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While the Bucks made the postseason for just the second time in the last seven years, earning the franchise's first playoff berth since 2009/10, it's hard to view the '12/13 season as a real success. After a solid first half, the Bucks stumbled down the stretch, ultimately finishing with a 38-44 record. In the Western Conference, that sort of record would mean Milwaukee would be focusing on last night's draft lottery results. In the East, it meant a No. 8 seed and a first-round sweep at the hands of the Heat.
So here's where the Bucks stand heading into the summer: Their playoff appearance was so brief you could be forgiven for thinking it didn't even last four games. They don't have a lottery pick. They're searching for their third head coach of the calendar year. And four of their top five scorers are eligible for free agency.
Some of those issues are less significant than others. Many observers feel this year's draft class is short on elite talent but well-stocked with potential rotation players, so 15th overall isn't a bad spot for the Bucks. Additionally, the opportunity to bring in a new coach to replace one who had seemingly grown tired of the job (Scott Skiles) and one who was no more than a midseason quick fix (Jim Boylan) should allow the Bucks to identify a candidate more suited for the position.
The team's most pressing concern should be the free agent period. Monta Ellis has a player option worth $11MM that he's unlikely to exercise -- even if he's unlikely to find an annual salary that high on the open market, the opportunity to secure a longer-term deal with a team of his choosing will probably be too appealing to pass up. Meanwhile, after years of conflicting public comments on whether or not he's happy in Milwaukee, Brandon Jennings will hit free agency for the first time. Coming off his rookie-scale contract, Jennings will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Bucks will have the opportunity to match any offer he receives. If Jennings really wants to leave Milwaukee though, he could certainly make life difficult for the team by either signing a lucrative offer sheet with another suitor or accepting the Bucks' one-year qualifying offer, which would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Besides Ellis and Jennings, a pair of Milwaukee sharpshooters are also headed for unrestricted free agency. J.J. Redick figures to be a priority for the Bucks, considering the club gave up an apparent gem in Tobias Harris to acquire Redick from the Magic. Like the Sixers with Andrew Bynum, the Bucks don't want to make an unsuccessful trade worse by overpaying the player in free agency, but trading Harris and others for a two-month rental of Redick doesn't make much sense. In addition to Redick, Mike Dunleavy, an unspectacular but very solid wing player, will hit the open market.
The Bucks' impending free agents present the team with an unenviable dilemma: Re-signing two or three of those free agents and making small upgrades elsewhere won't make Milwaukee a title contender. If anything, it would set the Bucks up for more years like 2012/13, where they may be good enough to make the postseason, but aren't quite good enough to make any noise once they get there.
On the other hand, letting their free agents walk presents a new set of problems. Milwaukee isn't exactly one of the league's most attractive free agent destinations, so even armed with a huge chunk of cap space, it's hard to imagine the Bucks luring an elite free agent or two to Milwaukee without massively overpaying. And without a lottery pick or a trade asset like Harris, it's equally hard to see how the Bucks could land an elite talent in the draft or on the trade market.
My best guess for the Bucks this summer is that they do what they can to retain Jennings. Even if they have to overpay, the Bucks are in the driver's seat when it comes to keeping Jennings under team control going forward, which isn't necessarily true of their other free agents. I'd also expect the club to take its best shot at bringing back Redick -- the fact that the Bucks targeted and acquired him in the first place suggests to me that they like him, and we heard earlier in the year that they'd make a "strong bid" to re-sign him.
If the Bucks are able to re-sign Jennings and Redick for something in the neighborhood of $20-22MM annually, they'd still have a little room to pursue other rotation pieces in free agency. That's especially true if the club also decides to amnesty Drew Gooden, who has two years and more than $13MM remaining on his contract. I'd expect the Bucks to use their amnesty provision on Gooden only if they have a specific target lined up to use that cap room on instead. Either way, filling out the backcourt and adding another big man to a frontcourt that includes Larry Sanders, John Henson, and Ersan Ilyasova will be priorities for Milwaukee.
For now, Milwaukee is lacking the sort of elite talent necessary to take the team to the next level. As long as the Bucks continue to be relatively productive on the court, it will be difficult to land that kind of talent in the draft, and the team will remain at an inherent disadvantage when it comes to recruiting free agents.
Still, the Bucks do have a handful of valuable assets on their roster, even if they lose a couple of their free agent guards this summer. So even if GM John Hammond isn't able to add a star, continuing to add solid young talent to the roster would be a step in the direction. We've seen a team like the Nuggets have plenty of regular-season success without a star, and other teams like the Rockets have been able to eventually accumulate enough valuable assets to turn them into a star via trade. Perhaps the Bucks can follow the blueprints established by those sorts of clubs, and avoid getting stuck in the no-man's land that belongs to non-lottery, non-contending teams.
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Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.
