2011-2012 Finish: 45-21

Season Highlight

A first round victory over the Philadelphia 76ers is a pretty close second in a season full of highlights for the Milwaukee Bucks. However, the biggest highlight in Wisconsin this season was watching GM Badwolf use his dark powers to convince some unwitting GMs to take on players they didn’t want, but guys with onerous contracts that were virtually impossible to move. First, they were able to get out of the weight of the chronically injured Mike Miller’s contract for the bird-light deal of Xavier Henry. Next they shipped out Corey Maggette and his huge deal for Brendan Haywood (later to take a pay cut). The sucker in all these deals? GS!

Season Lowlight

Despite all the talk of Badwolf’s magic powers, the Bucks have never been able to get out of the second round under his tenure as GM. After beating the Sixers in round 1 by a 4 to 2 margin, the Bucks got swatted away by the Raptors, winning only one game. Dirk Nowitzki averaged only 13.2ppg and starting shooting guard Gerald Henderson hit a disappointing 8ppg as the Raptors swallowed them whole

Best Trade

Considering that Haywood took a pay cut and provided some solid play off the bench, giving up the always-injured Corey Maggette for him was a pretty decent deal. The Bucks seem always get the better end of their deals but in this situation it’s what they GAVE UP rather than GOT BACK that makes this deal key for Badwolf.

Worst Trade

The Milwaukee Bucks send Al Harrington, Al Horford, Rodrigue Beaubois and Elliot Williams to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send Dirk Nowitzki to the Milwaukee Bucks. The idea of Dirk joining the Bucks was a good one but Badwolf gave up just way too many assets in this deal. Sure, Horford missed most of the season with an injury but he would have been better at PF in the playoff run than Dirk. Harrington had a solid season and helped revitalize the Timberwolves and Beaubois is a solid PG prospect. Of course, the Bucks have both Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday, so don’t really need Beaubois. But now, the team is stuck with Dirk’s untradeable deal.

Other Notable Trades

The Milwaukee Bucks send JaVale McGee and Cory Joseph to the Golden State Warriors and get back Nikola Vucevic and a first rounder. McGee will be getting big money next year and Badwolf needed to cut salary somewhere, especially since he has to pay Westbrook. However, he didn’t really get too much back here. That draft pick did turn into Maurice Harkless, who could turn out to be a really great ball player.

The LA Clippers send Raja Bell and Anderson Varejao to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Milwaukee Bucks send Paul Pierce to the LA Clippers. Yet another salary dump. Both Varejao and Bell have had a hard time staying healthy lately and Pierce had another great season in the NLL. But this deal was obviously motivated by salary. But could have Badwolf gotten more for his star?

Best FA Signing

The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t sign any free agents of note this past season.

Worst FA Signing

The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t sign any free agents of note this past season.

Star

Russell Westbrook- PG – On a team laden with talent, guard Westbrook stood out as the team’s star last season. He started in all 66 games, playing 35 minutes per game and averaging 19.4 ppg with 5.8 apg and 3.8 rpg. Westbrook ranked #6 in the league in steals per game and #8 in free throws made. He can be streaky but Westbrook has established himself as an elite player in the game.

Surprise

Jrue Holiday- PG – Holiday continues to improve by leaps and bounds. This past season, he proved himself to be one of the most essential 6th men in the league. Badwolf used him for 28.8 minutes per game where he hit 12ppg on 52% shooting, improving his average by five points over last season.

Goat

Cole Aldrich- C – For a guy drafted 9th in the draft, Aldrich continues to be an absolute disappointment. He appeared in only seven games this past season for the Bucks, averaging only 5 minutes per game. True, Aldrich is more or less trapped behind more talented players, but he could have done more than haul in 1.3 rebounds in the limited time allotted him.

Draft Report Card

When the dust cleared with all of Badwolf’s draft wheeling and dealing the Bucks ended up with Maurice Harkless, Marquis Teague and Justin Hamilton. Harkless, a small forward from St. Johns, may be expected to start at the three now that Pierce has been traded away. While he may not be NLL-ready right away, Harkless has a big upside. Teague may be the odd man out since the team already has Westbrook and Holiday. The Kentucky freshman came over as part of a deal with the Nets. He is a natural floor leader and deserves some time on the court, something that will be a struggle in Milwaukee. In the second round, the Bucks selected LSU junior Hamilton. He has size and skill, but he will likely sit next to Aldrich on the bench for most of the season.

Looking to the Future

Trading Pierce shakes up the Bucks for next season. Not that he doesn’t have enough talent. He currently has 18 guys for 15 slots. But this is Badwolf’s gambit. He will trade these players for future draft picks, constantly keeping himself well-stocked in assets. He may need to make another big trade to keep under the luxury cap as Westbrook will likely make enough money to put them over.

However, the Bucks have a very solid team right now with a starting lineup of DeMarcus Cousins, Anderson Varejao, Dirk Nowitzki, Gerald Henderson and Westbrook, along with a bench of no one over 22 years of age except Bell. It may be time to move Holiday, since he will be due for a big raise in 2013-14, especially if Teague turns into something special.

Upcoming Free Agents

Russell Westbrook- Westbrook has already verbally committed to return to the Bucks. Besides him, the team has no other unsigned players on their roster.