30 Teams in 30 Days: Milwaukee Bucks

2007-08 in Review

Record: 26-56
Eastern Conference Seed: 13

Summer Of 2008

Key Additions: Scott Skiles (via coaching change), Richard Jefferson (via trade), Joe Alexander (via draft), Luke Ridnour (via trade), Tyronn Lue (via free agency), Francisco Elson (via free agency), Malik Allen (via free agency), Damon Jones (via trade).

Key Losses: Larry Krystkowiak (via coaching change), Maurice Williams (via trade), Yi Jianlian (via trade), Desmond Mason (via trade), Bobby Simmons (via trade), Royal Ivey (via free agency), Michael Ruffin (via free agency), Jake Voskuhl (via free agency).

For the past couple of years, Bucks fans have expressed their desire for the organization to “blow up” the roster and establish a new attitude. This summer, the low-quantity fan base finally got its wish, as Milwaukee’s 2008 training camp roster consists of just six returning players.

The first big move of the offseason came directly after the 2007-08 regular season had come to a close. In the third week of April, the Bucks replaced head coach Larry Krystkowiak, whose career coaching record stands at 31-69 (.310), with the tough-minded presence of Scott Skiles. The 44-year-old no-nonsense coach was fired by the Chicago Bulls just 25 games into the '07-08 season, but holds a respectable 281-251 (.528) career record.

Having Skiles on the sidelines ensures a new style and attitude for the Bucks. Known as a defensive-oriented coach, Skiles let his new team know from the start that he refuses to settle for poor defense and minimal effort. In fact, he noted that his goal is to turn Milwaukee into one of the most aggressive defensive teams in the league.

He will have his work cut out for him, however, in trying to gel this completely revamped roster together.

The first big roster move made this summer took place on draft night, when the Bucks acquired high-scoring forward Richard Jefferson from New Jersey in exchange for a package of Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.

Jefferson holds career averages of 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and three assists per game, and averaged a career-high 22.6 points this past season. Pairing the freakishly athletic 6’7’’ swingman with sharpshooter Michael Redd could very well one of the most devastating one-two scoring punches in the Eastern Conference this coming season.

It will not, however, form the one of the most offensively talented trios, as guard Mo Williams was sent packing to Cleveland in a three-team blockbuster that landed the Bucks the services of Luke Ridnour as well as the expiring contracts of Adrian Griffin and Damon Jones.

On paper, this deal looks like a rough situation for Milwaukee, but if you thoroughly think about each and every factor, it makes perfect sense. One reason why is the simplest to figure out—the financial aspect of the trade. Williams is set to make over $43.5 million over the next five years, whereas Ridnour’s salary runs just two years in length for a total of $13 million, while Griffin and Jones’ combined $6.17 million contracts come off the books in a matter of months.

In addition to that, Ridnour’s pass-first style of play is undoubtedly a better fit for Milwaukee’s offense than the score-first qualities of Williams.

When watching this team on the offensive end of the floor in recent years, it has been overly stagnant for the majority of the game. Why? Because the team had been lacking reliable options to initiate a flowing offense. Ridnour and Ramon Sessions aren’t quite as talented as Williams, but they fit the mold of what this offense has needed—ball movement.

To add veteran depth, Milwaukee signed guard Tyronn Lue and big men Malik Allen and Francisco Elson to short-term deals. Lue should help Skiles set the tone in practice with his defensive intensity, while Allen and Elson give the team more formidable options than the likes of Jake Voskuhl or even Dan Gadzuric.

Despite the effort to bring in more experienced players, the team still had the eighth overall selection to play with in June’s draft. With that pick, Milwaukee took West Virginia forward Joe Alexander, whose raw ability is highlighted by his jaw-dropping athleticism.

Standing at 6’8’’, Alexander possesses a 38.5’’ vertical leap to go along with an 8’10’’ standing reach, making him one of the most physically impressive prospects in this year’s draft class. With time, hard work, and proper tutelage, there’s no reason for Alexander to fail in the pros.

To cap off the summer of “in with the new, out with the old” transactions, the Bucks extended the contract of center Andrew Bogut, whom they selected first overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. The contract is said to run for five years at a whopping price tag of $72.5 million. Bogut indeed held post-All-Star break averages of 16.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, but $72.5 million? Huh?

That almost nullifies the whole idea of moving Williams, in a sense, especially when considering the $42.4 million remaining on Richard Jefferson’s deal.

Regardless, Milwaukee has an asset that most NBA clubs are without—a well-rounded and reliable starting center.

Depth Chart

C: Andrew Bogut / Francisco Elson / Dan Gadzuric
PF: Charlie Villanueva / Malik Allen
SF: Richard Jefferson / Joe Alexander / Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
SG: Michael Redd / Charlie Bell / Adrian Griffin
PG: Luke Ridnour / Ramon Sessions / Tyronn Lue / Damon Jones

Biggest Strength

One-Two Punch: When you combine the '07-08 scoring averages of Richard Jefferson and Michael Redd, you come up with a combined total of 45.3 points per game. You also come up with 207 three-point buckets and a free throw percentage above the 80 percent mark.

Mixing Jefferson’s finishing ability and extraordinary athletic ability with Redd’s basketball IQ and sweet shooting stroke is going to produce one of the most talented wing duos in the NBA.

Biggest Weakness

Toughness: One of the things that I believe will hold the Bucks back from making a significant jump is their interior weakness. Andrew Bogut is highly skilled, but the rest of Milwaukee’s interior cast is rather soft.

Even then, you could say that Bogut lacks consistent aggression. Charlie Villanueva is more of a perimeter big and a combo forward than a power forward, and, at times, he is a significant defensive liability.

Off the bench, you’ve got a cast of mediocre (at best) reserves in Malik Allen, Francisco Elson, and the most erratic of them all, Dan Gadzuric.

Unless Bogut develops a legitimate mean streak out of nowhere, which probably isn’t realistic to expect, the team is going to continue depress inside. Scott Skiles can preach toughness, but coaching emphasis becomes moot without on-court production in that respective area. The Bucks are perhaps a banger away from being a playoff threat.

X-Factor

The Emergence of a Point Guard: As previously touched upon, the pass-first mentalities of Luke Ridnour and Ramon Sessions fit this team’s needs more than the likes of a scoring guard, such as Mo Williams. However, neither of these two guys are proven at the pro level.

Sure, Ridnour once put up 11.5 points and 7.0 assists per game on a lackluster Seattle Supersonics squad. Sure, Ramon Sessions lit it up this past April with beastly averages of 11.5 points, 11.3 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per outing. But can he do it consistently, and can Ridnour learn to be more efficient and/or be able to defend an elderly woman in a wheelchair? That remains to be seen.

Whatever the case may be, Scott Skiles will need one of these guys to set themselves apart from the other in order to establish a consistent and flowing offense. Both guards have the talent and ability to do so; now it’s about going out there and doing it.

What to Expect in 2008-09

Scott Skiles is going to demand constant energy, aggressiveness, and defensive intensity, but, quite honestly, I don’t think that this roster has the tools to complement his style just yet. Expect minimal improvement, but with at least eight new faces and a completely new system to adopt, it’s going to be difficult to make the jump into playoff status, even in the Eastern Conference.

The one thing that should be anticipated, however, is more heart. Last season, watching this team was a disaster because only a very small handful of players played like they cared. Skiles will not accept that.

2008-09 Predictions
Record: 31-51
Central Division: 4th Place
Eastern Conference: 12th Place

Tomorrow: Minnesota Timberwolves