Milwaukee Bucks: New Year, Same Old Michael Redd

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For several years Michael Redd has been a good shooting guard that has played little defense. Over that same period of time, fans of the Milwaukee Bucks have been waiting for Redd to become a complete player.

Since becoming a full-time starter in 2003, Redd has averaged at least 21 points per game every season and shot consistently between 44 and 46 percent from the field.

The highlight of Redd's career came in 2008 when he was a member of the Gold Medal winning US squad. Although he was overshadowed by most of his teammates, many thought spending so much time with players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James would make him a more complete player. In turn, he would become a better leader and more fierce competitor on the floor.

Redd has never been able to take that next step to an elite-level player. He needs to realize that he can separate his on and off court personalities. He can still be a cold-blooded assassin on a basketball court while being a pillar in his community as a giving and humble example of all that is right in sports.

He has been a leader both on the court for the Bucks and in the Milwaukee community. In a league that has suffered from image problems for the better part of the decade, Redd is a beacon of shining light and example to fans what a pro athlete is capable of being.

Despite being able to score points in bunches, Redd still doesn't do much else on the court. He will never come close to making any all-defensive team. His other significant stats won't make anyone stand up and confuse him for a superstar either. For his career, Redd has averaged four rebounds, two assists, and a single steal per game.

Redd has been a trade candidate every since John Hammond became Bucks' General Manager at the end of the 2008 season. Hammond hasn't publicly said Redd is on the trading block, but if anyone is willing to take on his contract, the Bucks would be hard-pressed not to make a deal.

After the 2004-2005 season, Redd signed a six-year deal that was worth $91 million. It was a bad deal for the Bucks financially, but one they needed to make for public relation reasons as Redd was the public face of the franchise.

Sadly, he never became that player on the court. He is nothing more than a one dimensional player. At age 30, it's unlikely he'll ever be more than a good jump shooter. Regardless of any good will he brings to the community, the Bucks would be best served to unload Redd and his contract as soon as possible.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

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