My rebuild

[Wade-A-Holic]

Objectives
- To bring in guys that will play defense, play hard, and play unselfishly
- To add draft picks and young talent
- To make the summer after the '09-'10 season the cut-off for bad contracts. Hopefully, by then, our young talent will be emerging and we will be able to add a very good free agent to the team while being able to afford to hold onto our own keepers

Trades
1) Trade Mo Williams and our 2nd round pick to Portland for Darius Miles and the #13 pick.

Miles' contract expires at the target year. He will NEVER even meet the team. His career is over. The Bucks tell him to stay away. It's merely for contract purposes. The Blazers need a point guard who can break down defenses off the dribble and score. Williams' defensive deficiencies will be greatly helped by an otherwise pretty sound defensive team and the presence of a premier shot blocker in the middle (Oden). The nice part about this deal for Portland is that it doesn't affect their goal of having cap room to pursue someone next off season.

3) Trade Michael Redd, Charlie Villanueva, Dan Gadzuric, and Bobby Simmons to Cleveland for Wally Szczerbiak (expiring), Anderson Varejao, Damon Jones (expiring), Eric Snow (expiring, cut), and Cleveland's 1st round pick (probably #19) this year and 2 years from now.

The Cavs greatly bolster LeBron's supporting cast while the Bucks get cap space, a young, defensive minded big in Varejao, and two additional 1st round picks.

Draft
Pick #'s are estimated seeing as they aren't certain right now.

#7: PF Kevin Love. I know this is a controversial pick. People either love him or hate him. I'm actually somewhere in between. I think if he loses that baby fat, you'll see his lateral quickness improve. As for his leaping ability, he's so strong and so good with positioning that it doesn't affect him a WHOLE lot in terms of rebounding. His shot blocking ability has improved and is now adequate. He can probably play some center too.

#13: PG Russell Westbrook. He defends, plays unselfishly, and can score in a variety of ways. He's got athleticism, ability, and a good work ethic to go with it.

#19: SG/SF Brandon Rush. A good athlete who is the type of player that will bother opposing wings defensively with his length and athleticism. Offensively, he's unspectacular, but he's fundamentally sound, will hit shots, and will play within himself.

PG: Westbrook/Sessions/Jones
SG: Bell/Rush
SF: Szczerbiak/Mason
PF: Yi/Love
C: Bogut/Varejao

By the end of the 2009-2010 season, our contract situation will consist of whatever we give to Bogut and Sessions + the rookie contracts of Yi, Love, Westbrook, Rush, and whoever we take next year. Varejao is possibly still around as well. This team is probably bad enough next year to get us a top 3 pick.

This probably all sucks and is really far-fetched, but I'd like to see it.

[trwi7]

Memphis wouldn't do it. The difference (if there is any at all) between Redd and Miller is not having to take on Gadzuric and giving up Lowry and a 1st.

Not bad. Mo would be a good fit in Portland. I could see them doing it if Miles isn't given medical retirement.

I don't see why Cleveland does that trade. They have Wallace, Varejao, Ilgauskas and Smith. I don't see where they would find room for Villanueva. Simmons sucks too so I doubt they want him. I think Mo would interest them the most of anyone on our roster.

Wow sorry no offense but I hate those first two draft picks. No way would I spend a lottery pick on Love or Alexander. Is Alexander even entering the draft?

[Wade-A-Holic]

Memphis wouldn't do it. The difference (if there is any at all) between Redd and Miller is not having to take on Gadzuric and giving up Lowry and a 1st.

Not bad. Mo would be a good fit in Portland. I could see them doing it if Miles isn't given medical retirement.

I don't see why Cleveland does that trade. They have Wallace, Varejao, Ilgauskas and Smith. I don't see where they would find room for Villanueva. Simmons sucks too so I doubt they want him. I think Mo would interest them the most of anyone on our roster.

Wow sorry no offense but I hate those first two draft picks. No way would I spend a lottery pick on Love or Alexander. Is Alexander even entering the draft?

You're probably right about the Memphis deal. I edited that deal out.

Miles has refused to retire, so the Blazers will not be receiving a medical retirement exception for him.

There is a good chance that Joe Smith won't be back with Cleveland next season. Furthermore, none of those other big men are big minute guys. There are minutes and a role to be had for Villanueva there.

Alexander hasn't said if he's entering the draft yet, but I'm guaranteeing that he's going to move up draft boards if he does after workouts and other summer rookie stuff. He's only been playing organized basketball for five years and the areas of his game that need the most work are extremely correctable and coach-able. His competitive nature, athleticism, and work ethic are second to none. DX has him at 11 in next year's draft and nbadraft.net has him at 7.

I'm reading that he probably won't come out in this draft, so I put Russell Westbrook in his place (uncertain whether he'll come out either).

I knew the Love pick would be controversial, but you wouldn't even take him anywhere in the lottery? That seems pretty ridiculous to me.

[th87]

I'd see if I could turn two of the draft picks into Conley.

