Miles Plumlee to Re-Sign with Bucks: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction
Veteran post player Miles Plumlee reportedly re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein, citing Plumlee's agent, Mark Bartelstein, reported that "Plumlee and the Bucks have come to terms on a four-year, $52 million deal." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Charles F. Gardner also reported on the four-year agreement.
Plumlee spent the first half of last season as an afterthought in Milwaukee, as he averaged just 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds. He took on a larger role in the Bucks rotation following the All-Star break, however, and proceeded to average 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in a shade under 20 minutes per game.
The 27-year-old Duke product has also made stops with the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns across a career that's just four years old. In all, he's averaged 5.6 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 53.4 percent from the field across 228 games with 121 starts.
Although he played better during the latter stages of last season, there were still questions about his future as a restricted free agent. Gardner previously noted the center wanted to remain with the Bucks, though.
"I'm just really thankful for the opportunity to get out there and play," Plumlee said. "I love the game. I love the team here. I think we're building something really special and I hope to continue to be a part of it."
He also understood the business aspect, though, adding: "I leave all the strategy up to my agent. My whole job I focused on was playing well and putting myself in a good position."
Ultimately, Plumlee gets his wish of staying in Milwaukee while the franchise attempts to turn the corner toward becoming a more serious threat in the Eastern Conference. The team hasn't advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs since the 2000-01 campaign.
He'll need to build off his late-season success in order to earn consistent frontcourt minutes next season. The Bucks will also have Greg Monroe, Jabari Parker and John Henson, among others, fighting for playing time in the post.
That said, Plumlee has proved he can be a valuable asset in the starting lineup or coming off the bench, even if he doesn't put up big numbers. So keeping him in the mix helps the team's overall depth.
