An Early Pre-Draft Plan Of Attack

[europa]

Since people are posting some suggestions for the offseason I thought I'd give Hammond something else to consider. He is monitoring RealGM, isn't he?

The plan starts by trading Mo for to Miami for Haslem. I've been explaining for well over a year now why this is such a perfect trade for both teams so I won't repeat any of it again. That gives you the following lineup:

PG: Sessions
SG: Redd/Bell
SF: Simmons/Mason
PF: Haslem/Yi/Villanueva
C: Bogut/Gadz

Let's say you stay put in the draft and keep your pick. You could draft a PG to team with Sessions. Or you could move Villanueva to Memphis for Lowry/filler. You then could trade the pick down (let's say to New Jersey for their two picks) and pick Rush or Douglas-Roberts and Thabeet. Let's say you take Rush and Thabeet. So now your roster is:

PG: Sessions/Lowry
SG: Redd/Bell
SF: Rush/Simmons/Mason
PF: Haslem/Yi
C: Bogut/Thabeet

You're crowded at SF but Dez's expiring deal will have value so you could look to move him in the offseason. Maybe combine him with Redd and make a big splash. Or combine it with Bell and go after something smaller. Maybe a S&T with the Hawks for Childress. Let's say you get lucky there. Now you're looking at:

PG: Sessions/Lowry
SG: Redd/Rush
SF: Childress/Simmons
PF: Haslem/YI
C: Bogut/Thabeet

The one issue is Simmons' deal but that's going to be a tough one to move anyway. So you keep him and hope that what he's shown to close out this season is a foreshadowing of what he can at least do next season. I'd run with that team for next season and see what it can do. That's a lot of wheeling and dealing but I don't think any of it is unrealistic. Plus, you've removed nearly all of your bad contracts and added talent in the process.

[Wise1]

I like. That's a team that I could live with going into next season. Trading with New Jersey for their two picks would be perfect.

From Jersey's standpoint though, packaging their two picks with Vince Carter may allow them to make a play for Beasley who I think will be there at #2.

[europa]

I like. That's a team that I could live with going into next season. Trading with New Jersey for their two picks would be perfect.

From Jersey's standpoint though, packaging their two picks with Vince Carter may allow them to make a play for Beasley who I think will be there at #2.

Yea, that's possible but I don't know if the team that gets Beasley will want to trade him.

I'd also add that you go with this team for a season and then keep looking to trade Redd. The Pistons under Dumars, for example, kept Stackhouse for two seasons (including one 50-win season) before trading him. But long-term you'd be looking to deal Redd while keeping his proven ability to score as an asset for your team in the short term.

[emunney]

I wonder if we could just trade CV for a middlish 1st and just take one of these swingmen (Rush/CDR/Smith/Batum/Alexander/Clark). I've been thinking lately that, in a trade down scenario, Earl Clark looks like a Pistons type of player.

[ReasonablySober]

I'd like to get a guy with at least some possibility of starting if we're dealing Mo. Haslem starting over Yi is laughable. It simply wouldn't happen.

[europa]

I'd like to get a guy with at least some possibility of starting if we're dealing Mo. Haslem starting over Yi is laughable. It simply wouldn't happen.

What's laughable is ignoring the fact Haslem is a proven starter in this league who currently is a much better PF than Yi. Now the hope would be that Yi improves and hopefully a lot because if he doesn't, there's no way in hell he should be starting. Unless you're of the belief that 5 points per game on 34% shooting is something the Bucks really need to add to their starting lineup.

[LUKE23]

Sessions and Haslem starting; we're probably bottom ten of the league at both PG and PF if that happens. Sessions hasn't proved he can play defense on the pro level well enough yet to warrant starting. Yi, although he struggled at the end of the year, should not be benched for Haslem before even getting a crack on his second year.

Those moves improve defense marginally, but that team is significantly worse on offense. Sessions/Childress/Haslem are all very limited offensively.

