed size inside by dealing a few role players to Houston for Samuel Dalembert, signing the well-traveled Joel Przybilla, and draft John Henson. The Bucks also ponied up $40 million over five years to re-sign Ersan Ilyasova, who was coming off a career year. Other than that, Milwaukee remained relatively quiet this summer.
2012-2013 will be a success if:
... "Fear the Deer" returns. That was the slogan during the Bucks' 2009-10 season when they nearly upset the Hawks in the opening round of the playoffs. Professional basketball actually became relevant again in the city of Milwaukee, but the past two seasons, things have return the normalcy of the Bucks being a less than average team.
For Milwaukee to get over the hump and into the postseason, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis must lead the way in the backcourt while getting solid contributions from Ilysova, Drew Gordon, and Mike Dunleavy. The defensive effort, which is typically a staple of any Scott Skiles coached team, has to improve which is why the team added Dalembert and Henson as hopeful shot-blocking bodies inside and let Carlos Delfino walk. Not giving up fourth-quarter leads, which Milwaukee did far too often a year ago, would help the cause as well.
2012-2013 will be a disappointment if:
... nothing changes. Small-market teams are clearly at a disadvantage in the modern-day NBA. Teams like Milwaukee must build their rosters through the draft and smart trades since they can't convince any big-name free agent to join their team. GM John Hammond has experimented with his team's makeup several times in the past few seasons and still just cannot get the Bucks to be anything more than a mediocre team. This current roster at best will finish .500, so Hammond must continue to be open to changing things up and trying to make a savvy trade or two that can at least get Milwaukee to be a dangerous lower seed come playoff time.
Looking Ahead to Next Summer:
Plenty of change could be on the horizon with Ellis holding a player option on the final year of his deal and Jennings becoming a restricted free agent (and reportedly very open to leaving Milwaukee, shocking huh?) Beno Udrih, Dalembert, and Dunleavy will all be free agents, while the organization will have to make decisions on the team options for Ekpe Udoh's and Larry Sanders' rookie contracts.
While that would clear out a good amount of cap space, Milwaukee is by no means a hot spot for NBA free agents to land, so it will be interesting to see if the Bucks try to deal some of their expiring contracts prior to the trade deadline for a proven veteran who can possibly help catapult them into a playoff spot rather than having to overpay some free agents in the summer to get and upgrade their lineup.
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Walter
06-21-2011
05:09 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx4.88
(total posts: 1)
 29
 29
First comment... we're going to have comment boards like this all over the site soon. We're still working out the kinks, so this is not the finished product.
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2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 17
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 16
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 15
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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