Since the Bucks dismissed Mike Budenholzer on Thursday, we haven’t heard much about which head coaching candidates the team may be eyeing to replace him. Appearing on ESPN’s NBA Countdown on Friday (YouTube video link), Adrian Wojnarowski said he thinks Milwaukee can afford to be patient and perhaps wait for more teams to be eliminated from the playoffs in case a veteran coach employed by one of those clubs becomes available.
“Is there a coach or two who either becomes free with the team they’re at or there’s a conversation to be had with a team about a potential coach?” Wojnarowski said. “Because this is a Bucks team with Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s an incredibly attractive job.”
It’s unclear which coaches Wojnarowski might be referring to. There was some speculation entering the postseason that Nuggets coach Michael Malone could be on the hot seat if Denver exited the playoffs quickly, but Malone’s club has looked pretty good so far.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com doesn’t expect the Cavaliers to view free agent forward Dillon Brooks as a good fit, arguing that Cleveland’s defense is good enough to win in the playoffs and observing that Brooks is a “half-court liability” on offense, where the team needs to improve. Fedor names Kelly Oubre, Donte DiVincenzo, Harrison Barnes, Max Strus, and several other players as more logical free agent targets.
- Among the burning questions facing the Cavaliers this summer will be whether or not they bring back Caris LeVert and what Ricky Rubio‘s role will be going forward, says Kelsey Russo of The Athletic.
- The fact that the Bulls didn’t trade Nikola Vucevic at February’s trade deadline signals that they probably intend to re-sign him this offseason, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, who believes Vucevic’s price will be at least $18MM per year or so.
Cavs don’t have any burning questions.
Vucevic wouldn’t be terrible at 18mil, but they really need someone who is going to be more of a force as their starting Center.
They might be better off going after Brook Lopez, even if he is 35, but he only made 13M last season, so that could save them a little money if hed accept that deal.
Lopez would be the perfect compliment as he is a strong defender down in the low post, a good rebounder, and he can score the ball from multiple levels on offense..He’s basically a more accurate Vucevic, that’s better defensively, and maybe he will leave the Bucks now that they’re making some changes…
The only other quality options at Center, other than Vucevic, are Jakob Poeltl or Christian Wood, and I’m not really sure what they’d command on the open market.
Why would ANYBODY pay Vucevic $18 million per year on the open market???
According to my valuation formula
Dillon Brooks
Real Value 4-year $45 million (MLE for 2023 summer)
Market Value 3-year $27 million
ESPN confirmed the news. There’s sourced report going around that Dillon Brooks is seeking $25 million per year in a new contract, which means that his camp is delusional about his market value.
A lot of agents are dilusional
It’s obviously their agent trying to push all these Brooks reports out there…
The Cavs are trying to get out in front of it after the Pistons let the agents have their marketing…
Even the worst team in the league shouldn’t bother with Brooks the culture cancer…
I wouldn’t touch Brooks especially at $25 million a year. Good defender but that’s about it. If this was late 80’s he would’ve fit right in with the Bad Boys Pistons. They were known to poke at Michael Jordan and any other star player no “F’s” given. Now he’s poking at LeBron.. poking at Draymond Green.. you don’t want to poke at Day Day Green
Dillon Brooks is in for a rude awakening.