| Ford’s Trade Signals A Change In Team’s Direction Authored by Serge Yusim - July 2, 2006 - 12:50 pm
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The trade came as a shock to many Bucks fans, but it shouldn’t have. Ford’s fate was determined when Milwaukee won the lottery on May 25th, 2005, and it was sealed when, after a long summer of working out in Houston, T.J. came into the season still not able to consistently hit an outside jumpshot. Furthermore, his playmaking skills seemed to have deteriorated after the long layoff and he averaged just 0.1 more assist in 8.7 more minutes per game compared to his rookie campaign.
When the Bucks drafted Bogut in last June’s draft, it marked a shift in Harris’ philosophy and changed his outlook on the future of this team. The Bucks were no longer going to be a run-and-gun squad that, while had the potential to sell tickets and generate buzz and excitement in Milwaukee for years to come, could never win a championship. After all, that is the ultimate goal of every NBA team. Each year there is only one winner, just one team that gets to take the Larry O’Brien trophy home. It doesn’t matter if you finished second or dead last - the bottom line is you didn’t win. Harris didn’t want that. So, when Milwaukee leapfrogged over five teams and landed the number one draft pick in 2005 draft, after having just 6.3% chance of doing so, the Bucks GM saw the opportunity to build the team around a seven-foot center with a variety of skills and a fiery competitive drive.
Four months later, Desmond Mason, Milwaukee’s most exciting and athletic player, was traded to New Orleans, along with the Bucks’ 2006 first rounder, for Jamaal Magloire. The Big Cat brought rebounding and low post defense with him to Milwaukee. Yet, the style of play that Harris had envisioned didn’t take place. And it wasn’t because Bogut played out of position all year long or the newly acquired Bobby Simmons was plagued by injuries throughout the season. It was a direct result of Ford’s maddingly inconsistent play. At times brilliant, Ford won the player of the week award the first week of the season, but was not able to duplicate that kind of play the rest of the season. Ford’s speed is his main advantage and he tried to use it by continually going towards the basket on fast breaks that usually ended up in turnovers. His shot selection was often questionable and as a result the Bucks would often be baited into a run-and-gun games, mostly with negative results. History shows that no matter how successful that style may be during the regular season, in the playoffs half court basketball wins games and championships. Unfortunately, due to his inability to consistently make shots, that was Ford’s biggest weakness. Ultimately, that’s why he was traded.
Now, the Bucks can surround Bogut with four players that are a threat from behind the arc in the starting lineup. If Terry Stotts decides to start the defensive-minded Charlie Bell at point guard, he will have a player who shot 42.3% from the 3-point range last season, good for 10th best in the league. If he chooses to go with Mo Williams, he will get a 38.2% shooter from downtown. There are also Michael Redd, considered to be one of the premier marksmen in the league, lighting it up at 39.5%, and Bobby Simmons, who made 42% of his 3-point attempts last season, good for 13th best in the NBA.
The newly acquired Villanueva will also help space the floor. He can score from both inside and out and made 32.7% of his triples last season. That included a
6-11 performance against the Bucks on March 26th. On that night at the Bradley Center he also put 48 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists, a remarkable feat for a rookie.
Bogut and Villanueva will now have chance to grow together into what could potentially be a devastating frontcourt backed up by a deadly shooting backcourt. Perhaps, one day, that core could lead Milwaukee to a championship.
You can e-mail Serge Yusim questions or comments at
SergeYusim@yahoo.com |
