6;15pm: The two sides are working on a long-term extension deal, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com (on Twitter).
4:41pm: Jared Dudley has exercised his option to stay with the Bucks, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Dudley is now scheduled to earn $4.25MM with the Bucks for 2015/16. Since Dudley’s contract was signed before new CBA in November of 2010, his ETO decision date was grandfathered in as June 30th rather than June 29th, Stein adds (link).
Dudley, who turns 30 on July 10th, came to the Bucks in a deal last August with the Clippers. At the time, he wasn’t happy with the move, but he said back in March that he eventually became comfortable in Milwaukee, thanks in part to Jason Kidd‘s coaching style. Dudley also said that he would like a long-term deal with the Bucks and that he was willing to take a discount to sign one. With the Bucks, Dudley also got to show the world what he can do when he’s healthy:
“The trade [to Milwaukee] was the best thing for my career, where I got with a training staff that got me healthy and when I’m healthy, I’m the player you see now and the player you saw in Phoenix,” said Dudley, who claims that he played the entire 2013/14 season with a fracture in his right knee at the request of Doc Rivers.
In 72 games (22 starts) last season, Dudley averaged 7.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 1.8 APG. Dudley also shot 38.5% from downtown, an improvement over his 36% showing in 2013/14.