The Bucks dealt Miles Plumlee to Charlotte this week, getting out from under Plumlee’s $50MM contract while acquiring inexpensive big men Spencer Hawes and Roy Hibbert. Milwaukee GM John Hammond was widely lauded for the move, creating additional payroll while finding a willing trade partner for Plumlee, who had been relegated to 9.7 MPG through 32 games this season.
With the newfound future cap space, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical suggests Milwaukee may pursue a new deal for Tony Snell, who has averaged 8.1 points on 45.8% shooting in Khris Middleton‘s absence. A restricted free agent after 2016/17, Snell would command a significantly higher salary than the $2,368,327 he earned this season.
In the meantime, however, the Bucks have some roster configuring to do following this week’s trade. As Kevin Pelton pointed out for ESPN, Milwaukee’s depth chart at the five is suddenly loaded, with Hawes, Hibbert, John Henson, Greg Monroe, and Thon Maker all vying for court time.
At first glance, Hibbert appears the most likely to be traded or bought out by the trade deadline. The 30-year-old isn’t on the books for next season, and – if it’s any indication of his role on the team – has already been ruled a healthy inactive for Milwaukee’s game against Phoenix on Saturday. The Bucks have been linked to Hawes in the past, and the 28-year-old has a $6,021,175 player option for next season; a reasonable salary for a competent backup center, though there’s a good chance he’ll opt out.
If Monroe or Henson yield a more significant return on the trade market than the team’s newly-acquired veterans, it may not be a bad idea to trade one of them for a combo guard. As of right now, the Bucks are relying on a combination of Matthew Dellavedova, Malcolm Brogdon, and Jason Terry behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. Monroe has been subject to trade rumors throughout his two-year run in Milwaukee; last month, Monroe claimed to be undecided regarding his $17.8MM player option following the 2016/17 season.
The Bucks have already waived Steve Novak to accommodate Thursday’s trade, creating a center-heavy roster during a vital stretch of their playoff pursuit. In a league over-saturated with centers, Hammond’s challenge may involve finding a new home for one his five big men.
What do you think? Are the Bucks done dealing for now, or will they continue to be active before the trade deadline?
We’ll with all the losing in the last ten games they should definitely be willing deal besides Parker or giannis
Giannis isn’t going anywhere. No way would we ever trade our future, he’s the only untouchable the Bucks have. Trade Monroe, his value is high,and even with him playing well it isn’t helping the Bucks win games
Oh they have to make another deal before the deadline for Greg Monroe. Good on them for dumping the Plumlee contract. Now you have Henson, hawes, and maker. I think Roy will either get dealt or bought out. Not a bad move giving the fact he is relatively unproductive. Maker can play multiple positions and Henson CAN play the 4. The bucks have many guys that can play multiple positions. I think Hawes fits in well with them. They have to make a deal for Monroe though. He needs to go to a team where he’s going to be used the right way. Milwaukee was never a good fit for him and I believed that when he signed the contract and no everyone sees why. I know I’m not the only one that thought it was a bad fit in the first place. But yea he needs to go. Get some wings like you said. Their guards and wings are not reliable and I
Wouldn’t count on them going forward. With Middleton coming back they have a serious chance at playoffs but they need to go after a starting point guard and backup wings. I would hope they’re not done.
As A combo guard trading for Lou Williams would be a good quick answer for filling the need at the 1 and the 2 and his scoring ability can take the pressure off Giannis and Jabari. The Lakers would probably welcome the idea bring in Henson or Monroe. However the money matches up. Either fit.
I think Monroe has developed into an Enes Kanter-lite for the Bucks. Instant offense from the bench, but he’s overpaid for that role, unless the organisation sees how important the second unit has become in this league. GS and San An both use wholesale substitution to put a second team on the floor with a different identity. GS go from read&react and 3s to a nice interplay with Livingston and West in the high and low post, and McGee catching lobs, while the Spurs bring in Mills, Ginobli, Anderson and Bertans for a ball movement heavy squad, getting away from the ISO possessions of Aldridge and Leonard.
