Odds & Ends: Oden, Magic, Jones, Bucks, Bosh
Links from around the league..
- Earlier today we learned that Greg Oden will be undergoing a radical knee procedure to revive his career, but Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge (via Twitter) points out that the Trail Blazers were considering the operation way back in February.
- Some out of the box thinking from Alex Kennedy of Hoops World (via Twitter) as he suggests that the Magic look into trading for Dwyane Wade or LeBron James this summer. However, Kennedy doesn't envision the Heat being forced to blow everything up.
- Kentucky's Terrence Jones would give the Bucks some badly needed toughness, writes David Thorpe of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required).
- Chris Bosh may have seemed like a third wheel to some, but the Heat are really missing the forward now, writes Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
Offseason Outlook: Milwaukee Bucks
Guaranteed Contracts
- Monta Ellis ($11,000,000)
- Drew Gooden ($6,687,400)
- Luc Mbah a Moute ($4,794,192)
- Mike Dunleavy ($3,750,000)
- Ekpe Udoh ($3,524,880)
- Brandon Jennings ($3,179,493)
- Larry Sanders ($1,991,760)
- Tobias Harris ($1,482,000)
- Jon Brockman ($1,000,000)
Options
- Beno Udrih ($7,372,200, Player)
Non-Guaranteed Contracts
- Shaun Livingston ($3,500,000; partially guaranteed for $1,000,000)
- Jon Leuer ($762,195)
Free Agents (Cap Holds)
- Kwame Brown ($8,100,000)
- Carlos Delfino ($6,650,000)
- Ersan Ilyasova ($4,827,900)
Draft Picks
- 1st Round (12th overall, pending lottery; 0.7% chance at first overall pick)
- 2nd Round (42nd overall)
Cap Outlook
- Guaranteed Salary (including likely options): $45,781,925
- Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $22,840,095
- Total (not including draft picks): $68,622,020
Trading big for small is something most NBA teams try to avoid, but it's exactly what the Bucks did at this year's trade deadline, moving the injured Andrew Bogut to Golden State in a blockbuster deal for Monta Ellis. With Bogut sidelined for the year with a broken ankle, Ellis gave Milwaukee a chance to immediately contend for a playoff spot in the East.
Of course, that postseason bid fell short, and now the Bucks head into the summer with Ellis and Brandon Jennings in their backcourt and an uninspiring group of big men remaining under contract. If the Bucks hope to earn a playoff berth next season, a frontcourt comprised of Drew Gooden, Luc Mbah a Moute, Ekpe Udoh, Larry Sanders, and Jon Brockman isn't going to get it done. While some of those players are useful contributors or have long-term potential, none of them should receive more than 25 minutes per game next year if Milwaukee wants to make some noise in the East.
While trading either Ellis or Jennings for a big man may look like one solution for the Bucks' frontcourt needs, it's not something I expect the team to consider this offseason. I imagine the club wants to see its two backcourt scorers play together for more than the few weeks they had at the end of this season before deciding whether the combination does or doesn't work. Perhaps by February 2013, one or both of those players will become trade candidates, but the Bucks will give them every chance to succeed before considering a move.
The Bucks' best bets for adding a big or two are free agency and the draft. Milwaukee would do well to re-sign its own free agent power forward, Ersan Ilyasova, but the 25-year-old is coming off a breakout season, having set career highs in PPG (13.0), RPG (8.8), FG% (.493), 3PT% (.455), PER (20.5), and a handful of other categories. As an unrestricted free agent, the runner-up for Most Improved Player of the Year figures to draw plenty of interest, and may ultimately decide to sign elsewhere.
In that case, the Bucks would still have a good chunk of cap space to throw at other free agents. On the unrestricted market alone, forwards and centers like Kris Humphries, Chris Kaman, Spencer Hawes, Joel Przybilla, Marcus Camby, Antawn Jamison, and others could attract interest from Milwaukee. None of those players would be out of the Bucks' price range, and many of them would be excellent fits.
Even if Milwaukee can't recruit a major free agent, a deep draft class should provide the club an opportunity to add another young player to its front-line. In his latest mock draft, Chad Ford of ESPN.com has Jared Sullinger falling to the Bucks, and while I'm not sure the Ohio State product slips that far, power forward is the draft's deepest position — a number of intriguing options should be available if Milwaukee picks at #12.
The Bucks shook up the foundation of their franchise when they sent a potential All-Star center to Golden State in March, and now they'll have to replace the production that Bogut and perhaps Ilyasova would have provided. It's too early to say whether pairing of Jennings and Ellis is the Bucks' best plan of action going forward, but I expect the team to do everything it can this summer to try to make it work, by bringing in the frontcourt talent necessary to help complement its two scoring guards.
Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.
Central Notes: Morway, Bucks, Hamilton, Hammond
There's plenty of news out of the Central Division today, with the Bulls on the brink of elimination against the Sixers while the Pacers are in command against the Magic. The latest updates are at the top:
- Pacers GM David Morway responded to Friday's news that the Blazers are interested in him for their GM position, telling The Oregonian's Jason Quick that he's "flattered" but "right now I'm focused on the playoffs and focused on our team.'' He could also be in line for a promotion in Indiana if president of basketball operations Larry Bird steps aside, but Morway said no interview has been scheduled with Portland and he'll evaluate his options at a later date. (All Twitter links).
- Though Forbes ranks the Bucks as the NBA's least valuable franchise, there's little reason to worry that Milwaukee will go down the same path as Seattle did with the Sonics, writes Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Richard Hamilton, who's strugged in three straight losses, hasn't been giving the Bulls what they expected when signed him before the season, as Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com writes.
- In a roundup of candidates for the Blazers GM job, Sam Amick of SI.com says multiple sources have told him the Bucks have denied GM John Hammond permission to interview for the position. Last month we heard about the mutual interest between Hammond and the Blazers, but Friday's joint press conference between Hammond and Bucks owner Herb Kohl seems to indicate that the Bucks will be keeping their GM.
- Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star sat down with commissioner David Stern to talk Pacers and other topics. Stern says he's not concerned about the team's lagging attendance, which ranked 26th in the regular season this year.
- John Paxson, vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls, recently underwent surgery to try to correct a heart arrhythmia, according to an ESPN.com report. Paxson said in a statement released by the team that the procedure has been planned for over a month. The news of his health trouble came out in comments made by Sixers coach Doug Collins after today's game.
Brandon Jennings Still Seeking Extension
Bill Duffy, the agent for Brandon Jennings, told Sean Deveney of The Sporting News he's "surprised" by Bucks GM John Hammond's comments earlier today that indicate the team may not pursue an extension with the point guard. Deveney reports instead that discussions on an extension may begin next week.
Hammond said in a press conference today that the extension "is not something we have to do." Jennings will enter the final year of his rookie contract next season, and if the team does not extend him by the end of October, he will be eligible for free agency in the summer of 2013. Jennings made waves in February when he said he was "doing my homework" on large-market teams as he looked to the future.
More recently, Jennings appeared to be focusing on his current team. This week he shared his thoughts on the past season, as Truman Reed of Bucks.com writes, and praised the play of teammate and unrestricted free agent Ersan Ilyasova, to whom the Bucks might commit major money this offseason.
Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel noted that Hammond spoke to the importance of continuity during the press conference, so that would seem to indicate the Bucks aren't seeking significant changes anytime soon. A disgruntled Jennings may force the team's hand, however, and though the Bucks would hold the right of first refusal if they extend a one-year qualifying offer in the summer of 2013, Jennings could simply sign that deal and be an unrestricted free agent in 2014.
Jennings probably won't be in line for a "Derrick Rose rule" five-year extension for 30% of the salary cap, but he may seek something similar to the four-year maximum deal that Kevin Love signed with the Timberwolves. While Jennings has shown flashes of brilliant play in his first three seasons, it's understandable why the team would be reluctant to put him in Love's class just yet.
Bucks Notes: Ilyasova, Jennings, Hammond, Skiles
Ersan Ilyasova would have been my choice for the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2011/12 if I had a vote, but the Bucks forward finished as the runner-up behind Ryan Anderson. Even without the award, Ilyasova appears poised for a big payday in free agency this summer. Bucks GM John Hammond said today that "it's not going to be easy" to re-sign Ilyasova, though Milwaukee would like to bring him back.
Hammond and Bucks owner Herb Kohl spoke at a news conference today about a number of topics, with Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times rounding up the highlights via Twitter:
- A contract extension for Brandon Jennings is "not something we have to do," says Hammond. Jennings is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal and will be eligible for an extension.
- Kohl says he has no plans to extend Hammond or coach Scott Skiles this summer. The pair are entering the final year of their respective contracts.
- The team will be seeking a "real quality big man," according to Kohl.
- Kohl went on the offensive for a new Milwaukee arena, saying he'd put his own money into it, according to Woelfel. However, the owner added that he wants to secure the Bradley Center for the "next several years."
Bucks Notes: Ellis, Kohl, Skiles, Cap Room
Scott Skiles told Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel yesterday that he would be returning to Milwaukee next season for the final year of his contract, quieting speculation that the Bucks could seek a new coach. Here are the rest of the latest updates out of Milwaukee:
- One reason the Warriors were willing to send Monta Ellis to Milwaukee was because he wouldn't give Golden State a "firm commitment" that he wanted to be there long-term, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.
