30 Teams in 30 Days: Milwaukee Bucks

On paper, this deal looks like a rough situation for Milwaukee, but if you thoroughly think about each and every factor, it makes perfect sense. One reason why is the simplest to figure out—the financial aspect of the trade. Williams is set to make over $43.5 million over the next five years, whereas Ridnour’s salary runs just two years in length for a total of $13 million, while Griffin and Jones’ combined $6.17 million contracts come off the books in a matter of months.

In addition to that, Ridnour’s pass-first style of play is undoubtedly a better fit for Milwaukee’s offense than the score-first qualities of Williams.

When watching this team on the offensive end of the floor in recent years, it has been overly stagnant for the majority of the game. Why? Because the team had been lacking reliable options to initiate a flowing offense. Ridnour and Ramon Sessions aren’t quite as talented as Williams, but they fit the mold of what this offense has needed—ball movement.

To add veteran depth, Milwaukee signed guard Tyronn Lue and big men Malik Allen and Francisco Elson to short-term deals. Lue should help Skiles set the tone in practice with his defensive intensity, while Allen and Elson give the team more formidable options than the likes of Jake Voskuhl or even Dan Gadzuric.

Despite the effort to bring in more experienced players, the team still had the eighth overall selection to play with in June’s draft. With that pick, Milwaukee took West Virginia forward Joe Alexander, whose raw ability is highlighted by his jaw-dropping athleticism.

Standing at 6’8’’, Alexander possesses a 38.5’’ vertical leap to go along with an 8’10’’ standing reach, making him one of the most physically impressive prospects in this year’s draft class. With time, hard work, and proper tutelage, there’s no reason for Alexander to fail in the pros.

To cap off the summer of “in with the new, out with the old” transactions, the Bucks extended the contract of center Andrew Bogut, whom they selected first overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. The contract is said to run for five years at a whopping price tag of $72.5 million. Bogut indeed held post-All-Star break averages of 16.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, but $72.5 million? Huh?

That almost nullifies the whole idea of moving Williams, in a sense, especially when considering the $42.4 million remaining on Richard Jefferson’s deal.

Regardless, Milwaukee has an asset that most NBA clubs are without—a well-rounded and reliable starting center.

Depth Chart

C: Andrew Bogut / Francisco Elson / Dan Gadzuric
PF: Charlie Villanueva / Malik Allen
SF: Richard Jefferson / Joe Alexander / Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
SG: Michael Redd / Charlie Bell / Adrian Griffin
PG:

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