I think Hawes helps to unclog the lane for Giannis and Jabari. Hibbert should be cut, Henson is a nice backup, but so is Monroe. I don’t think they have a starting 5 amongst their players. I’d start Spencer, and split his minutes with Monroe, and emphasise defensive strategy amongst 1-4 to make up for Spencer/Greg’s deficiencies.
Henson would be a good pickup for the Lakers, the Blazers or Raptors. Surround Monroe with shooters, and spread the floor when Jabari and Giannis are on court.
Ideally you have Jabari and Giannis with three players who can hit the long ball… Middleton, Hawes and Dellevadova will have to do. When Monroe is getting touches with the second unit, I’d have Beasley at forward and Jet and Snell with Brogdon.
Basically the Bucks need shooting, big time, otherwise teams will keep packing the paint against them.
You know your stuff. Hopefully they won’t be like the Grizzlies and wait 5 years to get shooters lol
Monroe doesn’t shoot the ball, nearly as well as Kanter. Both are liabilities on defense.
Trade for more centers or sign Larry Sanders at all cost
I wish the Bucks luck in trading Greg Monroe but the trade market is over saturated with player like him. Antiquated NBA bigs. Monroe, Okafor, Vucevic, Valanciunas. Just to name a few centers that are offensively capable but no one seems to want them on their team.
Honestly, I’d like to see how they do with Middleton back. They could go on a run. He’s pretty much exactly what they needed. Dellavadova, Middleton, Giannis, Jabari, Henson
Brogdon, Snell, Monroe, Beasley, Terry, Teletovic, Maker, and I like the depth they can use to do different things in certain matchups
I think people are placing too much of an emphasis on Middleton. The man literally “ripped” his hamstring off of the bone. He should be thankful he can even walk again, let alone run up and down the court for 30 minutes. Unfortunately, he will be lucky to play 10 minutes a night for the remainder of the season. That is a pretty severe injury. He will “never” be the same player again. I say package Delly, Monroe, Vaughn, Snell, Hibbert and a future year’s #1 for Cousins, and sign him to a five year deal.
Yes he did but with medical tech the way it is now that’s not necessarily a death nail in his career. For example in 2002 and 2008 respectively WWE wrestlers HHH and John Cena tore their Quad and Left Pec muscles respectively and were back in 8 and 4 months respectively. That’s a different type of physical activity that’s true but wrestling (while the outcomes of matches are decided beforehand I grant you) is just as intensive on the body as the NBA if not more…
Uh, sure, good luck feeding Middleton the same anabolic steroid and human growth hormone they load into professional wrestlers.
Milwaukee has been disappointing this year. They should be a top 6 team in the East. Maybe they can turn it around like the Wizards have, when Middleton comes back, They’ve surely missed his shooting.
I’d rather see them trade Henson and Middleton , tank the season then get Malik monk or Dennis smith Jr. in the draft
1. Buy out Hibbert. He is perhaps the worst possible C for the Bucks defense.
2. Play Thon 15 minutes / night. They were willing to play Johnny O’Bryant and Rashad Vaughn and his 3.5 PER…but not Thon? Makes no sense.
3. Along the same lines, give JETs minutes to Vaughn.
4. Deal JET to a contender, extract a future 2nd Rounder. JET has been shockingly effective often with heavy minutes. Let the man have a run perhaps TOR or LAC?
5. Explore every possible avenue to trade John Henson. He’s a competent backup C but does none of the little things..set screens, sprint back on D after he misses, box out…it’s a frustrating habit for a team led by Giannis who is in the gym 12 hours a day. Getting his long term deal off the books should be a top priority. Is he worth Lou Williams or Nick Young? Flip him to the Mavs for Bogut’s expiring?
6. Keep playing Monroe. Dude is having a sensational year. His weight is noticeably down, he’s active on D, his rebounding solid, and he’s been the most reliable offensive threat in crunch time. Dude gets buckets. I say keep playing him because he’ll either attract a healthy trade offer, or it’ll give he and his agent the confidence not to opt in. Worst case is he’s back next year and that’s fine. Dude isn’t a great fit but he can ball. He never complains, true professional.