[Chapter29]

I really like the Haslem deal and think both teams would do it.

I am not for trading down in the draft. Either trade up or out for a solid 2 or 3 year vet with a blend of potential and production is my thought, but I would rather have #6, 7 or 8 over 2 lessor picks.

I love the thought of Childress and would pursue it as an option, I am just not very confident in that option.

Prior to moving Mo I would explore what it would take to move up to 1 or 2 in this draft. I would vastly overpay to do so, but not at the expense of Bogut. Highly unlikely (outside of lotto luck) but something I would investigate.

I would strongly consider a Mo for Childress type exchange if it was available. Our SF spot is very weak. Childress / Simmons would be nice.

I would then pull the Miami deal if available.

Beyond that?

I have no idea who would be interested in CV or perhaps Yi. One has to go and I would prefer it to be CV of course. The funny thing is that Yi is a risky proposition at this point. Still a high risk, high reward type player. CV is the better player at this point.

Draft best player available if all else fails.

[paulpressey25]

Europa, where does Gadz go in your offseason? We'll dump some long-term salary with Mo but need to dump more to offer a full MLE.

I'd co-sign the entire thing, but I'm not sure it could all come together. I think the part of trading #7 for #10 and #21 like Kirby said is great, but I don't see NJ doing it. I think they can get the same guy at #10 as at #7.....

I'm also not sure how we outwork a contender for Childress with the MLE but I like that to.....

It's a great plan....just not sure it could happen.

[emunney]

Trade down with Jersey, take Earl Clark and Dorsey? If Hammond is serious about defense and rebounding, that'd be a terrific start and would really set the tone for his tenure. Clark has a load of offensive potential, too.

[Sigra]

Still no franchise player (superstar/engine) in your plan.

How about we trade Bogut to Miami for Rose (if Miami get #1 pick)? It is risk of course but that is only way that we can get that superstar.

[LUKE23]

My main question is, where is the star on this team? The guy that's going to be the main man in the playoffs. Only basically one team in the past 20 years has contended without having a surefire superstar, the Pistons, and that team had four legit all-stars.

This team has a second round PG who has showed promise, but not the defense needed to become a starter. Childress is a nice player to have, but starter on a contender? I have my doubts. Haslem is a hustle player.

No way that team can ever get to contending level. You need talent to win in the NBA, that is why the best plan is to use the pick at 7 and grab the best talent available, or trade it with Redd or another package to try and land a star player.

That team listed above would definitely work hard and be "respected" by the fans, but it wouldn't win many games, and it wouldn't be able to get to contending level.

[xTitan]

The guards are still terrible and the Bucks would be going with an average at best SF....you obviously do not see Yi as any type of prospect at the PF spot and I don't understand wasting a draft pick on a young back-up center when you are going to sign your 23 year old center to a long term deal.

[ReasonablySober]

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What's laughable is ignoring the fact Haslem is a proven starter in this league who currently is a much better PF than Yi. Now the hope would be that Yi improves and hopefully a lot because if he doesn't, there's no way in hell he should be starting. Unless you're of the belief that 5 points per game on 34% shooting is something the Bucks really need to add to their starting lineup.

Selective stats again, europa? Say it isn't so!

As I said in the other thread, if Yi bombs then next summer we're right back to looking for a solution at PF either in the draft, via trade or via free agency. But unless you can find a way to get an effective Shaq and a healthy Wade to this team, Haslem is not a good starting PF.

[europa]

Europa, where does Gadz go in your offseason? We'll dump some long-term salary with Mo but need to dump more to offer a full MLE.

I'd co-sign the entire thing, but I'm not sure it could all come together. I think the part of trading #7 for #10 and #21 like Kirby said is great, but I don't see NJ doing it. I think they can get the same guy at #10 as at #7.....

I'm also not sure how we outwork a contender for Childress with the MLE but I like that to.....

It's a great plan....just not sure it could happen.

