Bucks looking at Bledsoe, probably.

[WRau1]

I don't think Sanders will ever live up to his contract.

Sanders doesn't have to live up to the contract to have a much bigger impact on wins than he did last year.

He'll probably play the same amount of games as last year, too.

[LUKE23]

I'm interested to hear how much you'd wager on that comment. Roughly 25 or less games again for Sanders huh?

[JoeJohnson2two]

I'm interested to hear how much you'd wager on that comment. Roughly 25 or less games again for Sanders huh?

I didn't know Gery had an account here...

[skones]

We're not on the verge of contending. That's the problem. We're very early in the rebuilding process. If Parker and Giannis don't hit, do you really want to be paying a Kyle Lowry caliber player the max? Good luck with that.

I'm talking about how he could look in 4 years after injuries took a toll on him, I think he's better than Lowry right now and for the foreseeable future.

I'm not sure he IS better than Lowry. There are a number of metrics out there that show Lowry was the better player of the two last season, though I don't think that's a certainty going forward.

Who else are we allocating that money to? We need to takes big risks to get a big reward. If we continue to meddle in the middle you end up with OJ Mayo and Zaza Pachulia. Bledsoe is a risk, but there is a huge reward if it works out. And unless he pulls a Danny Granger/Eric Gordon he will be a tradeable asset throughout that contract.

Are we going to act like Free Agency doesn't happy every season, and that this is our ONLY opportunity to spend money or nab a quality point guard? The argument WHO ELSE are we allocating that money to is irrelevant at this point because a number of factors come into play for next offseason and the following one. Players progress. Guys take leaps. You get a feel for where Giannis and Parker are headed as players thus are able to get a guy that fits well with them, (I'm not sure Bledsoe does personally). You don't think there's going to be a player worthy of spending money on over the next couple of offseasons? Acting like it's Eric Bledsoe or the OJ Mayo's and Zaza Pachulia's of the world is ridiculous.

Obviously risks are necessary, but I feel like throwing a ton of money at Bledsoe is more of a blind hack rather than a swing with intent. We're so early in the build process that we don't even know what we have in this roster yet. Things should be kept open, flexibility maintained, and Bledsoe takes that away at max dollars. If Parker-Giannis doesn't work out, and Bledsoe is around at the max, I shudder to think of what this board will be like. It'll be Redd all over again, and we'll be screaming for a tear down, while stuck with Bledsoe.

And no. If you think Bledsoe is a "tradeable asset" throughout that contract you're fooling yourself. Max contracts that don't work out are not "tradeable assets." Have we not seen how difficult it is to unload guys like Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, David Lee, etc? When guys like this are proposed in deals here on RealGM, Bucks fans go **** and are quick to say "ABSOLUTELY NOT."

[Rockmaninoff]

This is so reminiscent of the 2005 offseason.

After we landed Bogut, we had a prime opportunity to slowly rebuild and we blew our wad right away. From the get go we should have been force feeding Bogut while reinforcing the idea that he was the future of the team. Instead we foolishly went crazy in free agency. People in here ate it up too.

Michael Redd was an unrestricted free agent and the primary target of the Cleveland Cavaliers who wanted to pair him with their other hometown hero. Problem was Redd was never going to turn down the extra year and 18 million dollars we could offer him. We should've done a sign and trade for some assets from Cleveland and instead we gave out a pretty horrendous max contract to a guy that never came close to being worth it.

We then re-signed 28 year old Dan Gadzuric to a 6 year 36 million dollar deal. Everyone and their grandmother knew that was a horrendous deal from the get go. To top it off, we signed Bobby Simmons for nearly 50 million dollars and everyone here rejoiced. I believe Wise's exact quote was "Pop your collars, Milwaukee."

Just before the season began we then traded for yet ANOTHER center in Magloire to move our #1 overall pick away from his natural position of center. All this time we should have been making moves to boost Bogut's confidence, yet we made a horrendous series of them to destroy it. I remember a thread on this board after the Magloire trade contemplating whether or not we could win the Eastern Conference.

Fast forward to today and we all know that was a franchise altering/putrid offseason. Bogut's confidence was gone before he ever took the floor.

Now. I'm not saying signing a guy like Bledsoe would be anywhere close to an offseason like that. I am arguing against the precedent it's setting and the fact that it would make our new owners full of **** when they talked about building this thing in a 3-5 year window.

