3:19pm: The deal is official, with the Hornets acquiring Plumlee and cash considerations from the Bucks in exchange for Hibbert and Hawes, according to a pair of press releases. The Bucks also confirmed the release of Novak.
“We are excited to add Miles to our roster,” Hornets GM Rich Cho said in a statement. “He is an athletic big man who brings additional physicality and rebounding to our frontcourt rotation. He’s a proven player with a strong work ethic and we think he’ll fit in well with our core group.”
“Spencer and Roy are two proven NBA centers who give us additional depth and versatility in the front court,” Bucks GM John Hammond said of his team’s acquisitions. “The trade also gives us future cap flexibility as we continue to shape our roster. Miles and Steve are true professionals both on and off the court, and we wish them all the best.
1:22pm: The Bucks and Hornets have reached an agreement in principle on a trade that will send Miles Plumlee to Charlotte, according to Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Milwaukee will receive Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes in the deal, per the ESPN duo. The Bucks will release Steve Novak in order to clear a roster spot for the two incoming players, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter) that a trade call has been scheduled for later today to make the deal official.
Plumlee, 28, reached restricted free agency last summer, and eventually agreed to a four-year, $50MM deal with the Bucks. However, his role in Milwaukee has been reduced this season. Plumlee’s minutes per game have dipped from 14.3 to 9.7, and his other averages in several other categories have taken a hit as well. Most notably, he’s shooting just 44.1% from the floor this year after making more than 60% of his field goal attempts in 2015/16.
While the Bucks entered the season reportedly looking to move Greg Monroe, the former Piston has been a solid contributor for Milwaukee, and has split the majority of the club’s minutes at center with John Henson, leaving Plumlee on the outside looking in. In Charlotte, Plumlee should have the opportunity to earn a larger role, particularly with two Hornets big men – Hibbert and Hawes – heading the other way in the deal.
Hibbert and Hawes have each been part-time players for the Hornets this season, combining to average just under 34 minutes per game between them. Hawes has contributed 7.3 PPG and 4.2 RPG, while Hibbert has chipped in 5.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 1.0 BPG.
Considering there wasn’t much playing time available in Milwaukee for Plumlee, it may be difficult for both Hibbert and Hawes to carve out regular roles for their new team, but early indications are that the Bucks intend to keep both players, per Stein (Twitter link). It’s worth noting that the Bucks have been linked to Hawes in the recent past — his name came up in a Monroe trade rumor during training camp.
For the Bucks, the move represents a cost-cutting maneuver for the future. Although Hawes ($6.35MM) and Hibbert ($5MM) make nearly as much as Plumlee ($12.5MM) this season, neither player is under contract for long. Hibbert will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and Hawes could follow suit, if he turns down his $6MM+ player option for 2017/18. Plumlee, on the other hand, will earn a guaranteed $12.5MM salary annually through the 2019/20 season, limiting Charlotte’s spending flexibility down the road.
The Bucks will also eat a little dead money by cutting Novak, who had been on a one-year, minimum salary contract. Assuming he goes unclaimed on waivers, his $980,431 cap charge will remain on the books for Milwaukee.
While the trade is hardly a blockbuster, it’s an interesting move for two teams who are battling one another for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Currently, Charlotte maintains a tenuous grip on the No. 8 seed, with a 23-27 record, while Milwaukee is close behind, at 21-27.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Going for the veteran practice presence it seems. Can’t hurt.
I bet Hawes gets waived once he arrives
Disagree. Hawes won’t play much, but he’ll have a role with the Bucks.
Why would anyone sign Miles Plumlee to a 4 year $50M contract let alone TRADE for him. He’s a career 5.2 PPG and is averaging 2 PPG this year.
He’s making more money than Stephen Curry….
Good deal for Bucks. Open more PT for Thon & Henson. Also get out of the Plumlee deal when he isn’t even playing.
As a Hornets fan, can someone talk me off the ledge here? From a basketball standpoint, I like Plumlee more than Hibbert or Hawes but for 3 more years at 12 million each year? Ewww
Hopefully Rashad Vaughn comes with? Or we have another trade coming with TWO open roster spots
Trust me, you don’t want rashad vaughn.
True haha
Take Vaughn if they want to throw him in, he is only in his 3rd year I think, people give up on guys so quick and write them off as not capable or never having a chance. It’s all about getting minutes and who you play with has a big impact on how people view a player.
