Milwaukee Bucks: 2013-14 Season Preview
2012-13 VITALS:
38-44 Overall
Third Place, Central Division
Eighth Place, Eastern Conference
98.9 PPG/100.4 OPPG
2013-14 ROSTER:
Giannis Antetokounmpo: SF
Caron Butler: SF
Marquis Daniels: SF
Carlos Delfino: SG
John Henson: PF
Ersan Ilyasova: PF
Brandon Knight: PG
O.J. Mayo: SG
Khris Middleton: SF
Gary Neal: SG
Zaza Pachulia: C
Joel Przybilla: C
Miroslav Raduljica: C
Luke Ridnour: PG
Larry Sanders: C
Ekpe Udoh: PF
Nate Wolters: PG
OFFSEASON ADDITIONS:
Giannis Antetokounmpo (NBA Draft), Carlos Delfino (Free Agency), Brandon Knight (Trade), O.J. Mayo (Free Agency), Gary Neal (Free Agency), Zaza Pachulia (Free Agency), Luke Ridnour (Free Agency), Caron Butler (Trade)
OFFSEASON SUBTRACTIONS:
Brandon Jennings (Trade), Monta Ellis (Free Agency), Mike Dunleavy Jr. (Free Agency), J.J. Redick (Free Agency), Beno Udrih (Free Agency), Drew Gooden (Free Agency), Samuel Dalembert (Free Agency), Ish Smith (Trade)
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP:
PG: Brandon Knight
SG: O.J. Mayo
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Ersan Ilyasova
C: Larry Sanders
SEASON OUTLOOK:
General manager John Hammond and the Milwaukee front office have abundantly stated that they’d prefer to stay competitive in 2013-2014 as opposed to starting over, bottoming out, and rebuilding. That sounds noble, but the transactions made by the Bucks this offseason suggest that they are indeed headed for a ton of losses come November. For starters, Milwaukee drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first round, a player years away from contributing. The Bucks then let Monta Ellis walk, gave J.J. Redick away for nothing (two second-rounders) and downgraded at point guard by trading Brandon Jennings (their best player) to Detroit for Brandon Knight. Adding to the confused message, with a squad primed to tank in 2013-14, the Bucks elected to add Carlos Delfino, Zaza Pachulia, Caron Butler and O.J. Mayo to the mix. Again, what exactly is this team? There are bright spots. Larry Sanders is a game-wrecking defensive seven footer and John Henson dominated the summer league. Ersan Ilyasova has one of the best strokes in the NBA at a legit 6’10”. And although Brandon Knight has had a rough start to his NBA career, he is still just 21. Add it all up and the Milwaukee Bucks head into the season without a true direction in a conference that improved from top to bottom.
BEST CASE SCENARIO:
Hey, who said the guy with the unpronounceable last name wasn’t ready? Giannis Antetokounmpo steps in and shows tremendous promise. Second-year big man John Henson makes a huge leap with a role increase and teams with Larry Sanders to form one of the most devastating front lines in the NBA. Sanders puts together an All-Defensive type season and leads the NBA in blocks. He is the lone representative for the Bucks in the All-Star Game. Brandon Knight shows flashes at point guard and proves he can indeed play in this league. O.J. Mayo parlays a solid first half of the season into a trade to a contender, netting the Bucks a quality asset in return. Most importantly? Despite all this promise, these guys are bad. Very bad. So bad, in fact, that they land a high lottery pick. A promising young core, some quality assets, a lottery pick, AND a boat load of cap-space? A quality season, indeed.
Larry Sanders is looking to make an All-NBA Defensive team in 2013-14. Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
WORST CASE SCENARIO:
For all the promise on defense Larry Sanders exhibits, we still haven’t seen anything resembling positive production on offense from him. Sanders fails to make the leap in 2013-14. O.J. Mayo and Ersan Ilyasova have solid campaigns and the Bucks are competitive all year. John Henson’s summer league proves to be an aberration and the expanded role this new coaching staff has put him in proves to be too much, too soon. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee’s first-round pick? Years away and struggling in the D-League somewhere. The Bucks are forced to rely on Caron Butler a ton and he has his moments. But he isn’t a part of their future. Essentially, little growth from youth forces Milwaukee to play hired guns big minutes. After all, the front office wants to be competitive, right? The Milwaukee Bucks make a playoff push late, but it falls just short, as the deer end up ninth best in the Eastern Conference.
PREDICTED FINISH:
28-54 overall.
Fourth Place, Central Division.
12th Place, Eastern Conference.
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