Right now, we need to be building around GiaBari. In the long run, if we signed Bledsoe he'd be at best our third most important player. One problem I can see arising is Bledsoe not knowing/believing that. In his eyes, he just signed a big contract to come to a small market, play under an all time great at his position and he is now the man. I get a strong sense his style of play would change greatly and not in a good way.

Given the strength of the point guard position, and the fact that both Giannis and Jabari are at their best with the ball in their hands, all we really need at point guard is a guy who won't turn it over, make the smart/extra pass in a half court set, make an open jump shot and play solid defense. I think there is a good chance we have that guy already in Wolters.

I get why people like Bledsoe. His style of play can be very exciting and he can ignite a crowd. To me, signing Bledsoe now would be giving up on a title. I think we are one true impact player from a championship core, and that's IF both Giannis and Jabari pan out. Some may argue Bledsoe could be that impact player but I just don't see it. If he truly was or had that kind of potential, he'd be locked up, and Phoenix wouldn't have drafted another point guard to go along with their star PG Dragic.

Bottom line, he is somewhat available for a reason. Stay the course, acquire assets for dead salary and enjoy watching our young players grow. Bledsoe maybe makes you a playoff team and in a few years maybe you win a playoff series or two. I dream of bigger things.

1. I think Bledsoe considers MKE because he becomes the man in the backcourt. He comes here because of Jabari, not in spite of him. It's then on the strong personality of Coach Kidd to keep everyone inline.

2. I disagree that all that is needed at PG is a role player. NBA is an arms race. Good teams need as many good weapons as possible. It's limiting to settle for less, and it puts too much pressure on the young frontcourt.

[FlagsFlyForever]

I don't know how it's absurd to want to not pursue a long term deal with a 29 year old point guard next summer.

Not something I'd even remotely consider.

We can only offer a 4 year deal. Why is age important? 28 year old Bledsoe will be a free agent in 2018 if we sign him. 32 year old Dragic will be a free agent in 2019 if we sign him. Dragic comes cheaper and allows us to get a better draft pick this year which is valuable to me (I'm in the camp that expects this Bucks team to be terrible next season). Which is why I also am not going to dismiss Mudiay as a possibility (Chad Ford's #2 prospect behind Okafor).

The point is we will have other opportunities in the future. I can't tell you right now exactly what they will be, but they will be there for the Bucks.

[Chuck Diesel]

Dragic is 29 next summer.

If many are ruling out a 24 year old Bledsoe because Giannis and Parker are only 19, why would we want to pair a 29 year old Dragic with two 20 year olds?

Wait, what do you guys think happens to point guards when they turn 29? Dragic has at least another four years of high level basketball left. The age thing in relation to being paired with our youngest players is bonkers. Players aren't signed to 10 year contracts. I'll be happy to provide a list of what point guards do from from 29-33.

[Baddy Chuck]

I don't get the money argument at all. We should be ONLY signing difference makers. We don't have many shots at difference makers in free agency. Bledsoe is a difference maker. Couple that with the fact that he's a YOUNG difference maker? We're really going to complain about spending on that? I don't think we could spend $14-15 million any better the next 4 seasons.

[trwi7]

Dragic is 29 next summer.

If many are ruling out a 24 year old Bledsoe because Giannis and Parker are only 19, why would we want to pair a 29 year old Dragic with two 20 year olds?

Wait, what do you guys think happens to point guards when they turn 29? Dragic has at least another four years of high level basketball left. The age thing in relation to being paired with our youngest players is bonkers. Players aren't signed to 10 year contracts. I'll be happy to provide a list of what point guards do from from 29-33.

I'm just saying some are saying Bledsoe is too old to pair with Giannis and Jabari and Dragic is 4 years older. I'd much rather have Bledsoe than Dragic though because of age and I don't think that's unreasonable.

[breakchains]

Knight + Ilyasova for Bledsoe makes some sense and is something I'd be more than willing to give up.

With Bledsoe at the point (really, with whoever at the point), Knight would be a net negative as the starting SG. If he is on this team, Knight should come off the bench.

Bledsoe - Middleton- Giannis - Parker - Sanders seems like it a great blend of strengths. It would be an ideal run and gun type team and IMO may end up looking like one of the most promising young cores in the entire league by the end of the year. Not to mention Wolters/Henson as young bench players.

[coolhandluke121]

This is so reminiscent of the 2005 offseason.

After we landed Bogut, we had a prime opportunity to slowly rebuild and we blew our wad right away. From the get go we should have been force feeding Bogut while reinforcing the idea that he was the future of the team. Instead we foolishly went crazy in free agency. People in here ate it up too.