A day after an Eastern Conference team (the Cavs) won the 2013 draft lottery, the Eastern Finals will finally get underway tonight in Miami, as the Pacers look to upset the defending-champion Heat. While we look forward to that game, let's check in on a few updates from around the East....
At least eight NBA teams appear to be in the market for a new head coach, so the Bucks certainly aren't alone in what's becoming a crowded marketplace. However, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, Milwaukee is in no rush to complete its search. Spears tweets that the team will likely conduct a second round of interviews at some point in the near future. Here's more on the coaching search and other Bucks-related notes:
Several days after a report indicated that Stan Van Gundy was unlikely to return to head coaching for the 2013/14 season, Van Gundy himself confirmed the news to David Baumann of Sports Talk Florida. Van Gundy told Baumann that he won't coach an NBA team next year, citing family reasons.
According to Van Gundy, he has not interviewed with any teams for their head coaching openings, despite being contacted by a handful of clubs. The former Magic coach has turned down all available opportunities, he tells Baumann. We had previously heard that Van Gundy interviewed with the Hawks as well as the Bucks. Assuming those reports weren't entirely off base, perhaps both teams just spoke to SVG rather than formally interviewing him.
With Van Gundy seemingly off the market, the Hawks and Bucks will be forced to look elsewhere for their new head coaches, while teams like the Nets and Clippers, who had also been linked to Van Gundy, will also have to explore other options. Grantland's Zach Lowe wonders (via Twitter) if Van Gundy is expecting a more desirable job to become available next offseason, though for now it's probably safe to take SVG at his word and assume he's making a family decision.
Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times begins his look around the NBA with a profile on first-round prospect Glen Rice Jr., who could become the most highly drafted player to come out of the D-League. The Journal Times scribe also touches on offseason rumblings from around the league, and we'll round up the highlights here:
10:45pm: There have been some updates on the second to last day of the Chicago predraft camp, which started on Thursday and ends tomorrow night, as well as other draft-related news, including a few players who hope their names are announced earlier, rather than later, by David Stern in June.
3:00pm: There isn't on-court action at the Chicago predraft camp this weekend as there was Thursday and Friday, though teams and players remain in town until tomorrow. Several general managers tell Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel that they would prefer the event focus less on putting players through drills and afford them more time for interviews. With ESPN televising the part of the combine with players on the hardwood, I wouldn't expect the GMs to get their wish anytime soon. Here's the latest draft-related news:
Spencer Lund contributed to this post
As day three of the NBA draft combine comes to a close, updates are still coming in from reporters stationed in Chicago for the event, which runs through Sunday. We covered the news from the first part of the day in this post, and we'll round up additional items here:
Earlier updates:
Stan Van Gundy is indicating to teams that he doesn't want to return to coaching for the 2013/14 season, and he hasn't had any formal interviews, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. That conflicts with the news we heard earlier today that Van Gundy had formally interviewed with the Hawks. He was also reportedly in Milwaukee a week ago to meet with the Bucks, though a later dispatch said that he declined to interview with that team. Robbins writes that Van Gundy has merely accepted calls from a pair of GMs.
There appears to be plenty of demand for the former Magic boss, who has also been linked to the Nets and Clippers in recent weeks. One rumor suggested that he's holding out to see whether the Clippers job will come open, but Robbins' piece doesn't make it seem as though that's the case. Van Gundy did some college basketball broadcasting work this past year, but has otherwise appeared content away from the game.
Robbins laments that Van Gundy's unwillingness to return will extinguish any chance that Van Gundy and Dwight Howard will reunite in the near future, perhaps with the Hawks. The coach and player, combatants in a war of words last season in Orlando, appear to have made amends, and Howard would benefit from the chance to work with Van Gundy again, Robbins believes.
Although Larry Drew remains under contract as the Hawks' head coach until June 30th, Atlanta is considering alternatives, interviewing several other candidates for the position. As the Hawks explore their options though, it appears Drew is doing the same. Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports (via Twitter) that Drew will interview on Monday for the Bucks' head coaching opening.
We heard last night that Jerry Sloan doesn't have interest in the Bucks' job, but the team doesn't have any shortage of potential candidates. Milwaukee has already conducted interviews with Kelvin Sampson, Nate McMillan, J.B. Bickerstaff, and Steve Clifford as well.
The Bucks have reportedly been seeking a coach who will command respect in the team's locker room, following a playoff incident between Larry Sanders and Monta Ellis and a season that saw multiple players dissatisfied with their roles.
2:52pm: Here are a few more updates out of Chicago:
11:44am: It took us multiple posts yesterday to round up all the tidbits trickling out of Chicago, where the NBA is holding its draft combine this week. We'll see if today is as busy, but in the meantime, here are the latest updates on the 2013 draft:
Although he played well in this year's NCAA tournament, Vander Blue was one of the more surprising names on 2013's early entrant list, considering he's widely viewed as a second-round pick at best. But Blue told reporters at this week's draft combine in Chicago that he's confident in his decision, and expects to surprise anyone who doesn't think he'll produce in the NBA.
