This is part two of a five part series highlighting the NBA Central Division as the preseason begins this weekend. The series will culminate Sunday with the Chicago Bulls, who play Monday against Washington.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Central Division had more movement than any other division in the NBA over the summer of 2014. Unfortunately for the Milwaukee Bucks, they are in the midst of rebuilding and were not one of the major contributors to the influx of talent that found its way to the Central Division.
The highlight of the offseason for the Bucks occurred on draft day, when they selected former Duke All-American Jabari Parker to be the centerpiece of the future. Here’s a look at the rest of their offseason activity in part two of The Pit’s look at the Central Division.
Jason Kidd was named the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Photo/Wikimedia
Management: In the world of professional sports, there are unwritten rules. Things you simply don’t do. The Milwaukee Bucks new owners Wesley Edens & Marc Lasry purchased the Bucks for $550 million in April of 2014 and began to make immediate changes.
Dallas Cowboy owner/general manager Jerry Jones is the only person who would be proud of the way Lasry introduced himself as a new owner. Prior to previous owner Herb Kohl selling the team, the Bucks relieved Scott Skiles of his duties as head coach after 32 games in the 2012/13 season and replaced him with Jim Boylan for the remainder of the season.
After the season, they hired former Atlanta head coach Larry Drew to a three year $6 million contract. Drew coached the Bucks to an NBA worse 15-67 record, and on April 16 Lasry and Edens took over the team as the new owners.
Jason Kidd was concluding his first season as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets whom he took to the second round of the playoffs as only the 3rd player in history to debut as an NBA head coach the season after he retired as a player. After a successful season, Kidd decided he needed more control and attempted to secure full power over trades and all personnel decisions ahead of General Manager Billy King. When Nets ownership and King rebuffed his attempt, Kidd sought approval to speak to the Bucks for a possible reuniting with his good friend Lasry.
Besides serving as Kidd’s financial advisor, Lasry was a minority owner of the Nets and forged a great relationship with Kidd as they were together on three different occasions between Brooklyn and New Jersey. Kidd seeking employment with the Bucks would seem like a natural fit due to his relationship with Lasry. But here was this one hurdle.
The Bucks already had a coach with two years remaining on his contract. Without a single call to inform Drew that the Bucks were seeking his replacement, Lasry made his first move as owner, the hiring of Jason Kidd as their new head coach.
In a move of very bad taste, the Bucks issued a statement thanking Drew for his services and fired him. Drew saw the situation play out in the media as everyone else not associated with the Bucks did. The Bucks surrendered two second round draft picks to the Nets to secure Kidd’s services and are also on the hook for $4 million owed to Drew after he was released.
John Hammond survived the ownership shakeup and will enter his 7th season as the Bucks General manager.
Lasry later apologized to the Milwaukee fans for his poor handing of the Kidd/Drew situation and is expected to allow Hammond to make all future coaching decisions as his job description suggests.
Players retained: F Giannis Antetokounmpo, F John Henson, F Ersan Ilyasova, G Brandon Knight, G O.J. Mayo, F Khris Middleton, C Zaza Pachulia, F/C Larry Sanders, and G Nate Wolters
Departures: With 13 players under guaranteed contracts for the upcoming season, 8 of which play at the forward position, Bucks unrestricted free agent forward Jeff Adrien saw very little opportunity for playing time and signed a one year deal with the Houston Rockets.
Adrien was acquired by the Bucks from Charlotte in February along with Ramon Sessions in a midseason trade. Sessions has yet to secure a contract for the upcoming season, but rumors have surfaced that he could soon join Adrien in Houston as the Bucks and Rockets have engaged in sign-and-trade negotiations.
On Sept. 3, Ekpe Udoh signed a fully guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Clippers after serving three years as a backup forward with the Bucks. The Bucks declined to make Udoh a qualifying offer, allowing him unrestricted free agency rights in June. Oft injured veteran forward Carlos Delfino, and rarely used backup center Miroslav Raduljica were traded to the Clippers in a move to create roster space and salary cap flexibility. Both were subsequently waived by the Clippers and have become free agents.
Chris Wright signed a multi-year partially guaranteed contract to remain with the Bucks in June. But his tenure with the club looks to be in jeopardy as the Bucks roster now stands at 16 players under contract after they signed their two second round draft picks.
Acquisitions: The Bucks are currently $12.2 million below the salary cap and approximately $25.3 million below the luxury tax threshold. The Bucks didn’t use any of that to pry away any big name free agents this summer, but as a rebuilding team, they have a couple of veterans that they can move at the trade deadline and plenty cap space to take on major salary if they decide to do so. Here’s a look at the players they were able to acquire this offseason:
- Jared Dudley – With 23 career playoff contests spanning over his 7 year NBA career, Dudley at age 29 brings his experience to a team with 9 players less than 25 years of age. Dudley joins Zaza Pachulia as the only Bucks player above age 28.
- Jerryd Bayless –Joining his 4th team in two years, Bayless signed with the Bucks as a more traditional point guard alternative to incumbent starter Brandon Knight. Bayless will serve as the backup and insurance policy for the oft injured Knight as well as a possible trade chip.
- Kendall Marshall– In a poor judgment move (only surpassed by the handling of the Kidd/Drew debacle), the Lakers tried to sneak Marshall through waivers. By finishing with the worst record in the NBA last season, the Bucks had the highest waiver priority. The Bucks capitalized on the Lakers mistake and claimed Marshall. Marshall had a breakout season with the Lakers and comes to the Bucks with potential to be the long term point guard. Marshall is a pass first guard without much of a shooting touch, but he could excel on a team that doesn’t possess much of an identity yet and has one of the best point guards in history as their head coach.
- Damien Inglis– Selected with the 31st pick in the first round of the NBA draft, Inglis signed a rookie deal with the Bucks after four years as a professional in his native France. At only 19 years of age, Inglis has a huge upside and could very well be a part of the Bucks long term plans.
- Johnny O’Bryant-Out of LSU as one of only 14 players to amass 1,000 points and 700 rebounds, O’Bryant signed his rookie deal in July after being drafted as the 36th over-all selection in this year’s draft. O’Bryant’s signing puts the Bucks in a very tough situation. With 16 players under contract and 13 of them guaranteed, O’Bryant could force the Bucks to waive Chris Wright with a good showing in training camp. Even if O’Bryant is awarded with a roster spot, he could spend most of the season in the D-League due to the logjam at the forward position.
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Jabari Parker, shown here in college during his time at Duke, was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft. Photo/Wikimedia
Jabari Parker– In their only shining moment of the offseason, the Bucks were able to draft the services of reigning “National Freshman of the Year”, Jabari Parker. Often said to be the most NBA ready player in this year’s draft, Parker doesn’t have much in his way to prevent him from becoming not only the rookie of the year, but the face and future of the Buck franchise. Parker represents the first piece in rebuilding the Bucks into contenders.
Outlook: In the midst of rebuilding, the Bucks pose no threat to the Conference or the division and will look to use this season to develop their young talent. Jason Kidd will have his work cut out for him in taking over a team that won just 15 games the previous season. But helping turn Parker into a star and helping develop Marshall into a complete point guard should give him something to look forward to.
Early Prediction: Look for the Bucks to finish with one of the worst records in the league, battling the Philadelphia 76er for a chance at the number one pick in next year’s draft.