7. Go cheap filling out the C spot next year.
8. Draft the best Big available if they miss out on the Top 6/7 on the lottery. Ivan Rabb? I’ve not studied the mid lottery yet but you get my point.
9. Ease Middleton back gently. The season is lost, the only goals should be maintaining his health and restoring his confidence.
This season is lost at 21-28. Cleanse the cap, get roster flexibility, go young, jettison every C possible whilst going cheap, let the kids play, and let G and Jabari do their thing.
I also think we need a new coach. This is now two seasons in a row where Bucks fans have been disappointed after great optimism. The team plays horrible defense and effort always fluctuates. Time for a new voice. I like how Kidd developed the young players, but we are not seeing the results on game day. Look back at how many late game leads we have let slip away. Last night alone… we need a 3 and we have Maker, Snell, Brogdon, and Tele on the bench. they are our best 4 three point shooters. Head scratcher…
No matter how much the NBA game has shifted to the perimeter in recent years you still have to have a guy who can get a bucket in the paint when the game slows down and Monroe is the only guy on the Bucks who can do that. The biggest disappointment this year has been Dellavadova. He was supposed to be the 3&D PG they needed to compliment G and Jabari, knocking down 3’s when those two get him open by blowing by their man and playing lock down D on PG’s like Irving, Lillard, Lowry, Curry, etc… He had the potential to go 15ppg and 6apg while locking down guys and he just hasn’t. Kidd’s decision to play G at the 1 and missing Middleton (another 3&D extrodanaire who wouldn’t take ball handling away from G and Jabari) were also huge factors. Brogdon has proven to be a surprise for awhile at least and has earned his rotation spot. Teletovic and Terry were odd signings at that time and are worse now. Trading Plumlee was smart as the chemistry he showed with G last year all but evaporated this year. Maker is a tailor-made new NBA 4 and should be given more minutes to show it. Vaughn is… well it’s hard to classify him because he hasn’t really improved the way they thought he would but I’d give up on him being a starter at this point. Here is my opinion on their future.
Keep- G and Jabari (obviously), Delly, Middleton, Brogdon, Maker, Snell and… Monroe (for the reason listed above)
Trade- Henson, Hawes, Terry, Teletovic, Hibbert and Vaughn (if you can get rid of Henson of Hawes by packaging him if not keep him.
Target- Jusuf Nurkic and Will Barton Den, Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier Orl, Dante Exum Utah, several others but they aren’t on the top of my head…
They need Cousins.
That would take one of Jabari or Giannis bar none so if you are willing to let go of one of those guys sure if not better look elsewhere… My guess at a Cousins deal would be Monroe (for a money balancer), Vaughn (they need a young 2 and he is), Jabari or G, and 2 if not 3 future 1sts the King won’t take just anything in a Cousins deal he’s too good…
Yeah, you’re probably right. But if he is a problem for them, doesn’t get along with management, etc., the possibility always exists. Maybe if they threw Monroe, Delly, Henson, Vaughn, Hibbert and Tele and a #1 they just “might.” The Bucks would have Brogdon, Snell and Terry the rest of the way, and Cousins, G and Parker on the floor. That would be scary. Another free agent or two in the off season, and that could be a 50+ win team next year.
Sacramento is going to take a garbage can of the Bucks trash in exchange for the current best center in the league. Only if marijuana and LSD is involved.
Who other than you was delusional enough to believe that a bad player like Dellavedova was a good player in the first place? James makes everybody look good. Without James allowing him to be wide open and without James taking away part of his playmaking responsibilities, he’s just as bad as he’s really always been. It’s why Cleveland rarely played him unless James was on the court at the same time. It’s why he was benched by Cleveland in the playoffs. His entire awfulness has been exposed for what and who he genuinely is. It’s the Daniel Gibson Corollary.
To be fair though, Giannis and Parker would serve some of the same role as James would which is why I thought it might work. Giannis has more FG’s 3 feet or closer to the basket than anyone else in the league including James so he can clearly create open teammates when other defenders help on him. And btw seriously disrespectful man it was not appreciated…