NBA Trade Rumors: Bucks Stuck with Lose-Lose Situation in Stephen Jackson
You get what you trade for.
The Milwaukee Bucks are finding out that Stephen Jackson is a real handful, on and off the court. It seems that Jackson wants a longer contract and he is about to pout until he gets one.
Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times reports that things are not all comfort cozy in Milwaukee. Jackson is sitting out practices with an injury and he is making contract demands known.
I can see why Jackson want another two years tacked onto his current deal. He has gone from the Golden State Warriors, to the Charlotte Bobcats to the Milwaukee Bucks. One more trade and he could end up in Siberia or worse, New Orleans.
The report states that things could go from bad to worse in Bucks country:
"Jackson is the second-highest paid player on the Bucks this season at $9.26 million. Andrew Bogut is the highest paid Buck at $12.1M. Jackson is also guaranteed $10 million for next season.
League sources said Jackson sought a contract extension last season from the Charlotte Bobcats and that was one of the primary reasons they shipped him to Milwaukee.
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Jackson was asked how important an extension would be and he adoringly threw out, "It's mandatory." The salty personality will surely make waves as the Bucks try to continue upward. The only thing is that Jackson is sure to bring them down.
I can hardly feel sorry for them as you know what you get when the malcontent guard graces your roster. They also knew he wanted an extension a year ago when they got him.
What they have now is a disgruntled employee that will have to stay disgruntled. The Bucks shouldn't kowtow to an aging guard when they continue to build a competent roster from the ground up.
This team needs youth and energy in the next few years and Jackson will hinder that from happening with a giant contract on the books.
They can just let him pout. What's the going rate on a player with back spasms that demands more money? He will need to play hard if he wants that payday from the Bucks or any other team.
Milwaukee is in the driver's seat in this situation.
