Bucks Offseason Thoughts

The Milwaukee Bucks finished their 2015-16 season with a 33-49 record. Last season, they were hard team to describe last year. They had games where they'd beat teams like the 73-9 Golden State Warriors and end their winning streak at home to going and have awful nights after.  This team has a huge upside with the incredible length they have on the floor.  They have superstars in the making with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker. There were a little moments last year where you can see what this Bucks team could be in the future. Greg Monroe last year was signed to help rim protect. In fact, he was the complete opposite and was horrible on the defensive side of the ball yet seemed to put the points up. Michael Carter-Williams was injury plagued and has under performed during his time as a Milwaukee Buck. This team has upside and should be in conversation for the playoffs for years to come even after a down year after making the playoffs in Jason Kidd's first season. Look what they did in the off-season from Free Agency and in the Draft. They signed Matthew Dellavadova away from the NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade deal with the Cavaliers. Dellavadova's deal is a four year deal. In my opinion, Dellavedova helps add depth to the guard positions. He shot around 40 percent last year from three point land and from the field which is a huge upgrade over Carter-Williams. They added Jason Terry through free agency, a guy who played with Jason Kidd on an NBA Finals winning team. Terry's averages from last year around the same mark as Dellavedova from last year. The Bucks also brought back Marquette Alum Steve Novak. Last year, the Bucks added last year in a mid-season deal, but his homecoming was ended short last year due to an injury. In Novak's career, he has averaged around 43 percent from three point land and from the field. All three should add some veteran leadership to this squad. The Bucks lost Jerryd Bayless to the 76ers in the off-season and that was a big loss for a veteran sense for this team. Novak, Terry, and Dellavedova all bring that to this team. In the draft, the Bucks added to the guard positions by drafting Malcolm Brogdon out of Virginia. Brogdon averaged 18.2 ppg. and shot 45 percent from the field while shooting almost 40 percent from the three point arc. They added depth to the power forward position and from three point land by signing Mirza Teletovic from the Suns on a multi-year deal. He averaged all career highs in points, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage, and three pointers per game last season.  Teletovic also set a NBA record for three pointers by a reserve last season. He also played with the Nets in Jason Kidd's first year as head coach in Brooklyn. Adds some depth behind Jabari Parker and John Henson at the four spot. You add all that to what they have with Kris Middleton, Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis and Rashard Vaughn, it just gives them more shooters that can shoot the three. The best thing the Bucks did in the off-season was bringing back Miles Plumlee on a four year deal. Greg Monroe just doesn't fit what Jason Kidd wants to do defensively, and Plumlee does. Plumlee has played well in his time in Milwaukee last year averaged 3.8 rebounds per game in 61 games. Monroe's stats are about five rebounds higher, but Monroe just seems to be slow the basket on defense. To add to the crazy length on this team, Bucks General Manager John Hammond made yet another gutsy move in a draft. This year's first round pick for the Bucks just when he was drafted felt like an out of nowhere pick, sort of like it was a few years ago when the Bucks drafted the Greek Freak. People didn't know really much about him, but the Bucks apparently liked him at that pick. He played well  for the Bucks in Summer League and we'll see if it pays for the Bucks. Maybe it will have the impact the Giannis pick had but we'll see. In my opinion, the Bucks did well in off-season with what they added. For my expectations, if all goes right this could be a year where they end up back in the playoffs. Another year for the young kids to grow and mature add in all this veteran leadership, this could be a good year for the Bucks.