Michael Redd was an unrestricted free agent and the primary target of the Cleveland Cavaliers who wanted to pair him with their other hometown hero. Problem was Redd was never going to turn down the extra year and 18 million dollars we could offer him. We should've done a sign and trade for some assets from Cleveland and instead we gave out a pretty horrendous max contract to a guy that never came close to being worth it.

We then re-signed 28 year old Dan Gadzuric to a 6 year 36 million dollar deal. Everyone and their grandmother knew that was a horrendous deal from the get go. To top it off, we signed Bobby Simmons for nearly 50 million dollars and everyone here rejoiced. I believe Wise's exact quote was "Pop your collars, Milwaukee."

Just before the season began we then traded for yet ANOTHER center in Magloire to move our #1 overall pick away from his natural position of center. All this time we should have been making moves to boost Bogut's confidence, yet we made a horrendous series of them to destroy it. I remember a thread on this board after the Magloire trade contemplating whether or not we could win the Eastern Conference.

Fast forward to today and we all know that was a franchise altering/putrid offseason. Bogut's confidence was gone before he ever took the floor.

Now. I'm not saying signing a guy like Bledsoe would be anywhere close to an offseason like that. I am arguing against the precedent it's setting and the fact that it would make our new owners full of **** when they talked about building this thing in a 3-5 year window.

Right now, we need to be building around GiaBari. In the long run, if we signed Bledsoe he'd be at best our third most important player. One problem I can see arising is Bledsoe not knowing/believing that. In his eyes, he just signed a big contract to come to a small market, play under an all time great at his position and he is now the man. I get a strong sense his style of play would change greatly and not in a good way.

Given the strength of the point guard position, and the fact that both Giannis and Jabari are at their best with the ball in their hands, all we really need at point guard is a guy who won't turn it over, make the smart/extra pass in a half court set, make an open jump shot and play solid defense. I think there is a good chance we have that guy already in Wolters.

I get why people like Bledsoe. His style of play can be very exciting and he can ignite a crowd. To me, signing Bledsoe now would be giving up on a title. I think we are one true impact player from a championship core, and that's IF both Giannis and Jabari pan out. Some may argue Bledsoe could be that impact player but I just don't see it. If he truly was or had that kind of potential, he'd be locked up, and Phoenix wouldn't have drafted another point guard to go along with their star PG Dragic.

Bottom line, he is somewhat available for a reason. Stay the course, acquire assets for dead salary and enjoy watching our young players grow. Bledsoe maybe makes you a playoff team and in a few years maybe you win a playoff series or two. I dream of bigger things.

Cleveland wasn't going to give up assets for Redd. They didn't have any, and they had a max salary slot to offer to Allen, Joe Johnson, or Hughes if Redd turned them down. Only Joe Johnson was restricted, and Phoenix would have been hard-pressed to match.

Portland's gm did publicly suggest trading Van Exel's expiring contract and the #3 pick for Redd in a sign-and-trade. That would have been interesting. Could have had CP3.

I wanted Haslem more than Simmons, but didn't disagree with anything until they traded for Magloire. Usually I would blame management for such poor signings, but in this case I think much of the blame was on the players. Magloire was in his prime but couldn't bounce back from a friggin' wrist injury the year before ffs. Redd got fat. Bogut pouted and slouched for 2 entire seasons. Simmons got hurt. That could have been a good team.

[Baddy Chuck]

Wait, what do you guys think happens to point guards when they turn 29? Dragic has at least another four years of high level basketball left. The age thing in relation to being paired with our youngest players is bonkers. Players aren't signed to 10 year contracts. I'll be happy to provide a list of what point guards do from from 29-33.

I think when they turn 29 your window is short to take advantage of their play. Dragic and Rondo may have 4 years of high level basketball left, but Giannis and Parker are probably 4 years away from high level of play. With Bledsoe you have 4 years of high level player before he reaches that 28-29 age with one push left to play with our young guys, you don't get that with Dragic or Rondo.

[WRau1]

I'm interested to hear how much you'd wager on that comment. Roughly 25 or less games again for Sanders huh?

I don't bet on things I can't control, that's a terrible use of money.

[Ill-yasova]

I don't get the money argument at all. We should be ONLY signing difference makers. We don't have many shots at difference makers in free agency. Bledsoe is a difference maker. Couple that with the fact that he's a YOUNG difference maker? We're really going to complain about spending on that? I don't think we could spend $14-15 million any better the next 4 seasons.

