[KingslayerParticipant]

This is part 3 of a series outlining the upcoming offseason for each team. Each part will break down a team’s cap situation, its short-term & long-term roster outlook, and how each team may approach the draft and free agency. Part 3 will be… the Milwaukee Bucks!

2015/2016 record: 33-49 *Contract values courtesy of Spotrac

Roster (16/17 salary) – Monroe ($17.1 mil), Middleton ($15.2 mil), Henson ($12.3 mil), Parker ($5.4 mil), MCW ($3.2 mil), Giannis ($3.0 mil), Vaughn ($1.8 mil), Ennis ($1.7 mil), Inglis ($1.0 mil), O’Bryant ($1.0 mil). TOTAL =~ $61.7 million

FA’s & Contract options (16/17 option/FA cap hold) – Bayless (UFA, $2.9 mil cap hold), Mayo (UFA, $12.0 mil cap hold), Vasquez (UFA, $9.9 mil cap hold), Plumlee (RFA, $5.3 mil cap hold).

R1 Draft picks (16/17 salary) – 10^th overall ($2.6 mil)

Total Cap Commitment: 61.7 mil + 2.6 mil = $64.3 million. $27.7 million in projected cap space. 

Backcourt – With Bayless, Vasquez and Mayo all UFA’s, the only guards on the roster besides Giannis and MCW are Ennis and Vaughn. The latter 2 haven’t shown that they can be meaningful contributors yet, and MCW is 1 of 2 starters on the team who fits terribly with the core 3. It’s clear IMO that the backcourt needs work this offseason. The Bucks will likely continue trying to trade MCW for a shooter or draft pick, as they badly need some outside shooting to space the floor on offense. They don’t need a creator or primary ball-handler at PG, just a guard who plays a smart 2-way game & can knock down 3’s. Wade Baldwin is an intriguing option in the first round given how well he could fit that description. I think this site’s mock is severely underrating him, and I see the Bucks at 10^th overall being his ceiling in this draft. Bayless isn’t perfect, but he also fits pretty well and they’ll likely try to re-sign him. If they trade MCW, I could also see them making an attempt to sign Mike Conley. The Bucks pick twice at the beginning of the second round (36 & 38), and they should look to add a shot-making guard who could contribute in year one off the bench, such as Kay Felder.

Frontcourt – Giannis playing PG on offense and being able to guard several positions on defense gives them so much versatility. Middleton and especially Parker have room for development next year, and they could really use some improvement from 3 pt. range by Giannis/Jabari. Monroe is the other awful fit on the roster as an immobile C that neither protects the rim nor shoots from outside. Like MCW, they will try to trade him for decent value or ride out the last year of his contract. Henson deserves more time on the court, which will only really happen if Monroe is traded. Plumlee will likely move on as an RFA, and Inglis/O’Bryant are likely even less able to contribute than Ennis/Vaughn. If Jakob Poeltl lasts until 10, they should sprint to the podium to make the pick. They may also consider F/C types who can either protect the rim/defend or potentially spread the floor like Davis or Ellenson. Depending on what happens with Monroe, they could be active in free agency looking for big men as well.

Outlook­ – Milwaukee has a talented young core in Giannis, Parker and Middleton, with the former 2 having significant upside. Monroe and to a lesser extent MCW have shown that they’re quality NBA players. However they’re terrible fits with this team. The Bucks are building around Parker and Alphabet, and neither are threats to shoot from outside at this time. So they need to fill up the rest of the lineup with as many shooters as possible. While the young stars could take a big step forward next season, I’m afraid it will be difficult for the team to greatly improve if MCW and Monroe are both playing prominent roles alongside them. The Bucks are armed with lots of cap space, the 10^th pick, and the aforementioned tradable assets. So they could make some noise to improve the team over the next couple months, but it won’t be easy. The front office did a nice job of front-loading Middleton’s and Henson’s contracts to save more space in future years. Considering that and the potentially special young talents on the roster, the future could be very bright in Milwaukee if they properly fill out the roster moving forward.

 

[Al PerezParticipant]

 love this Bucks team with Poeltl, idk if he will last til 10….I don’t think he should…..these are really good keep them coming…..one thing also is I think an under the radar signing to make the rich get richer would be Bayless to the Warriors, I could see him fitting there as contributor off the bench and maybe filling Barbosa’s role if he hangs em up…….MCW is he even a starter quality anymore? Never been real high on him; how about MCW to the Kings for Koufus/McLemore?! Fills a rim protector and adds a shooter to the team (who maybe if he escapes Sacramento could show more potential; black hole over there). MCW could start for the Kings with Rondo on his way out….Monroe seems harder to trade how many teams need a C in a PF’s body who can’t protect the rim and can’t shoot jumpers?!? Maybe Atlanta likens him as a replacement for Horford? Maybe Dallas but there defense would be brutal? How about Monroe and the 10th overall pick to the Pelicans for the 6th pick? He could work next to AD well and then the Bucks can snag Poeltl, Hield, or Jamaal Murray? Seems fair to me..

