| How Good Will Bogut Make The Bucks? Authored by SW36 - July 6, 2005 - 4:43 pm
| Current Featured Columns | | Final Thoughts On The 2008 NBA Draft This year's draft was decidedly more calm and casual than the Oden/Durant showdown, which made for a more candid and personal experience.
Grading The Deal: Baron Joins The Clips'It was savage' but as quickly as Baron became Mr. Warrior, he now is on his way to L.A. to become Mr. Clipper.
 |
Oh Danny Boy
Danny Granger, who has just three years of NBA experience under his belt, will undoubtedly be the man in Indiana beginning this summer.
|
 |
$10 Million For Five Players?
The Orlando Magic will be limited by the NBA's Luxury Tax in terms of filling the remaining spots on their roster. It is also possible it could cost them Keyon Dooling or Maurice Evans.
|
 |
Raptorland’s New Carnivore
The Raptors are bringing in a player who will have an immediate impact (unlike Hibbert or whomever the Raptors would’ve drafted at 17), plays a position of need (unlike Ford,) and carries a reputation of intimidation (unlike Nesterovic).
|
|
More from RealGM's Columnists
|
| |
Almost everyone knew what direction the Bucks needed to go in, and everyone knew they needed a center. The team hasn’t had a great center since years ago when they had Jack Sikma. We all know Bogut is good, winning the consensus National Player of The Year Award while attending Utah, while also leading the nation in double-doubles as a sophomore. But just how well will Bogut make the Bucks?
The Bucks ended their season a bad note, losing 8 of their last ten games, but their spirit was high. When the Draft Lottery took place on May 24th, their spirits got even higher.
Entering the lottery, the Bucks had a 6.3 chance of winning it, and having the first pick on draft night 2005. In the end, they had their luck, and they won the first overall pick in the draft to be held on June 28th at Madison Square Garden, in New York. Now, even though the Bucks held workouts for numerous hopefuls, only two really stuck out. Marvin Williams from the University of North Carolina, and Andrew Bogut, from the University of Utah. When draft night quickly came, the Bucks knew Bogut was the right choice for their organization. But again, the question arose….How good will the Bucks be with Andrew Bogut?
The off-season was definitely going to be rough for Milwaukee, who not only had to worry about upcoming free agents, but their own free agents, including all-star Michael Redd, who averaged a career best 23 points per game earlier in the season. Although it’s intriguing for Michael to go to his homestate of Ohio and play “Robin” next to LeBron, Andrew has expressed interest also saying that he would love to make Redd and all-star again.
Altogether though, the Bucks will be a scary team next year nonetheless. TJ Ford, who was cleared for full contact earlier this summer, will be returning with his lighting quick speed, and will hope to establish a tempo for his rising Bucks. Add Michael Redd to the mix, who has said to of been offered the max by Milwaukee, which will provide some fierce scoring, plus the big man Andrew Bogut who will get some much needed rebounds, not to mention insane passes, and you have one hell of a team. Not to mention the slasher from Oklahoma State, Desmond Mason, and former #1 draft pick Joe Smith, plus 12-year veteran Toni Kukoc.
Now, what I’m saying is that the first year with Andrew may not be the best because a 20-year old still has a lot of growing up to do, especially in the league today. Andrew might have to go through some rookie walls and deal with the his body being battered night in and night out, but I believe that given some time, Milwaukee can once again be considered contenders. |