This trade is fair I think, sure plumlee got 50m but that’s gonna be the going rate for decent 3rd big men going forward. Biyombo got more, so did mahimni, mosgov, shoot even Noah got 18m a year! Teams were bidding and that’s where it ended up. Plumlee is athletic and in today’s game being able to get up and down the floor, run out on shooters, and finish above the rim is valuable. Hibbert and hawes and both stand still players, hawes can drive and pass a little but plumlee has more potential, once again he just needs a chance at some minutes before everyone thinks the guy sucks and general managers and front offices don’t know basketball.
Instead of Plumlee, you could always outbid Chicago for Cristiano Felicio, or max out Nerlens Noel so that Philly doesn’t match? Or maybe draft Thomas Bryant?
How is this opening more PT for Henson and Maker? You think Hibbert and Hawes are going to ride the pine? Hawes can shoot the 3, so he has value as well.
As a Bucks fan, I’m creeping down from the ledge that you’re climbing onto. I love this trade for the Bucks as Plumlee’s deal was a complete mistake and overpay. I don’t understand CHA’s motivation here.
Yeah now if only we could get redo on Delly…
Stuff is happening!!
Oh yeah Hubert, he’s not in Europe yet? Strange for Bucks imo
Simply trying to dump awful Plumlee deal they just signed. 4 yrs and $50m for him is insane. Cannot believe Bucks found someone to take that contract.
Us bucks fans coming out of the woodworks, great move to get rid of a terrible contract. Gives them off-season flexibility and yes it certainly gets a few more minutes for maker
Sheesh! How many centers do the Bucks need? I’m fine with this as it rids of Plumlee’s contract. Bucks probably aren’t making the playoffs this year so might as well get the younger guys playing time and dump some salary.
Rumor has it the Bucks are still looking to move either Henson or Monroe.
Great from a cap perspective.
But holy cow, Thon Monroe Henson Hibbert Hawes is 33% of the roster. They gotta shed at least 2 of these dudes right?
Thon is probably safe. Monroe and Henson both have kind of unappealing contracts.
I think Hibbert could be an interesting piece. He’s not the Hibbert of old, and shouldn’t expect that of him either, but he can be a decent rim protector. Boston maybe? Don’t know who they would send (James Young maybe?) but I’m sure Boston would have some interest. Hawes, on the other hand, probably could hold some appeal to some team but I don’t know who.
I just don’t know? I liked Plumlee when he was with Duke. As a pro and that ” guaranteed money” he’s being paid , he needs to start scoring, put up some numbers. He’ll get more mins. now. Time to show if he’s worth $12.5 mm, I doubt it. Glad to see MKG has found the basket again but for how long?
If Noah gets 18m, then plumlee is for sure worth 12 in today’s inflated salary world. He needs to get some bigger minutes before people write him off, and who you play with has big impact on how fans perceive a player too. I love it when everyone says a guy sucks and isn’t worth shit and the guy gets inconsistent minutes or plays with a shitty bench, people think other players are good but if you play them with some teams second unit they might look like crap too. Plumlee is athletic as heck and can get up and down floor, rebound and block shots, and finish above the rim, stats don’t mean anything if you play 10m a game. Of course some could say playing against backups should be advantage but stats are mainly offensive and if you don’t have players to get you ball as big man it’s gonna be tough to score or get easy shots.
Alright big smooth you talked me off the ledge! I do think Kemba needs a more athletic guy for the pick and roll. I am all about the move for this year, just not sold on it for the future. Wish we got some sort of pick back or Vaughn. I don’t like having 2 roster spots open, even though Mike Toby is getting one at the moment. I am also hoping Coach Clifford can have an impact on him like he did with Biyombo, and tried to do with Hibbert.
Good move by the Bucks but now they should trade Moose, Delly, and Henson to Boston for the Brooklyn pick and Marcus Smart
LOL ain’t 2k buddy
Plumlee looks like a Zeller clone. If Plumlee plays like Zeller then hopefully there will not be much difference in the Hornets’ style of play when Zeller is on the bench for a rest, in foul trouble, or hurt (which happens a lot). While Plumlee’s numbers are not that great, he is a much better fit for the Hornets than Hibbert or Hawes. Will also be seen whether Clifford continues his stubborn streak of not playing young guys like Woods or Tobey when he arrives.