I think you could spend it better by spending it 2 years from now. You sign Bledsoe to a 4 year contract and the rest of your core isn't even developed until after we have been to paying him for 2-3 years. We'd be paying him $30 mil to help our team win 25-35 games for the next two years. We wanted a structured, long-term rebuild and that doesn't seem like the best way to accomplish it.

Sent From My Rotary Phone

[Chuck Diesel]

If many are ruling out a 24 year old Bledsoe because Giannis and Parker are only 19, why would we want to pair a 29 year old Dragic with two 20 year olds?

Wait, what do you guys think happens to point guards when they turn 29? Dragic has at least another four years of high level basketball left. The age thing in relation to being paired with our youngest players is bonkers. Players aren't signed to 10 year contracts. I'll be happy to provide a list of what point guards do from from 29-33.

I'm just saying some are saying Bledsoe is too old to pair with Giannis and Jabari and Dragic is 4 years older. I'd much rather have Bledsoe than Dragic though because of age and I don't think that's unreasonable.

I would probably take Bledsoe over Dragic too, but not over Dragic and another top lottery pick. This all boils down to where you think our roster is right now and where it would be with the addition of Bledsoe. I personally think Bledsoe puts us at about 35-40 wins, which as we all know too well is the worst amount of wins.

[JoeJohnson2two]

I may be in the minority here but I'd give up Knight and Henson for Bledsoe. I'm not a believer in Henson (never have been and I'm a HUGE North Carolina guy) and Knight's numbers are comparable to a guy like Kemba Walker's so he's not as valuable an asset as some might think.

[cinematographer]

Getting lost in all of this is that Nate Wolters might already be actually good.

[Baddy Chuck]

I personally think Bledsoe puts us at about 35-40 wins, which as we all know too well is the worst amount of wins.

But where do you think we are without him? Do you think we win 15-20 games without Bledsoe to get that high draft pick? I don't.


To me it comes down to I think it is VERY rare to get a legit difference maker that can grow with your team. I'd love to take a few years before adding another 24 year old difference maker, but I don't think this opportunity presents itself very often. And I see adding a 28-30 year old difference maker as being absolutely foolish.

[RRyder823]

I don't know how it's absurd to want to not pursue a long term deal with a 29 year old point guard next summer.

Not something I'd even remotely consider.

We can only offer a 4 year deal. Why is age important? 28 year old Bledsoe will be a free agent in 2018 if we sign him. 32 year old Dragic will be a free agent in 2019 if we sign him. Dragic comes cheaper and allows us to get a better draft pick this year which is valuable to me (I'm in the camp that expects this Bucks team to be terrible next season). Which is why I also am not going to dismiss Mudiay as a possibility (Chad Ford's #2 prospect behind Okafor).

The point is we will have other opportunities in the future. I can't tell you right now exactly what they will be, but they will be there for the Bucks.

But even if you think the Bucks will be terrible you still can't think they be anywhere close to as bad as Philly. And with Philly being the odds on favorite for the #1 pick you'd have to bet they also are targeting Mudiay. Hanging you hat on that and just hoping to have more luck then the other teams picking at the top of the draft isn't the best of plans in my opinion.

I'd rather overpay for Bledsoe now and hope he turns into a true stud along with Giannis and Parker then simply hope we're bad enough next year, and I don't think they will be one way or another but that's neither here nor there, to have a realistic chance at Mudiay and then once again only being able to hope we get luckier in the lottery then Philly and/or any other teams targeting him.

[FlagsFlyForever]

Wait, what do you guys think happens to point guards when they turn 29? Dragic has at least another four years of high level basketball left. The age thing in relation to being paired with our youngest players is bonkers. Players aren't signed to 10 year contracts. I'll be happy to provide a list of what point guards do from from 29-33.

I think when they turn 29 your window is short to take advantage of their play. Dragic and Rondo may have 4 years of high level basketball left, but Giannis and Parker are probably 4 years away from high level of play. With Bledsoe you have 4 years of high level player before he reaches that 28-29 age with one push left to play with our young guys, you don't get that with Dragic or Rondo.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying. But why do you want Bledsoe when you admit that Giannis and Parker are 4 years away for playing at a high level? Bledsoe will be a free agent by the time Parker and Giannis are hitting their stride. That is exactly the reason I don't want Bledsoe. I would much rather chase Bledsoe the next time he's a free agent.