[kobyzParticipant]

 You hit it with Monroe and 10 for 6, playing alongside Davis is the best fit can find for a player like Monroe, and Bucks should do it if they can get with 6 Murray or Hield…

[kobyzParticipant]

 You hit it with Monroe and 10 for 6, playing alongside Davis is the best fit can find for a player like Monroe, and Bucks should do it if they can get with 6 Murray or Hield…

[Al PerezParticipant]

 love this Bucks team with Poeltl, idk if he will last til 10….I don’t think he should…..these are really good keep them coming…..one thing also is I think an under the radar signing to make the rich get richer would be Bayless to the Warriors, I could see him fitting there as contributor off the bench and maybe filling Barbosa’s role if he hangs em up…….MCW is he even a starter quality anymore? Never been real high on him; how about MCW to the Kings for Koufus/McLemore?! Fills a rim protector and adds a shooter to the team (who maybe if he escapes Sacramento could show more potential; black hole over there). MCW could start for the Kings with Rondo on his way out….Monroe seems harder to trade how many teams need a C in a PF’s body who can’t protect the rim and can’t shoot jumpers?!? Maybe Atlanta likens him as a replacement for Horford? Maybe Dallas but there defense would be brutal? How about Monroe and the 10th overall pick to the Pelicans for the 6th pick? He could work next to AD well and then the Bucks can snag Poeltl, Hield, or Jamaal Murray? Seems fair to me..

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

 What are your thoughts on Denzel Valentine and Thon Maker to the Bucks?

I like Valentines style of play especially alongside Giannis as a secondary ball handler and guy that can stretch the floor a bit. Obviously he’s not a super high ceiling prospect considering his age and athleticism which might be a problem in the NBA. Still like him though and wouldn’t be disappointed with him at 10.

Opposite side of the spectrum there’s Maker the ultimate boom or bust guy in this draft (like Giannis a few years ago, he wasn’t supposed to be NBA ready for a coupe years either). With the potential to be stretch 5 with crazy athleticism and length he could probably develop nicely alongside Patker in the future. Again wouldn’t be upset with him either. I think some gm is going to be too intrigued with Makers potential and he’ll go earlier than expected  maybe even by late lottery 

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

 What are your thoughts on Denzel Valentine and Thon Maker to the Bucks?

I like Valentines style of play especially alongside Giannis as a secondary ball handler and guy that can stretch the floor a bit. Obviously he’s not a super high ceiling prospect considering his age and athleticism which might be a problem in the NBA. Still like him though and wouldn’t be disappointed with him at 10.

Opposite side of the spectrum there’s Maker the ultimate boom or bust guy in this draft (like Giannis a few years ago, he wasn’t supposed to be NBA ready for a coupe years either). With the potential to be stretch 5 with crazy athleticism and length he could probably develop nicely alongside Patker in the future. Again wouldn’t be upset with him either. I think some gm is going to be too intrigued with Makers potential and he’ll go earlier than expected  maybe even by late lottery 

[KingslayerParticipant]

I’m relatively down on Valentine as a prospect compared to most so I don’t like the value of taking him at 10th overall. His lights out shooting could certainly help them, however he would be destined to play on the bench as long as he is in Milwaukee. He can’t defend PG’s, and will never beat out Giannis or Middleton for a starting spot on the wings. I think they should aim higher with the 10th pick. 

I really like Maker as a prospect, and if they think they can develop him physically to play C in a couple years then I’m all for it. I’m not sure if they need to take the risk he presents though. The Bucks already have sky-high upside with a couple players, with few surrounding pieces that fit well with them. They also have very little depth right now, and could use a rookie that should make an immediate impact. 

Others have mentioned trading up for Hield/Murray… Can either of these guys defend PG’s full time? I don’t think so, and unfortunately that makes their path to starting on Milwaukee pretty clouded. The Bucks surely don’t want Giannis chasing 6 ft PGs all over the court on the ball when he has such a large responsibility on the offensive end. They need their "PG" to be able to defend the position well and knock down 3’s. Both Murray and Hield could be tremendous off the bench for the Bucks, but the only way they could become starters would be to send someone like Middleton to the bench. 

 

 

[KingslayerParticipant]

I’m relatively down on Valentine as a prospect compared to most so I don’t like the value of taking him at 10th overall. His lights out shooting could certainly help them, however he would be destined to play on the bench as long as he is in Milwaukee. He can’t defend PG’s, and will never beat out Giannis or Middleton for a starting spot on the wings. I think they should aim higher with the 10th pick. 

I really like Maker as a prospect, and if they think they can develop him physically to play C in a couple years then I’m all for it. I’m not sure if they need to take the risk he presents though. The Bucks already have sky-high upside with a couple players, with few surrounding pieces that fit well with them. They also have very little depth right now, and could use a rookie that should make an immediate impact. 

Others have mentioned trading up for Hield/Murray… Can either of these guys defend PG’s full time? I don’t think so, and unfortunately that makes their path to starting on Milwaukee pretty clouded. The Bucks surely don’t want Giannis chasing 6 ft PGs all over the court on the ball when he has such a large responsibility on the offensive end. They need their "PG" to be able to defend the position well and knock down 3’s. Both Murray and Hield could be tremendous off the bench for the Bucks, but the only way they could become starters would be to send someone like Middleton to the bench. 

 

 

[kobyzParticipant]

 What about MCW for Patty Mills and a pick, spurs getting a slesher and a ball handler to replace Manu and Parker who are both done, bucks gettin a 3 point shooter for the pg position who wouldn’t need to handle the ball much…

[kobyzParticipant]

 What about MCW for Patty Mills and a pick, spurs getting a slesher and a ball handler to replace Manu and Parker who are both done, bucks gettin a 3 point shooter for the pg position who wouldn’t need to handle the ball much…

[OhCanada-Participant]

 How a about Monroe and MCW for Jeff Teague and Tiago Splitter.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 How a about Monroe and MCW for Jeff Teague and Tiago Splitter.

[BornaskulParticipant]

 could they maybe move up the draft and get Jamal Murray?

I mean he can shoot, something MCW definitely doesn’t bring, and Bayless is very effective as a 6th man .

 

[BornaskulParticipant]

 could they maybe move up the draft and get Jamal Murray?

I mean he can shoot, something MCW definitely doesn’t bring, and Bayless is very effective as a 6th man .

 

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