"Nobody expected [former Marquette teammate] Jimmy [Butler] to be who he is today with the Bulls," said Blue, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. "Nobody probably expects me to do any good in the NBA. But I know how to go about my business. I’m more than confident."
After discussing Blue's decision to declare for the draft and passing along a few of his quotes, Woelfel's latest column explores a few other topics of note. Here are the highlights:
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times heard from Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau that Joakim Noah might require surgery on his right foot this summer but will opt for rehab as his first option. Cowley also mentions that Chicago will likely have to find a way to re-tool their bench with several one-year deals again, as Thibodeau said that the market will dictate whether or not they'll be able to carry over several of their key role players - namely Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli, and Nazr Mohammed - into next season. Here's more out of the Eastern Conference tonight:
2:47pm: More afternoon combine updates from Chicago:
1:35pm: We covered the Thursday morning updates from Chicago's predraft camp earlier today, but with so many tidbits surfacing throughout the day, we're starting an afternoon post to round up the latest notes:
According to TNT's David Aldridge, Hall of Famer and former Jazz coach Jerry Sloan decided that he wasn't interested in the Bucks' head coaching vacancy. We made note that Sloan met with Milwaukee on Monday and that he had garnered "serious consideration." This likely won't mean the end of his name being generated on the rumor mill in the near future, as we heard last week that the 71-year-old coach had been fielding exploratory talks with other teams as well.
Sloan's 26-year NBA coaching career includes three seasons in Chicago and 23 in Utah. Should he find himself back next season at the helm of an NBA bench, the native Illinoisan would become the longest tenured active coach in the NBA. The Nuggets' George Karl is currently the most seasoned active coach in the league, having just finished his 25th season this year.
11:56am: More A.M. updates out of Chicago:
11:09am: With a number of reporters in attendance at the NBA's predraft camp in Chicago, we're expecting plenty of noteworthy tidbits to trickle in throughout the day. Here's a round-up of the first batch of updates on 2013's draft combine participants:
Here's a look at the latest out of the Central as the Pacers look to go up 3-1 over the Knicks tonight..
Spencer Lund contributed to this post.
With Mike Conley playing a significant role in leading the Grizzlies to within one game of the Western Conference Finals, Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com looks back at Conley's history in Memphis. As Shelburne writes, Conley was almost dealt to the Bucks for Ramon Sessions before Lionel Hollins took over as the Grizzlies' coach and gave Conley a vote of confidence.
"It was more than a rumor," Conley said. "My dad's also my agent and he called me to say I wasn't playing this one game. When they tell you that, you know it's pretty serious."
Conley's place in Memphis is certainly safe these days, and after last night's win, his team has a 3-1 lead on the defending conference champs. As we look forward to seeing whether the Grizzlies can eliminate the Thunder, let's check in on a few other items from around the West....
The Bucks aren't wasting any time exploring their head coaching options, having already interviewed Kelvin Sampson, Nate McMillan, J.B. Bickerstaff, and Steve Clifford. According to Sam Amick of USA Today, Milwaukee also has a higher-profile name on its radar. Amick reports that the Bucks have met with Jerry Sloan, who is being "seriously considered" by the team.
Milwaukee has reportedly been seeking a coach who will command respect in the team's locker room, following a postseason incident between Larry Sanders and Monta Ellis. As Amick notes, the Bucks' position is somewhat similar to the position Sloan held in Utah for more than two decades.
Sloan revealed last week that he had been contacted by a couple NBA teams, though he characterized the talks as "exploratory" rather than anything serious, and said no offers had been made. He also shot down rumors of a potential reunion with Deron Williams, confirming that he hadn't been in touch with the Nets at all.
Earlier today, we passed along the latest developments in the saga that has Sacramento and Seattle investment groups vying to buy the Kings. Here are a few more of today's links relating to Pacific Division clubs:
The Hawks have reached out to Stan Van Gundy, and GM Danny Ferry views him as his top choice to coach the team next season, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The team has let incumbent coach Larry Drew know that it will look at other candidates, though there is a possibility the Hawks circle back to Drew if they strike out with their other targets. Van Gundy was reportedly in Milwaukee today to interview with the Bucks, but the former University of Wisconsin coach has declined interest in that job, according to Wojnarowski.
Van Gundy and the Hawks have had contact, but the coach hasn't met with anyone from the team, writes Wojnarowski, who hears that Van Gundy holds Ferry in high regard. Echoing a report earlier this week from Marc Stein of ESPN.com, Wojnarowski identifies Mike Budenholzer and Quin Snyder as other candidates for the job.
The push for Van Gundy could be part of Ferry's efforts to land Dwight Howard in free agency. Howard and Van Gundy famously clashed in Orlando, but Van Gundy has indicated the two have mended fences and remain in contact, so there's some belief, according to Wojnarowski, that Van Gundy's presence might enhance the team's chances of signing Howard.