Ranking Milwaukee Bucks' Biggest Priorities for 2015 NBA Offseason
After a highly successful season that saw the Milwaukee Bucks more than double their win total from a season ago, the future is brighter than it has been in quite some time. Now, they must look toward the offseason to make improvements to a roster that was, for the most part, competitive the entire year.
Watching their first-round series against the Chicago Bulls certainly pointed out some strengths, such as their ability to fight against good teams, but it also brought some glaring weaknesses to light, like their habit of getting stagnant on offense.
Swarming defensive tactics were a major success while shooting the ball become somewhat of a roller coaster ride as the year progressed. And the team was once again without a legitimate big man after Larry Sanders' continued off-court issues forced them to buy out his contract.
Shooting and an interior presence are two areas the Bucks need to address via the draft or free agency, but what are the other top priorities as the summer heats up?
Let's rank them by the importance of each.
5. Finding Shooters
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Connecting on 36.3 percent of their three-point attempts in 2014-15, the Bucks ranked seventh in the league when it came to gunning long-range shots.
However, that number is somewhat misleading.
After shooting over 40 percent in three of the season's first four months, the Bucks struggled to connect from deep to finish the season. Averages of 34.1 percent in February, 34.3 percent in March and 34.9 percent in April speak largely to the team's struggles down the stretch. In 41 losses, they shot an even worse 31.1 percent.
Consistency, from a shooting standpoint, was almost non-existent.
In order for players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker to thrive, management will need to surround its future stars with players who can consistently knock down open shots.
Adding a Danny Green or Marco Belinelli would be as crucial as any big signing the team might make this summer.
4. Signing Khris Middleton
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Khris Middleton is about to get paid, and rightfully so.
The 23-year-old had an efficient and productive year in 2014-15 and arguably was the team's most consistent scorer. Averaging 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 46.7 percent shooting from the field and 40.7 percent from three-point range, Middleton consistently got the job done.
He was especially good after the All-Star break when he scored 16.4 points per game and was a big reason the Bucks were able to remain in the playoff picture.
The restricted free agent made $900,000 this season, a far cry from any offers he may see this summer.
According to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times, "One NBA assistant general manager estimated Middleton will receive a multi-year contract that will average around $7 million annually; another NBA official predicted Middleton will be paid $8M per year."
If his price remains in that range, the Bucks will likely match any offer. However, if it skyrockets, things become a little more complicated. With Parker and Antetokounmpo filling similar roles and both eventually needed long-term contracts, keeping Middleton if the price is too high makes little sense.
However, Woelfel also tweeted that Middleton would like to remain in Milwaukee, and it would be quite surprising to see the lengthy wing play his home games anywhere other than the BMO Harris Bradley Center next season.
3. Finding an Interior Presence
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Zaza Pachulia provided the Bucks with a veteran presence and tough-minded mentality in the post, especially over the season's final month and a half, when he averaged 10 points, 8.2 rebounds, three assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 51.1 percent from the floor.
But while his role was certainly vital, he's not the answer moving forward, given his age (31) and somewhat limited ability.
This summer, addressing the hole in the middle is of great importance.
With Sanders gone and Pachulia not being a great option heading into the future, John Henson is the only player currently on the roster who could be considered to fill this void.
Henson, however, didn't make many strides this season. He averaged seven points, 4.7 rebounds and two blocks in just 18.3 minutes per game. And although he stepped it up in the postseason, it's hard to get a grasp for what role he may play next year with the inconsistency in minutes.
While obtaining someone like Marc Gasol, or even DeAndre Jordan, seems like something of a long shot, the Bucks could pursue some less marquee names like Tyson Chandler, Enes Kanter or Robin Lopez. They wouldn't provide the team with a bona fide star in the middle, but they all are viable options who would improve the roster and not pose locker room issues.
And after dealing with Sanders, that may be one of the more important things to consider.
2. Getting Jabari Parker Healthy
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Appearing in just 25 games before suffering a season-ending ACL injury, fans and management alike were treated to only a small sample size of Parker.
In order for the Bucks to take the next steps toward becoming a championship-caliber team, he'll need to play in many more than that.
That's why there isn't much that's more important than getting Parker healthy and ready to play in 2015-16. The youngster started his career off relatively strong by averaging 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting an excellent 49 percent from the floor.
When healthy, Parker provides the team with its best go-to scoring option. The 20-year-old forward can post up smaller defenders and utilize his adequate back-to-the-basket game or face up and take slower defenders off the dribble.
After scoring just 97.8 points per game—ranking 22nd—the Bucks need that kind of presence.
And while Parker should not rush back if he's not ready, the training staff and organization need to provide the youngster with all the tools necessary in order to come back as strong, if not stronger, than he was prior to the injury.
It's a tall task, but it's without a question a top priority.
1. Developing Michael Carter-Williams
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They say one man's trash is another man's treasure, and both the organization and fans alike are hoping that's the case when it comes to Michael Carter-Williams.
After the Philadelphia 76ers dealt the 2014 NBA Rookie of the Year to the Bucks at the trade deadline—which subsequently saw the Bucks deal Brandon Knight—the fondness Carter-Williams had for head coach Jason Kidd became evident from the get-go, as Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, pointed out:
"Carter-Williams had to sit out Friday's game due to a sprained big toe but said he should be on the court soon.
But the 6-foot-6 guard from Syracuse — last season's NBA rookie of the year — said he was eager for the chance to play with the Bucks.
"To play under someone like Coach Kidd is a dream come true to me," Carter-Williams said. "I watched him play when I was younger. Even before I knew I was coming here, I said to a lot of people I try to emulate my game after his."
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And it didn't take long for others like Ben Leibowitz of Sports Illustrated to point out the similarities between the two:
"A young Kidd and upstart Carter-Williams share a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses in their respective games. Now that it's J-Kidd's job to mold the youngster moving forward, it will be fascinating to see how MCW develops.
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The Bucks were able to make a deal for the player who Kidd seemingly wanted, and now, as Leibowitz mentions, it's up to Kidd to develop the 23-year-old into a legit leader.
Shooting is arguably the area in which Carter-Williams struggles most—though he shot a respectable 42.9 percent with the Bucks—and he'll need to spend the summer working on his jumper if he hopes to be a major influence on offense.
Not only will converting a better percentage of jump shots force defenses to play him honestly instead of cheating off, it will free up much-needed space for guys like Antetokounmpo and Parker to operate within.
A team often goes as its point guard goes, and that's why the development of Carter-Williams is absolutely vital.
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