Then develop the younguns and tank HARD. Like Miami style.

A well-developed Bogut, Yi, Sessions, and Conley, plus our top pick would look pretty good to that free agent class.

[Tug0bwerdna]

That sounds like a 20 win season, max.

[th87]

That sounds like a 20 win season, max.

For now, that's the point.

[Sigra]

Here is mine:

1) First we trade Mo Williams.

Why you ask? Because he is stupid and you can't have stupid PG. You can have stupid SG (Redd) if your PG is inteligent and if your coach is inteligent. But you can't have stupid PG under any circumstences (unless you have play making SG and we don't and can't)

For who you ask? Well, who could want him? Miami could. Cavs could. Rockets could. So something like this:

Mo for Haslem
or
Mo for Varejao (my dream scenario)
or
Mo for Battier

2) Then we trade CV & Gadzuric in package. Who wants that package you ask? Gadz is negative value so we can get only something worse than CV. Who could want CV? Wariors could. Memphis could. Phoenix could. So something like this:

CV&Gadz for Al Harrington (If GS wants to get rid of his contract)
or
CV&Gadz for Collins & Lowry
or
CV&Gadz for Diaw (my dream scenario)

3) We draft best aviable PG. Trade down if you can get him with lower pick.

PG: our pick
SG: Redd
SF: Diaw
PF: Varejao
C: Bogut

Bench: Sessions, Ivey, Bell, Mason, Simmons, Yi, Ruffin (If Yi improve a lot then you start Yi and Varejao is on bench)

4) HIRE REAL COACH

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

Great post Wade-A-Holic. I don't know the desires of the other teams involved, but from our perspective it looks good.

[msiris]

Sorry, but your drafting is a lot to be desired. No way to Love. Joey Dorsey completely shut him down. Why take a PG after Rose when nobody is head and shoulders above Sessions. I know you don't like Greene, but I would roll the dice with the 2nd pick on Green, since rookie contracts are only two years with club options on the rest.

[St.Nick]

GS is not taking Dan Gadzuric on. Not only does he not fit our system, but he doesnt fit any system. And he gets paid a lot to suck so bad.

Regarding your desire to trade Mo Williams, I think the Haslem deal is your best bet. They want Mo and you guys need a rebounder.

Asking for a lotto pick in return for Mo is excessive, btw.

[Sigra]

Sorry, but your drafting is a lot to be desired. No way to Love. Joey Dorsey completely shut him down.

Love will be better than Lee IMO. He should be better than Scola too and Scola is important part of Rockets. I would love Love. He and Bogut alone would be interesting to watch. If you run offense through them and give them good scoring guards then .... oh wait

[barbados73]

With my rebuild I am keeping in mind that Herb won't let the Bucks just completely rebuild without at least fielding a team, that they can sell to the average fan, that has a chance to make the playoffs. Basically I am looking at getting guys that can play some D while also fixing the cap problems. So here it is--

1)This is from another post I have seen but I like the deal and think it would make sense. Trade Redd and Dez to Chicago for Hughes, Nocioni, and their 2008 1st(currently #9)

2)Trade Mo, Yi, Gadz, and Simmons to the Lakers for Odom, Ariza, and Radmanovic. The Lakers don't seem to sure that they want to resign Odom so he would be a good sized expiring along with a player that can help the team next year. The Bucks give up Yi(who would be huge in the LA market) basically to get rid of the contracts of Gadz, Simmons and to a point Mo.

3)Trade CV and C.Bell to Seattle for E.Watson and A.Griffin. Watson comes in to be a solid starter until Sessions is ready full time.

Draft-- #7 Eric Gordon
#9 DeAndre Jordan

PG-E.Watson/Sessions
SG-Hughes/E.Gordon
SF-Nocioni/Ariza/A.Griffin
PF-Odom/Radmanovic
C-Bogut/D.Jordan

The Bucks wouldn't have any contract over 2 years besides Nocioni and Radmanovic(3years) and whatever they do with Bogut. Hopefully D.Jordan can develop into a PF and play with Bogut.

[msiris]

-= original quote snipped =-



Love will be better than Lee IMO. He should be better than Scola too and Scola is important part of Rockets. I would love Love. He and Bogut alone would be interesting to watch. If you run offense through them and give them good scoring guards then .... oh wait

Just not a big fan of Love. He will have trouble against players like Dorsey. But your right. It would be interesting to watch them play together. Two tanks in the middle.

[conleyorbust]

I like your trades and think that they are fairly realistic, I just wonder if Love's strengths on offense aren't a litte too similar to Bogut's and his weaknesses on defense aren't a little too similar to Bogut's... also.

You know what could be intriguing - the Lopez bros. Its possible you could snag both of those guys and Rush. You'd have 2 7-footers starting in the front-court. Brook can hit the midrange J and let Bogut play in the low post. He's also quick enough to get out and cover the quicker PFs but big enough to be another intimidator as a shotblocker. Robin is a Varejao-esque hustle guy and defender. I guess if you were getting Andy V you wouldn't need to do that and you could go after a guy like Green/Budinger/Collison with that 13th pick.

