[zcnumerounoParticipant]

Free Agency:

– Take a long hard look at Bismack Biyombo. He just had the game of his young career against the Cavs, owning the paint on both ends of the court. He will all but opt of his $2.9 mil player option and command a lucrative contract this offseason.

– Try to resign Jared Bayless. Bayless has played some of his best ball for Milwaukee. Sure, he hasn’t been the all-star many thought he’d be coming out of college, but he has turned in a nice career thus far as a solid 6th man and a nice backup combo guard. He provides much needed shooting and playmaking off of the Bucks bench.

– Dwight Howard? If the Bucks would rather sign a bigman with a longer and more proven track record, perhaps they’d look at Superman. Dwight has the Bucks on his short list of free agent destinations which shocked me, as the Bucks are never on those. The only way I’d love to see him in the Bucks uniform is if it’s a short-term prove it deal. Let’s face it, Dwight may not even be worth half of what he’s making now.

– Be weary of Ezeli. He’s a talented, athletic big man who can protect the rim well. Sounds great, right? Well, I’d be careful. He’s shown to be injury-prone and has never played more than 17 minutes per game.

– Delly? The Cavs may not be able to afford their blue-collar backup PG, and he fills everything the Bucks need. He could step in and start at PG, which wouldn’t be a problem since Giannis will be the primary ball-handler/creator, help the Bucks space the floor and provide some more perimeter defense for a team that disappointed on that end of the floor this year.

– Look to trade MCW and Monroe – MCW’s skills are obsolete in Milwaukee now as the Bucks have found a longer, more versatile and talented (plus younger) version in Giannis. They have too similar playing styles that don’t and won’t mesh on the court. Although he’s disappointed, MCW still has potential and a cheap contract. Monroe also doesn’t fit – the Bucks need shooting and rim protection and Monroe offers neither. He’s talented sure, but he is not a good fit in Milwaukee. I think he’d look good in Portland red next season.

– Test the free agent waters. Guys like Batum, Bazemore, Whiteside, Boban, Zaza, Mahinmi, Deng, Liin, Tyler Johnson, and Stephenson may be worth looks. Be careful and conservative though.

NBA Draft:

Options at Pick #10:
1) Trade down… From looking at all the possible scenarios for the Bucks at the 10th pick, unless a top-tier prospect falls, it seems destined to reach for a prospect. Hope & pray that a desperate team will ignore the huge dropoff of talent after the top 5-7 picks and trade up.
2) Deyona Davis? He’s a talented young and athletic bigman with excellent per-minute stats at Mich St. He is, however, raw and is a questionable fit at the 5, which is what he’d probably have to play if the Bucks want him to eventually start.
3) Wade Baldwin. I know another forum member mentioned this fit, but the fit is too good. Baldwin is not a natural PG, but he wouldn’t have to be with the Bucks. He’d fit right in with his pterodactyl-like wingspan. He’s got a lot of potential and a lot of mocks have him all over the place (with the mock on this site inexplicably not having him in the first round). His shooting and defensive upside will be welcomed into Milwaukee with open arms. He may be a reach at 10, however.
4) Skal Labissiere. Even if the Bucks sign a bigman and/or keep Monroe, Skal’s potential may be too good for the Bucks to pass up. He was once considered by some to be the top prospect in this year’s draft. He is rough, however, and had a poor freshman year at Kentucky but his potential will be hard to ignore at this juncture.
5) Jakob Poetl. I’m not in love with Poetl, but I think he’ll be solid at the next level. He just doesn’t jump off the page to me and seems destined to be a solid at best starting center.
6) Demetrius Jackson. Like Baldwin, he’s not a natural PG but wouldn’t have to be in Milwaukee. He’s a good scorer and defender, which would help the Bucks. I would prefer Baldwin over Jackson because of Baldwin’s versatility and upside.
7) Furkan Korkmaz. The Bucks need scoring and shooting and Furkan provides both. I think the Bucks would be better off drafting a PG or center, two positions of greater need.
8) Marquese Chriss. A wildcard here for the Bucks, but it just seems like a Milwaukee pick. Chriss is incredibly raw, but is a talented and versatile big man who can do a bit of everything.

