Fear The Deer: The Milwaukee Bucks Are Dangerous After Stellar Offseason

It’s fitting that a star known as “Moose” joined the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason. What’s distinctive about Greg Monroe‘s decision was his willingness to find initial success rather than play in the bright lights for a similar paycheck.

It became the theme for the 2015 NBA offseason as the landscape changed within the course of one week. The Bucks finished 2013-14 with the lowest win total in the association. Their success last season allowed the organization to attract a promising talent with open wallets set for spending.

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Most of their roster consisted of cheap rookie scale contracts, which allowed flexibility in the offseason. The Bucks had a questionable draft. Defying the expected route, they landed their pivotal backup point guard in Greivis Vazquez and grabbed a shooter in Rashad Vaughn with the No. 17 pick.

Does Vazquez provide production comparable to what Jerryd Bayless brought to their second-unit last season? The verdict remains to be seen, but the deal has put Bayless in a precarious situation. For a future first-round pick, Vazquez  gives Milwaukee depth while rendering Bayless to an off-ball role to highlight his offensive capabilities.

For a combo guard, Bayless offers Milwaukee another talent with position versatility in a small-ball lineup. CBS Sports’ Matt Moore articulates the unique roster Jason Kidd has at his disposal:

"“Kidd got the absolute most out of the roster last year, combining smart veteran play with the youngsters’ athleticism to create a dangerous defensive team that soared to the sixth seed. Khris Middleton emerged as a threat to go off offensively every single night. John Henson finally made strides. The Bucks brought the most out of Brandon Knight, then realizing that they didn’t want to commit big money to him yet, traded him and acquired Michael Carter-Williams, who showed more positive signs under Kidd than many noticed. There’s real potential there.”"

While Knight ignited the Bucks from bottom feeder to playoff threat, Carter-Williams gives Milwaukee a two-way enigma Kidd can mold. From watching every game as a Sixer since his near-triple-double debut against the Miami Heat to open the 2013-14 season, he’s a more capable player with shooters and scorers around him.

Not being the focal point of the offense, MCW can display his Rookie of the Year appeal for a full season in a more viable scoring cog. While MCW’s limitations playing with Nerlens Noel were evident last season, Monroe is a low post nightmare on the offensive end.

The beauty of the wild card signing of Monroe was what the Bucks dealt with previously. With Larry Sanders‘ volatile and risky demeanor gone from the team, the gaping hole at center became apparent. Instead of targeting a true 5 who would have offered the Bucks less at the position than Monroe, general manager John Hammond tried to win the game with a homer rather than getting on base with a single.

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Monroe played sparingly at center last season, while regularly sharing the frontcourt with center Henry Sims at Georgetown, and instantly gives Milwaukee a post presence Carter-Williams can locate repeatedly. Averaging a double-double for the first time in his career (15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game), his presence on the boards allows Milwaukee’s athletic wings to leak out on the break.

The frightening aspect about the deal is that “Moose” isn’t even the No. 1 option. The core four, which now increases to five, is highlighted by a guy who almost failed to play in a quarter of the season last year and a former second round pick.

Khris Middleton spearheaded a Bucks’ team that had range for days. Milwaukee led the NBA in field goal percentage (44.1 percent) from 15 feet to 24 feet per Synergy Sports. The Texas A&M product set career-highs in points (13.4), rebounds (4.4), and assists per game (2.3). While his emerging career in the NBA had Brew Town on the cusp of a breakout campaign, his sales pitch to Monroe could prove just as vital to the organization per the Journal Sentinel’s Charles F. Gardner.

"“‘I was bugging him quite a bit, I will say that,'” the soft-spoken Middleton said of his phone calls to Monroe. ‘Almost every couple of hours.’ When I was in Detroit, Greg was somebody who competed as hard as he could every night and wanted to win. He’s very talented and skilled and he can score on the block. He can step away, make moves and make plays for everybody. I think he’s going to fit in great with us.’ “Middleton played in Detroit his rookie season in 2012-13 before being traded to the Bucks in the summer of 2013. Bucks coach Jason Kidd said Middleton helped a lot in the recruitment process. ‘Because they are friends, and they did play together,’ Kidd said. ‘It just shows you can be with someone for a short amount of time and still continue to have a friendship.'”"

Jabari Parker was expected to have a profound impact on the organization in his rookie year. Despite a season-ending knee injury early in the season, Milwaukee still captured the sixth seed in the watered down East. His second season expectations should be high and warranted based on his ceiling. The Bucks unintentionally bottomed out and were rewarded with the potential star.

Parker could slide to the 4 and take advantage of his varied offensive skill set, but the teaming of him and Monroe defending on the block seems detrimental. Their effectiveness teaming on the offensive end would be seldom matched in either conference.

Another possibility could have Giannis Antetokounmpo playing the stretch-4 role as his ability to handle bigs is essential to mask Monroe’s flaws. At 6’10” and still filling his frame, his mismatch potential as a cover is scary to ponder for burly power forwards.

Antetokounmpo could play all five positions hypothetically, but is featured in multiple rotations for Kidd as a playmaker, scorer or big man on the block. Per Synergy Sports, the Greak Freak’s versatility on defense helped Milwaukee finish first in steals per game and among the league’s best in blocks. His efficiency on offense compared to his rookie year ascended to 12.6 points per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field.

The Bucks could opt with a talent-laden starting five or decide to play big with Henson entering the fold. These are options any coach would covet. Acquiring some of the best talent on the market also plays into management’s willingness to invest in the Bucks and build a new stadium.

The talent is there. Milwaukee is a convincing contender after re-signing Middleton and poaching Monroe from the big market contingencies. Even featuring a bench comprised of O.J. Mayo, John Henson, Vazquez and Bayless is a dependable unit to spell the starters.

The Central Division is still the toughest division in the East without question, but the Bucks are more apt to handle the gauntlet. With a core made to last for at least the next half decade, it’s time to fear the deer.

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