I'll worry about Gadz later.

I don't think it will happen but it is realistic. A Top 10 pick - even in a so-so draft - could get the Nets' attention. Let's say they love Westbrook to team with Harris. This is their way to do that. The Hawks can't pay everyone and they have to deal with Smith and Marvin soon. I think Childress could be acquired with this type of deal since it gives them a solid backup guard in Bell and an expiring deal in Mason. Bell is good insurance if the Hawks deal Bibby and his expiring deal next year. So it's a very realistic deal for them and one I think they would consider if they don't want to pay Childress.

What I like about the trade is you've removed two bad contracts, used Dez's expiring deal to significantly upgrade your SF position and added three young players with upside to the rotation in Lowry, Rush (or Douglas-Roberts) and Thabeet. Most importantly, you've significantly improved your defense since Haslem, Lowry, Rush/Douglas-Roberts and Thabeet are all good defenders. The potential for improvement on that end of the court is enormous in my opinion. Offensively, you're in quality shape with Redd and Bogut providing an inside-outside combination, Childress bringing terrific FG% shooting to the equation and Haslem offering a strong mid-range game. And if Yi improves, you're in even better shape.

[worthlessBucks]

I like the idea of the trading down and picking up some defensive intimidation in Thabeet, although PP's point of NJ's guy being there at 10 is very valid, we might have to sweeten that with a hometown CV (Brooklyn) and something on their end.

[europa]

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Selective stats again, europa? Say it isn't so!

The only thing crazy is ignoring the massive decline in production which Yi had in the second half of the season (as noted in the stats I posted) and not doing anything intelligent to make sure the team is protected in case his game doesn't show improvements next season.

I know people are really under-rating Haslem but people are really under-rating Childress too. He's a glue guy and a fine player who does a number of things well. He'd be a huge upgrade at SF.

And Luke, there is no "star" on this team but you're not going to get one in all probability this summer. So instead of chasing after a star, I'd say make smart improvements that strengthen your depth, vastly improve your defense and bring quality players to the offensive end of the court as well.

[LUKE23]

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The only thing crazy is ignoring the massive decline in production which Yi had in the second half of the season (as noted in the stats I posted) and not doing anything intelligent to make sure the team is protected in case his game doesn't show improvements next season.

I know people are really under-rating Haslem but people are really under-rating Childress too. He's a glue guy and a fine player who does a number of things well. He'd be a huge upgrade at SF.

And Luke, there is no "star" on this team but you're not going to get one in all probability this summer. So instead of chasing after a star, I'd say make smart improvements that strengthen your depth, vastly improve your defense and bring quality players to the offensive end of the court as well.

It's been one year for Yi. You just cannot give up on him after one year. Plugging in a role player over a second year player with a lot of promise just doesn't make sense man.

But the bigger issue with the Bucks is that they badly need to find a star. Trading down in the draft and adding just solid players doesn't make much sense. This team won't contend until they can find a guy better than Redd/Bogut. That happens by using the pick at 7 (more likely to be a star than in the 20's), or moving the pick with a package to try and get a player better than Redd/Bogut.

The team listed in the original post maybe is a .500 team, with a ceiling of maybe 45 wins. No chance at being a contender without a superstar.

[europa]

Luke, I'm not giving up on Yi. I'm protecting the team in case his game doesn't show improvement, and you could make a strong argument it needs to show marked improvement if he wants to be a starter in the NBA.

And a 41-45 win team would be a HUGE step forward for this team. I'd take that. You then keep adding pieces to the equation and improving as you go along. The bottom line is it's going to take time to improve this team. You're not going to contend overnight in all probability. If you told me the Bucks could shed bad contracts, make significant improvments defensively and add quality role players to the mix and win 41 games next season with the potential to improve in the years to come I'll take that.

And I'm betting John Hammond would too.

[ReasonablySober]

41-45 wins for this team would be about the worst possible thing for this franchise.