John Henson: Latest Contract News, Rumors, Speculation on Bucks Center

Before the draft, it looked increasingly like John Henson was on the trade block as the Milwaukee Bucks attempted to move up from No. 17. Now it appears the Bucks have decided to change course and make Henson a part of their long-term core.

Continue for updates.

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Henson, Bucks in 'Advanced Negotiations' on Extension

Monday, July 13

ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported that while the two sides have not yet agreed to an extension, it's seen as only a matter of time. 

Henson, 24, averaged 7.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game last season. A 2012 first-round pick, the North Carolina product has improved in each of his three NBA seasons and has emerged as a top-tier rim protector. Opponents shot 46.8 percent when Henson was within five feet of the rim last season, per SportVU data provided by the NBA. Overall, players shot 2.4 percent worse than their regular-season average when defended by Henson.

"He's been huge for us here coming off the bench being able to change shots, rebound, block shots," coach Jason Kidd said in April, per Matt Velazquez of the Journal Sentinel. "Defensively he's been bringing it. Offensively he's been able to clean up, finish, getting a lot of bunnies around the basket and also giving us second opportunities."

Critical to Henson's success is his athleticism, which allows him to fit perfectly within Jason Kidd's high-octane defensive scheme. Kidd likes to have his more athletic big men pounce on the pick-and-roll, trapping beyond the three-point line to get the ball out of the point guard's hands. Perhaps the best evidence of that was Milwaukee's first-round series against Chicago, which saw the Bucks force Derrick Rose into more than four turnovers per game.

It'll be interesting to see how high of a number the Bucks are willing to offer Henson. For all his athletic gifts, he still averaged less than 20 minutes per game last season. Milwaukee also invested a maximum contract in Greg Monroe, another center who will act as an offensive fulcrum when on the floor. Neither Henson nor Monroe can space the floor, so they're a bit of an awkward fit offensively.

If the Bucks plan on keeping Jabari Parker at power forward in the future, Henson will probably be stuck in a backup big role. Even as the cap keeps on rising, there is a limit to how much any team can and should spend on its reserves.

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