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."
John Hammond Interested In Blazers
Bucks GM John Hammond is interested in taking on the same position with the Blazers, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. We heard a few days ago that the Blazers were eyeing Hammond for the job, so the interest appears to be mutual.
Earlier today, Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge rounded up comments Woelfel made on 1250 AM in Milwaukee, saying that the Blazers' interest is "legitimate" and that they would double Hammond's salary. Hammond is due $2MM in the final season of his deal with the Bucks next year. With Milwaukee out of the playoffs, Hammond's job may be in jeopardy, as Woelfel reported last week. When Jason Quick of The Oregonian tweeted about the Blazers' pursuit, he noted the team has not gotten permission from the Bucks to speak with Hammond, but that could be a moot point soon.
Hammond took over the Bucks in 2008 and was Executive of the Year in 2009/10, the only season the team made the playoffs under his watch. Before that, he assisted Joe Dumars in Detroit. Other candidates for the Blazers job include Steve Kerr and Mitch Kupchak, and the team has indicated it may retain interim GM Chad Buchanan. Portland team president Larry Miller met with Kerr this weekend.
Blazers Interested In Hammond, Still Eyeing Kerr
The Trail Blazers continue to search for a permanent general manager, and a number of reports on their search have surfaced today. Let's round them up….
- Blazers president Larry Miller says Steve Kerr, who told the team he wasn't interested in the GM opening, hasn't been officially ruled out yet, according to Jason Quick of the Oregonian (via Twitter).
- Portland is interested in Bucks GM John Hammond for the position, tweets Quick. Miller says he has yet to ask the Bucks for permission to speak to Hammond (Twitter link). I imagine that could happen within a week or so, when Milwaukee's season will likely come to an end.
- The Blazers didn't contact Larry Brown about interviewing for the position, though he was interested, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.