Milwaukee Bucks 2009 Offseason

For those of you hoping for a complete makeover to the Milwaukee Bucks after another struggling season, you're going to have to wait a while. The Milwaukee Bucks are currently over the projected 2009-2010 salary cap and that is not including the contracts of restricted free agents Ersan Ilyasova, Ramon Sessions, and Charlie Villanueva. For those hoping for a major trade or two will probably be dissapointed as well.

The Bucks are in a difficult situation currently. The previous administration took on too many bad contracts that it has made it extremely difficult for the current administration to have any financial flexibility whatsoever. Contracts like Bobby Simmons, Charlie Bell, and Dan Gadzuric are preventing the Bucks from being able to really have the ability to go out and change their roster like they would like to. John Hammond and company were at least able to turn Bobby Simmons terrible contract into Richard Jefferson, but Jefferson has even a bigger contract than Simmons. With all that being said the Milwaukee Bucks are right about at the salary cap that is expected with this current roster of signed players for 2009-2010:

Guards: Charlie Bell, Michael Redd, Luc Ridnour, Salim Stoudamire
Forwards: Joe Alexander, Richard Jefferson, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Centers: Andrew Bogut, Dan Gadzuric

The Bucks unrestricted free agents are Keith Bogans and Damon Jones, both of which have a very slight chance of returning next season. Players with player options are Malik Allen and Francisco Elson. Players that are restricted free agents are Ersan Illyasova, Ramon Sessions, and Charlie Villanueva.

The biggest problem on the surface is that the Bucks are at the cap right now and do not have money to resign Villanueva or Sessions. Illyasova may come cheap enough that he may resign and may actually play for Milwaukee instead of overseas this year. Taking two of the Bucks youngest stars and not even making offers in the ballpark of what they will be expecting though has to be extremely frustrating for both fans and Bucks management. Odds are the current roster is basically going to be what the Bucks will go into the 2009-2010 season with save for their 2 draft choices that will be made in the upcoming NBA draft. Whoever is taken with the 10th pick of the draft will be expected to contribue immediately. The 2nd round pick will probably also be expected to make the team and contribue occasionaly.

As for trades the only player that has an above average chance at getting traded would be Luc Ridnour. The reason he will be attractive to teams is the same reason why the Bucks would want to possibly hold on to him... his contract is expired after this season. It may be possible that a team trying to stockpile expiring contracts for the upcoming 2010 free agency would give the Bucks a draft pick or prospect in return for Ridnour but in that scenario the Bucks would probably have to take back some sort of bad contract in return.

If you are looking for a quick fix and tournaround for the Bucks it probably is not going to come in 2009-2010. There is room for some hope as long as Jefferson, Redd and Bogut can all stay healthy but all three have struggled with injuries in recent seasons. A starting lineup of Ridnour, Redd, Jefferson, Mbah a Moute, and Bogut is a playoff caliber starting lineup and it is possible that the Bucks could potentially resign Ramon Sessions and maybe draft a power forward such as Earl Clark from Louisville or DeJuan Blair from Pitt to help inside as well. There is reason for concern and any hope would have to be extremely cautious but a 7th or 8th seeded playoff team is not completley out of the question. It will just be a long hard offseason seeing the Bucks lose more quality players then they will gain after finishing as the 10th worst team in all of basketball.