Milwaukee Bucks: 4 Implications Of The Center Swap With Hornets

Oct 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Miles Plumlee (18) (center), Charlotte Hornets center Roy Hibbert (55) (left) and guard Nicolas Batum (5) (right) reach for the loose ball during the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 1, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

The Savings Are Significant

The largest impetus for this trade was to free Milwaukee from the obligation to continue paying Plumlee until he is firmly in his 30s. In a summer where every team was handing out lucrative contracts to centers, the Bucks gave theirs $50 million over four years.

At the time the contract was a borderline overpay, and as Plumlee has struggled to maintain a consistent spot in the rotation it has begun to look even worse.

If Thon Maker puts together his talent into a consistent impact, the Bucks would be paying Henson and Plumlee a combined $25 million each season to serve as backups.

By trading Plumlee, the Bucks wipe the slate clean for the future. Roy Hibbert is on a one-year contract, and it seems likely Milwaukee will allow him to leave without a serious attempt to re-sign him.

Hawes has a $6 million player option, one he could decline to sign a longer-term deal. If he picks it up, the Bucks can stretch Hawes to free up space.

Counting Hawes’ player option, that is only a possible $6 million owed over the next three seasons, instead of $37.5 million.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extension kicking in, and Jabari Parker nearing time for his extension conversations, Milwaukee needed to free up space down the line to avoid the luxury tax.

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