Michael Redd and the Milwaukee Bucks: The Sound of Getting Back

The sound of swish can be heard on an empty court with bleachers already cleaned from all the trash littered during the Milwaukee Bucks' last game. The sweat-drenched Michael Redd is practicing his shooting touch—one-two dribble then concluded with a pull-up jumper. "Swish" as the deafening noise echoed the empty stadium, like a seasoned shooter in target practice hitting nothing but the net, with deadly precision.

Redd is preparing for his comeback with the Bucks after two straight years of suffering ACL and MCL injuries in the same knee. It has been a long rehabilitation. And with his contract expiring, it’s becoming a mandatory obligation for him to really get back.

It has been two seasons, and Milwaukee seems to move on pretty well. Andrew Bogut has since came out from his shell, giving the Bucks a double-double output (points and rebounds) and shot-blocking presence.

However, Redd really wanted to get back and has worked doubly hard on his rehabilitation. It’s not about the money or contracts. It's about trying to prove to everyone that he still can be deadly from beyond the arc, and that he still can contribute to the team. It has been a Cinderella career for him after being a second-round pick to becoming an all-star and playing on the U.S. Olympic team. He wants a happy ever after ending.

However, Milwaukee seems not to be too eager to see him back. The Bucks continue to get the insurance money that covered 80 percent of Michael’s $18.3 million salary. It really helps the franchise, especially if you are paying someone who is not playing at all. If Michael is healthy enough to play the Bucks remaining games, it will cost the team some millions of lost insurance payments.

Redd has been a step slower now, and even while he was still healthy, his defense was always suspect. But it was no doubt he had been carrying this team on his back for years. He has been loyal to this franchise, and all he needs is just a second chance—one last-ditch effort before calling it a career.

The sound of "swish" once again echoed around the empty bleachers, around the empty arena. Michael Redd perfects his shooting touch with a one-two dribble and a pull-up jumper….swish! It’s the sound of net being murdered over and over again, but beyond that, it sounds like a determined player wanting to get back.