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paulpressey25 wrote:Thought we could use a memory lane thread on the summer of 2005. Many of you were here as members and would love people's thoughts, both at the time and now in hindsight. It was perhaps the Bucks most epic off-season in terms of major moves made.

The Kohl era was starting to wear thin as the 2001 team imploded very quickly the next year, so 2005 brought amazing new optimism.

Highlights:

Bucks win the lottery and Bogut is #1 over Marvin. Chris Paul slips to #3 because he punched that guy in the nuts and got a bad reputation for it.

Larry Harris drafts Ersan in the 2nd round. Overlooked transaction.

At the February 2005 trade deadline, Herb Kohl cuts handshake deal to pay Michael Redd a max contract, so the Bucks don't deal him. He signs a 6-year/$90 million deal.

ZaZa signs a 4/$16mm offer sheet with the Hawks. Bucks decline to match as they've inked Dan Gadzuric to a 6/$36mm deal.

On a late Friday night during FA week, Mark Stein tosses out an ESPN.com bomb that the Bucks have signed FA Bobby Simmons to a 5/$47 million contract.

Then the big one - after holding a press conference where Larry Harris says he will "sink or swim" with Terry Porter as Bucks coach. Herb reverses course and fires Porter. We go on a coaching search where Kohl tries to lure Flip Saunders and Doug Collins but ends up with Terry Stotts.

Baddy Chuck wrote:Magloire erasure.

The Milwaukee Bucks continued to aggressively reshape their roster Wednesday by beating out a clutch of teams to acquire New Orleans/Oklahoma City center Jamaal Magloire.

Clinching the deal by offering its 2006 first-round pick without lottery restrictions, Milwaukee also sends swingman Desmond Mason and cash considerations to the Hornets for Magloire, an East All-Star in 2004.

The Bucks felt they needed a more physical presence on their front line to aid the development of No. 1 overall pick Andrew Bogut and the recently re-signed Dan Gadzuric. Magloire, like Mason, has only this season and next season left on his contract, lessening the immediate demands on Bogut without affecting the 7-footer's standing as a future cornerstone.

Given Milwaukee's logjam of swingmen after retaining Michael Redd, trading for Jiri Welsch and signing Bobby Simmons, a move involving Mason between now and the February deadline was widely seen as inevitable. This one gives the Bucks an opportunity to play Magloire and Bogut together -- the Australian from the University of Utah remains a candidate to start -- with Simmons starting at the other forward spot. The Bucks also have Gadzuric and Joe Smith in what suddenly looks like a well-rounded frontcourt rotation.

The Hornets have been shopping Magloire for months as part of their own makeover, which accelerated in February when Baron Davis, another former All-Star, was dealt to Golden State.

Frank Nova wrote:I wanted Magloire and Bogut to be the new Duncan and Robinson twin towers so bad. Eventually turned into Giannis and Brook and now Giannis and Myles so I guess it all worked out in the end. Just took a really long time lol

MickeyDavis wrote:Rick Majerus told the Bucks not to draft Bogut #1.

Licensed to Il wrote:

MickeyDavis wrote:Rick Majerus told the Bucks not to draft Bogut #1.

How come? Immaturity stuff? Or talent?

MickeyDavis wrote:

Licensed to Il wrote:

MickeyDavis wrote:Rick Majerus told the Bucks not to draft Bogut #1.

How come? Immaturity stuff? Or talent?

The 2 did not get along. Majerus told the Bucks to draft Williams (which would have also been a mistake). He also told the team (and other NBA execs) that Bogut had a degenerative eye disease, which Bogut denied.