Photo: milwaukeebucks.com
- Adam ParkerThis is part ten of a twelve part-installment of a Beard and Stache special where we'll be breaking down the top things that each lottery team needs to accomplish this offseason in order to improve heading into the 2012-13 campaign.
We'll update the series daily with a new team in advance of our soon-to-be released Beard and Stache NBA Mock Draft.
We covered the Detroit Pistons in yesterday's edition, which can be found here.
After taking our leave of the Motor City, we now find ourselves in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; a city widely-dominated by Cheeseheads and members of the Brew Crew.
But this is about basketball, so we'll be discussing the third most popular team in the state (fourth if you count the Wisconsin Badgers' football team) -- the Milwaukee Bucks.
1. Draft Andre Drummond or Meyers Leonard; Whichever One is Still Available At This Point
The Bucks are coming off a season in which they shipped their oft-injured center Andrew Bogut to the Golden State Warriors as part of a deal to bring the scoring punch known as Monta Ellis to Milwaukee to team up with Brandon Jennings in the backcourt.
With Bogut out, the Bucks need to draft their hopeful long-term replacement at center with this pick and luckily for them, they could potentially have two options with the 12th overall pick -- UConn's Andre Drummond and Illinois' Meyers Leonard.
If the Bucks have their choice of the two, I'd probably go with Leonard. He's more of a project offensively, but unlike Drummond, you don't hear that 'boom or bust' label being associated with Leonard. While Leonard develops his offensive game, his shot-blocking and plus athleticism should make him an asset for anyone who drafts him.
Drummond, on other hand, has star potential but many people look at him and the first things that pop into their minds are the names Greg Oden and Hasheem Thabeet.
Leonard is the safer choice bar-none, so the Bucks should go with the 7'1" former Fighting Illini center if they can.
2. Use the Amnesty Clause on Either Drew Gooden or Beno Udrih
Gooden's insane deal is no secret to anyone these days. The guy is making close to $7 million per season over the next three years. Then you have Udrih, who recently picked up his $7.8 million player option to remain in Milwaukee for the 2012-13 season. Needless to say, the Bucks wish he had not.
They could use it on Drew Gooden, but that really depends on whether the team believes that former VCU big man Larry Sanders is ready to step in for the veteran. Somehow, I don't see it at this point. The more likely move -- and preferred move if I was the one making the choice -- is to amnesty Udrih. He doesn't really offer anything to this young Milwaukee team that's worth anywhere near the close to $8 million he's raking in.
Cut him loose, Milwaukee.
3. Challenge Your Bigs to Give You More Scoring
Sure, Gooden got you almost 14 points per game last season. Turkish big man Ersan Ilyasova gave you 13 points and almost nine rebounds per contest but he's wisely going to test the free agent market and more than likely won't be back with teams like the Brooklyn Nets among others waiting in the wings to reel in his services at a likely hefty price.
As a small market team, the Bucks simply can't count on Ilyasova being back and Gooden may or may not get hit with the amnesty tag. All that means is that Milwaukee will need to get the best out of the young big men that will be on their roster. Guys like Sanders, Ekpe Udoh and the incoming rookie big man, whether it be Leonard, Drummond, or someone else entirely are going to need to give the Deer some sort of offensive punch in the frontcourt.
If not, it will all be on the shoulders of Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings to produce points. It's not that they can't do it, because clearly the two are great scorers in their own right. But the Bucks won't have many wins at the end of the season if their bigs can't produce with more consistency offensively.
4. Find Out What You Have in Tobias Harris
I'll be honest. I didn't hear a single thing about Harris' basketball exploits anywhere on television, the newspaper or even the internet last season. Needless to say, he wasn't a huge part of the Bucks' rotation during the season as guys like Carlos Delfino, Mike Dunleavy and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute ate up the majority of minutes at the small forward position.
Harris remains an unknown entity at this point entering what will be his second season. It's time to find out what he's made of, Milwaukee.
5. Have Faith in Head Coach Scott Skiles
Okay Bucks fans, I know things haven't exactly gone according to plan thus far and I imagine opinions differ on whether Skiles is partially to blame or not for the team's...how can I put this - mediocrity. Regardless of your personal opinion on Skiles, he's a great teacher, especially for young guards like Jennings and Ellis.
The Bucks ranked in the top five in the entire NBA last season in points and was third in assists per game. Looks like some of Skiles' knowledge is hitting home in Milwaukee seeing as how he still holds the record for most assists in a single game with an astounding 30.
To put it plainly, the guy knows his offense. However, that's not to say he's a Mike D'Antoni-type coach. No, Skiles will hold his guys accountable on the defensive end too. He's the right man for the job in Milwaukee, and the Bucks would be wise to hang onto him.
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