Milwaukee Bucks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bucks Sign Bonzie Colson To Two-Way Deal

January 15th, 2019 at 4:55pm CST by Luke Adams

JANUARY 15: The Bucks have officially signed Colson to a two-way contract, the team announced today in a press release.

JANUARY 14: After opening up a two-way contract slot by waiving Jaylen Morris, the Bucks are filling that opening with new two-way player Bonzie Colson, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). Wojnarowski reports that the Bucks and Colson have agreed to a two-way deal in advance of Tuesday’s deadline.

Colson, 23, joined the Cavaliers as an undrafted free agent during the 2018 offseason after having missed most of his senior year at Notre Dame due to multiple foot injuries. He was viewed as a potential second-round pick before fracturing his left foot against Penn State during the National Invitation Tournament in March.

Although he didn’t make Cleveland’s regular season roster in the fall, Colson joined the team’s G League affiliate, the Canton Charge, and has bounced back nicely. In 23 NBAGL games, the rookie forward has averaged 15.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 1.5 BPG with a .489/.385/.667 shooting line.

The Bucks will have a full 17-man roster (15 standard contracts and a pair of two-way deals) once they make it official with Colson.

Lasry Confirms Bucks Had Interest In Kyle Korver

January 15th, 2019 at 4:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Frank Isola takes an in-depth look at Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry in an interesting piece for The Athletic. Within the story, Lasry confirms that Milwaukee made an effort to acquire Kyle Korver from Cleveland before the Cavs traded him to Utah earlier this season. A December report had suggested that the Bucks came close to trading for both Korver and George Hill before working out a separate deal for Hill.

Bucks Waive Jaylen Morris

January 14th, 2019 at 9:50am CST by Luke Adams

The Bucks have requested waivers on shooting guard Jaylen Morris, the team announced in a press release. Morris had been one of two Milwaukee players on two-way contracts, along with Trevon Duval. The club now has an open two-way slot.

Morris, 23, signed a two-way contract with the Bucks back in July, but only appeared in four regular season contests for the team, averaging 2.5 PPG in 7.3 minutes per game. He played more frequently for the Wisconsin Herd, recording 14.1 PPG on .503/.217/.639 shooting in 13 G League games (35.1 MPG).

Morris is on track to become an unrestricted free agent, while the Bucks have a two-way opening that they’ll have to fill before Tuesday’s two-way signing deadline if they want to use it.

Budenholzer Hopeful Antetokounmpo’s Injuries ‘Nothing Too Serious’

January 12th, 2019 at 10:46am CST by Mark Suleymanov

The Bucks were shorthanded on Friday night as superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the team’s 113-106 loss to the Wizards due to right quadriceps soreness and a left hip contusion, per The Associated Press.

The 24-year-old suffered the injuries a few games prior, which caused him to miss his third game of the season, per head coach Mike Budenholzer.

“Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious,” he said. “He got hit a few games ago and kind of been managing it.”

The Greek Freak has put himself into early MVP discussions. Through 38 games this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.6 PPG, 12.8 RPG and 6.0 APG. His performance has put Milwaukee into the class of the Eastern Conference as their 29-12 record has them 1.5 games behind the Raptors for first place.

Wood Happy With Contract Guarantee

January 11th, 2019 at 6:35pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Bucks big man Christian Wood is relieved that the team guaranteed his salary for the remainder of the season, Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. His $1,512,601 salary became guaranteed on Thursday. He has a $1,645,357 non-guaranteed salary for next season. The 6’10” Wood has appeared in six games with Milwaukee while biding most of his time in the G League. “It’s real nice,” Wood said. “I talked to (GM) Jon (Horst) before the deadline passed and he said my time is going to come, I’ve just got to keep working, keep staying with the program and keep doing everything I’m supposed to do. He thinks I’m a good fit for this team.”

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/7/19

January 7th, 2019 at 9:23pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Monday’s NBA G League assignments and recalls from around the league:

The Pacers re-assigned big man Ike Anigbogu to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team announced today. Anigbogu played a key role in Fort Wayne’s win over Stockton tonight, scoring 13 points and racking up a game-high 18 rebounds.
The Bucks recalled forward Christian Wood from the G League today, according to the club (via Twitter). While Wood continues to play a very limited role in Milwaukee, he’s averaging an impressive 27.7 PPG for the Wisconsin Herd, and will have his minimum salary contract guaranteed this week.

Ilyasova Expected To Retain Role

January 1st, 2019 at 6:35pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer plans to keep power forward Ersan Ilyasova in the rotation when he returns from a fractured nose that required surgery, Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Ilyasova, who suffered the injury during a December 16th practice, could return to action this weekend. Second-year man D.J. Wilson has played well in his absence. “Ersan’s somebody that we think we’ll find minutes for and then (with) those young guys, keep trying to figure out how we can keep them involved and growing and developing, but I guess for me it’s a couple days away,” Budenholzer said.

