NBA Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks Need to Cut Ties with Stephen Jackson

While the experiment of bringing headstrong veteran Stephen Jackson to the Milwaukee Bucks may have seemed perfect on paper, it has turned into an unbridled train wreck. It’s time to cut ties.

The intention was to bring the versatile guard/forward combination into the Bucks organization and have him be the perfect role player to help the team get over the playoff hump.

Instead, an injury to Andrew Bogut and Jackson’s issues with the coaching staff has turned their dream season into a nightmare. Milwaukee sits outside the Eastern Conference’s top eight, and it doesn’t look like much has or will change.

Jackson told HOOPSWORLD about the damage done and how the veteran forward is just keeping his head on straight:

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Not at all. It’s obvious, you can see that. I’m just waiting until my situation is different. I’m coming to work every day and keeping myself prepared so that when my situation does get better, I’m ready to go.

It’s very difficult. I’m going from playing 38 minutes each game and being one of the top guys in minutes played over the last five years to not playing at all. It’s tough. The only thing that I can do is worry about what I can control and that’s trying to be a professional and keep supporting the young guys.

It’s tough though, with how much I love the game. I know I have a lot of basketball left in me. It’s tough not being out there and not being able to contribute.

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To be honest, I thought that this blowup was the fault of Jackson because of his previous history of being a troublemaker, but you can see that Bucks head coach Scott Skiles had Jackson forced on him.

Anytime you get a coach that feels a player is pushed on them by the shot caller upstairs, there will be hard feelings.

Jackson has kept his head on straight, even after being benched, but you can’t blame him for the frustration of playing almost 38 minutes a game to barely getting 20 anymore. As much as the coach doesn’t like him, Milwaukee is close to playoff contention so everyone needs to kiss and make up or deal Jackson.

While there have been no talks, if the Los Angeles Lakers are so desperate for help at the guard positions and at small forward, they should be checking the availability of Jackson. If anyone can handle his ego, it would be LA.

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