Pick #36 and #38:
1) Malcolm Brogdon. Elite 3-and-D man with a winner’s mind. I think he’ll vastly outperform his projected early 2nd round stock.
2) Gary Payton II. Great defender and rebounder for his size. Hard worker. He would help any NBA team.
3) Jameel Warney. A late riser in the draft who can score and block shots who can immediately help the Bucks down low.
4) Jake Layman. As a Badger fan, I have watched Layman for a few years and have come up very impressed by his body of work. He’s surprisingly athletic, can defend and shoot very well.
5) Patrick McCaw. An excellent 3-and-D prospect with length.
6) Josh Hart. Perhaps the best player on the national champions. I believe he’s underrated and is a good shooter and defender. I think he’ll be an excellent role player in the league.
7) Jaron Blossomgame. You can never have too much shooting and defense, which is something the Bucks desperately need.
8) Fred VanFleet. If the Bucks can’t nab Delly, here’s a guy who offers a similar skillset.
9) Zhou Qi. The ultimate wildcard in this year’s draft. He’s so long and so skilled, yet so thin.

The Bucks vastly underperformed in relation to their expectations this year. However, I believe that this year was a success to a degree. The young studs on the Bucks have preformed well, with Giannis playing like something the NBA has never seen before after his move to primary ball-handler and Jabari showcasing what he’s got with his first full NBA season under his belt (needs to improve defensively though). Hopefully the Bucks can set the reset button on the Monroe signing and compete for a playoff spot next year!

[Edgecat20Participant]

 Don’t think they could pull it off, but I’d be making calls to try to trade  up in the draft in hopes to get one of  Murray, buddy, or Dunn. And part ways with Monroe or MCW

[Edgecat20Participant]

 Don’t think they could pull it off, but I’d be making calls to try to trade  up in the draft in hopes to get one of  Murray, buddy, or Dunn. And part ways with Monroe or MCW

[mamadouParticipant]

A center defensive minded/off ball, letting alphabet, middleton and parker the majority of the scoring, shots.

An off guard 3 and D, all your Baldwin-Jackson-Delly are obvious fits.

I would keep Monroe and make him the favorite for 6th men of the year tho…

A better starting 5, better D, better flow, better Parker…and a better bench at the same time.

You need fire power, depth and some nba experience(not that many players under contract).

Monroe is not a fit with your pieces in the starting 5, but he’s still a very productive player, uses him for the best(he’s ben gordon at the 5, more productive, more efficient, more W with less PT), he has a short deal and you’re ok financially.

Synergy….so PO team, it’s that simple(maybe not if 45 wins are needed, like the bulls this season).

Some steals in the 2nd round, add my mens Hayes and Levert to the list, on ball, off ball, playmakers, all around game, fitting the versatility mold you’re trying to create with your U-25 big 3.

Poeltl is a solid fit at 10, good demeanor, motor, 7’1, quick feet(D aspect) + big time rim runner, can play on or off the ball, can pass, rebound or block a shot, seems he can shoot a FT, important aspect for a C("PT-touches-money time" ceiling) and he’ll eventually add a 15 footer to his game, he has more hands and touch than 70% of the starting C’s in these playoffs…really.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mamadouParticipant]

A center defensive minded/off ball, letting alphabet, middleton and parker the majority of the scoring, shots.

An off guard 3 and D, all your Baldwin-Jackson-Delly are obvious fits.

I would keep Monroe and make him the favorite for 6th men of the year tho…

A better starting 5, better D, better flow, better Parker…and a better bench at the same time.

You need fire power, depth and some nba experience(not that many players under contract).

Monroe is not a fit with your pieces in the starting 5, but he’s still a very productive player, uses him for the best(he’s ben gordon at the 5, more productive, more efficient, more W with less PT), he has a short deal and you’re ok financially.

Synergy….so PO team, it’s that simple(maybe not if 45 wins are needed, like the bulls this season).

Some steals in the 2nd round, add my mens Hayes and Levert to the list, on ball, off ball, playmakers, all around game, fitting the versatility mold you’re trying to create with your U-25 big 3.

Poeltl is a solid fit at 10, good demeanor, motor, 7’1, quick feet(D aspect) + big time rim runner, can play on or off the ball, can pass, rebound or block a shot, seems he can shoot a FT, important aspect for a C("PT-touches-money time" ceiling) and he’ll eventually add a 15 footer to his game, he has more hands and touch than 70% of the starting C’s in these playoffs…really.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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