[Wade-A-Holic]

Sorry, but your drafting is a lot to be desired. No way to Love. Joey Dorsey completely shut him down. Why take a PG after Rose when nobody is head and shoulders above Sessions. I know you don't like Greene, but I would roll the dice with the 2nd pick on Green, since rookie contracts are only two years with club options on the rest.

That's ridiculous. UCLA completely abandoned Love in the post. He consistently had position and looked like he wanted the ball. They just wouldn't dump it down to him. UCLA's guards got duped into playing Memphis' game, plain and simple.

Edit: I just became a major hypocrite and said something that is one of my major pet peeves. I DESPISE it when people play the "did you even watch the game?" card. Sorry.

[Wade-A-Holic]

I like your trades and think that they are fairly realistic, I just wonder if Love's strengths on offense aren't a litte too similar to Bogut's and his weaknesses on defense aren't a little too similar to Bogut's... also.

You know what could be intriguing - the Lopez bros. Its possible you could snag both of those guys and Rush. You'd have 2 7-footers starting in the front-court. Brook can hit the midrange J and let Bogut play in the low post. He's also quick enough to get out and cover the quicker PFs but big enough to be another intimidator as a shotblocker. Robin is a Varejao-esque hustle guy and defender. I guess if you were getting Andy V you wouldn't need to do that and you could go after a guy like Green/Budinger/Collison with that 13th pick.

The argument that Love's weaknesses might be too similar to Bogut's is a good one, and one that I considered myself. However, more than anything, if I'm in charge of the Bucks, I'm looking to change the attitude and feel of this Bucks team from one that is generally apathetic to one that works hard and has a win-at-all-costs attitude. That, along with the fact that Love is incredibly skilled, is why I went with him.

Brook I'll take. When I think of Robin, the words "suck" and "loser" come to mind... He's much worse than Joakim Noah, who sucks, and talks even more trash than Noah, which is saying a lot.

[Licensed to Il]

Love is a classic example of a guy that could look really good and help a pro team win, or really terrible, like he shouldn't have even gotten drafted. It will depend on what scheme he is in, how his coach feels about him, and how much the guys around him can cover for his lack of side to side mobility and lift. He is not a quick guy or a leaper. He would be among the worst starting 4's in the league in both of those critical measurables. However, his intangibles are excellent and he can really shoot it for a big. I got to think he will be better than Troy Murphy... but I think we are looking at that kind of player.

Kevin Love = a better passing Troy Murphy.

[Wade-A-Holic]

Love is a classic example of a guy that could look really good and help a pro team win, or really terrible, like he shouldn't have even gotten drafted. It will depend on what scheme he is in, how his coach feels about him, and how much the guys around him can cover for his lack of side to side mobility and lift. He is not a quick guy or a leaper. He would be among the worst starting 4's in the league in both of those critical measurables. However, his intangibles are excellent and he can really shoot it for a big. I got to think he will be better than Troy Murphy... but I think we are looking at that kind of player.

Kevin Love = a better passing Troy Murphy.

I don't like the Troy Murphy comparison. He's MUCH stronger and is a MUCH better passer. Murphy is a soft player. Love is physical and relishes contact inside.

You are right that the system will be important for him. Obviously he's not going to flourish playing for the Suns.

[conleyorbust]

-= original quote snipped =-



I don't like the Troy Murphy comparison. He's MUCH stronger and is a MUCH better passer. Murphy is a soft player. Love is physical and relishes contact inside.

You are right that the system will be important for him. Obviously he's not going to flourish playing for the Suns.

That's not entirely true... he's have been a pretty good backup C for them before the Shaq trade while they were still in small-ball mode. He can yank down boards and whip those outlet passes like few others.

Craig Smith has shown the ability to score in the NBA and he is smaller than Love... he also looks like he has about 40lbs of muscle on Love. Shelden Williams on the other hand, drafted by my own beloved Hawks by the way, couldn't make the transition from college stud to NBA role player and he was both stronger and more athletic than Love.

If you could get those picks, I'd hope Love were around for the second one and take someone else with the first.

[gobbler]

Sorry, but your drafting is a lot to be desired. No way to Love. Joey Dorsey completely shut him down. Why take a PG after Rose when nobody is head and shoulders above Sessions. I know you don't like Greene, but I would roll the dice with the 2nd pick on Green, since rookie contracts are only two years with club options on the rest.

I don't think it is a bad draft. I kind of like it. I do have doubts that a bunch of mid-round picks are going to turn the Bucks around. Love is hit or miss, but he's a good gamble if you have all those other picks. I like the Westbrook pick. While I like Sessions, he barely got drafted and is struggling with his shot, so I don't know why you're acting like he's got the PG spot cemented down. Westbrook has more potential. Plus, unless you're in love with Bell and Ivey at PG, it helps the team to have another good PG.