Central Notes: Bucks, Turner, Lopez, Kennard

December 31st, 2018 at 9:03pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bucks enjoyed a pivotal year in 2018, with a new coach, a new building, a roster upgrade and the emergence of an MVP candidate, writes Matt Velazquez of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. As a result, the franchise finishes the calendar year with the NBA’s best record at 25-10.

“This is not a Bucks team that’s trying to compete for mediocrity,” GM Jon Horst said. “We’re not happy and satisfied with just making it into the playoffs, even though that’s always a great accomplishment in its own right. I hope that they see it’s a team led by a young superstar in Giannis (Antetokounmpo) that has high character and wants to win at the highest level with great people throughout the organization from the top down.”

Mike Budenholzer took over as head coach in May and the team added several shooters over the offseason to fit his philosophy that emphasizes the 3-pointer. The team drafted Donte DiVincenzo and signed free agents Ersan Ilyasova, Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton.

“It’s amazing,” Antetokounmpo said. “Got a new building, a new facility, a new head coach, a new system, everybody’s having fun, new atmosphere – it’s been amazing. … Moving on to 2019, I hope we can do big things and accomplish big things with this team.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

Pacers center Myles Turner suffered a broken nose in today’s game and will be fitted for a mask tomorrow, tweets Scott Agness of The Athletic. “The hope is that he doesn’t have a concussion,” coach Nate McMillan said. “He can play with a mask.”
Bulls center Robin Lopez believes coach Jim Boylen has won over the players after some initial resistance, relays Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago has put together a 5-8 record since he took over for Fred Hoiberg earlier this month. ‘‘I think we kind of are seeing some results,’’ Lopez said. ‘‘I do think we’re making progress. It feels like guys have bought in and are playing together in this system.’’
After a DNP last Wednesday, the Pistons‘ Luke Kennard studied some film to help fix his shot, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. Kennard has hit 63% from the field and 44% from 3-point range over the last two games and is back in the mix for minutes at small forward.

Bucks Recall Christian Wood

December 31st, 2018 at 8:07pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bucks recalled Christian Wood from their Wisconsin affiliate, the team announced in a press release. Wood has appeared in just six NBA games this season, but has been one of the G League’s top players, averaging 28.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Knicks Notes: Kanter, Dotson, Hardaway, Mudiay

December 30th, 2018 at 8:57am CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks center Enes Kanter sounded off on his reduced playing time following a miserable night in Utah, relays Marc Berman of the New York Post. Kanter was pulled from the starting lineup earlier this season to give a more prominent to rookie Mitchell Robinson. With Robinson injured, Kanter remains a reserve as the team tries out little-used Luke Kornet.

The frustration overflowed last night following an 0-for-6 performance in which Kanter didn’t enter the game until nine minutes had elapsed and the Knicks were already trailing by 14 points.

“I understand we want the young guys to get better, but it’s very painful to watch it out there,’’ Kanter said. “I’m essentially positive and try to help the young guys get better. It’s too early in the season to shut me down. My goal this year was to go out and be an All-Star, but now look at the situation.’’

Kanter stopped short of asking for a trade, but he fears his minutes will be cut even further once Robinson returns. After opting in last summer, Kanter has an $18.6MM expiring contract that could be attractive to a contender.

There’s more this morning out of New York:

In addition to the on-court frustration, Kanter learned Saturday that the NBA won’t be taking action against Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham for his role in a fracas this week, Berman adds. Kanter had called on the league to fine Ham for allegedly pushing him from behind during an altercation with Giannis Antetokounmpo. An NBA source told Berman that Ham “acted as a peacemaker to separate the players.”
The Knicks envision Damyean Dotson as part of their future, Berman writes in a separate story. The team has until July 15 to guarantee his $1.6MM contract for next season and seems likely to do so. New York has received calls about him from other teams, including Detroit and Brooklyn, notes Berman, who speculates that having young wings like Dotson and Allonzo Trier could make the Knicks more willing to deal Tim Hardaway Jr. to help open cap space for a run at Kevin Durant.
As Emmanuel Mudiay prepares for Monday’s return to Denver, he tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News that things got so bad late in his tenure there that he stopped talking to the media. Mudiay never developed into the player Nuggets hoped when they took him with the seventh pick in 2015, and he was benched prior to the February trade that brought him to New York. “It was just the best decision at the time for both of us,” Mudiay said of the deal. “So it’s not like, I want to prove y’all wrong or blah, blah, blah. It’s just certain things had to happen and it worked out best for both sides.”