- "Rumors still persist" that Herb Kohl would be open to selling his majority share of the Bucks and becoming a minority owner, according to Woelfel (on Twitter).
- Bringing back Skiles for 2012/13 makes sense for both the Bucks and the coach, says Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- The Bucks will have room under the cap this summer to make "at least one substantial roster upgrade," Hunt adds within his piece. I think that might depend on whether or not the team re-signs Ersan Ilyasova.
Scott Skiles Will Return To Coach Bucks
Scott Skiles will return to Milwaukee in 2012/13 to coach the Bucks, he confirmed today to Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link).
In his fourth season on the Bucks' bench, Skiles led the team to a 31-35 record, missing the playoffs by four games after hanging within striking distance of the eighth seed for most of the season. Skiles is entering the final year of his contract and there was some speculation that he and GM John Hammond could be on the hot seat if Milwaukee missed the postseason.
Skiles' agent Keith Glass told Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times last week that his client wouldn't be seeking a buyout on the last year of his deal, while a number of Bucks players recently expressed a desire to see Skiles return for next season.
Central Notes: Bird, Hibbert, Pistons, Skiles
In what's becoming a monthly ritual, Pacers president Larry Bird has denied a report suggesting he'll be leaving the team at season's end. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported that Bird has told Pacers owner Herb Simon and several friends that he has decided to leave, but the Hall-of-Famer told Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star that he hasn't made up his mind yet.
"Once again, no decision has been made," Bird told Wells. "I'll sit down with my owner at the end of the season and we'll talk about things."
Here are the rest of the morning's updates out of the Central Division:
- Roy Hibbert's playoff performance could have a significant impact on what sort of contract he signs this offseason, Wells writes in a separate piece for the Star. As Wells notes, Dwight Howard's absence will give Hibbert and the Pacers a good opportunity to dominate the Magic in the first round.
- Charlie Villanueva is aware that he'll head into the offseason as a candidate to be traded or amnestied by the Pistons, as he suggests to David Mayo of MLive.com: "I would like to stay here. I love it here, I love it here. At the same time, I'm a realist."
- Pistons coach Lawrence Frank addressed the team's future in a Q&A with Terry Foster of the Detroit News.
- Keith Glass, agent for Bucks coach Scott Skiles, dismissed rumors that Skiles will seek a buyout on the final year of his contract, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. "That’s news to me," Glass said. "I haven’t talked to anyone about that. I’d be surprised if that was true."
Woelfel On Knicks, Ilyasova, Stackhouse, Fesenko
Earlier this morning, we passed along a report from Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times on Beno Udrih's decision to exercise his player option this summer. Within the same column, Woelfel also shared a few other items of interest, so let's round those up:
- Woelfel is hearing that the Knicks will make a "major push" to hire Phil Jackson as their new coach if the team doesn't make it through the first round of the playoffs. However, a New York Post report suggests that interim coach Mike Woodson has become the odds-on favorite to earn the permanent position after the Knicks named Glen Grunwald their permanent GM.
- The "growing consensus" among some NBA officials is that Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova will land a multiyear contract worth about $8MM annually in free agency this summer.
- Hawks veteran Jerry Stackhouse is close to ending his playing career and pursuing a coaching position in either college or the pros. "I’m trying to transition into the next phase of my career," Stackhouse said. "I definitely want to be a head coach some day and I’m willing to pay my dues to make it happen."
- The Bucks were interested in Kyrylo Fesenko before the big man signed with the Pacers. Said Fesenko: "I had a good workout with the Bucks. I was interested (in signing with them), but they kept asking me to wait and to wait and to wait and I couldn’t wait anymore. I don’t what they were waiting for, a magic moment or what?"
Beno Udrih To Exercise Player Option
Beno Udrih will exercise his player option for next season and remain with the Bucks for at least one more year, he tells Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. The option will pay Udrih about $7.37MM in 2012/13.
Earlier this season, Udrih, frustrated by his reduced role this season in Milwaukee, told Woelfel he wasn't sure whether or not he'd pick up the option. At the time, I noted that a $7MM+ guarantee would be hard to pass up, and Woelfel suggests the same thing in his newest piece, writing that Udrih "fully realizes" his market value has taken a big hit this year.
After averaging double-digit points and 30+ minutes in each of the previous four seasons, Udrih is scoring just 5.8 points in 18.0 minutes per game in 2011/12. His shooting percentages are also below his career averages, at .443/.273/.726.
Even with Udrih's player option on their books for next season, the Bucks have a little under $46MM in guaranteed money committed for 2012/13, so they should still have some cap flexibility.