Friday Notes: Redd staying? All about RJ, Alexander and draft reaction

by Frank Madden on Jun 27, 2008 9:32 AM CDT in Daily Notes

John Hollinger writes that the Jefferson deal was all business for the Nets, but makes the Bucks better immediately.
Jefferson can guard the opponent's top perimeter threat, much like he did in New Jersey, and should be effective in that role. Additionally, the presence of Michael Redd and Mo Williams means Jefferson won't be asked to be the creator that he was in New Jersey, saving everyone some headaches. It's enough to make you take Milwaukee's playoff hopes seriously again.
It's just a start, but Michael Hunt likes what he saw on Thursday. John Hammond sounded last night like he prefers to keep Michael Redd, and this morning Hunt thinks so, too.

Second, the Bucks apparently intend to keep Michael Redd. I don't think Hammond was blowing smoke when he said the goal was to surround their Olympian with quality players. That means they still must find a point guard, because Mo Williams cannot stay in the same backcourt with Redd.
Dave Heller at the JS collects league reaction to the Alexander pick.
Ted Bauer at ESPN The Mag is feeling good about the Bucks.
Trevor Smith at Hoops Addict chronicles the long journey that brought Alexander to Milwaukee.
Tom Enlund writes Alexander is excited to be a Buck. What a novel change of pace from 2007, eh?
Bill Simmons isn't sounding bitter about being passed over for the Bucks' GM gig.
5:18: Milwaukee takes Joe Alexander with the eighth pick, a good idea because Bilas thinks he's a "freak of an athlete" and has "freakish athleticism." And if that's not enough, he was born in Taiwan and speaks Mandarini. I like what I'm doing as the new Bucks GM -- I stole Richard Jefferson for a broken-down Bobby Simmons and the Chairman, and I drafted a proven college player with freakish athleticism who speaks Mandarin and gives the state of Wisconsin a white guy to rally around. I'm 2-for-2! YES WE CAN!

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Just like Larry

Do we need a white guy to rally around?

Is Bogut not white enough?

by tron7 on Jun 27, 2008 10:57 AM CDT reply actions

Bogut's Australian

apparently that doesn’t count.

-- "I do know that I plead the fizzif."

by Mitchell Maurer on Jun 27, 2008 12:53 PM CDT reply actions

In the Wisconsin State Journal today, Tom Oates wrote that Redd is the centerpiece of the Bucks.

When the season ended, I believe he wrote that the Bucks should trade Redd and plan for the future. Interesting how a couple of trades change people’s minds or does this show that sports writers are really just recapping what is happening in the sport’s world and are not expressing their opinion?

The talent that is Josh Hamilton.

by srdmad on Jun 27, 2008 5:27 PM CDT reply actions

It’s not like the Bucks can be next season’s Celtics, but the RJ trade does improve the talent level. You’re definitely closer to being a playoff team than a team with a top three pick, IMO. So I think that given you’re capped out for another two seasons anyway you might as well try to win some games.

As a result, I do think the trade changes the Bucks’ priorities a bit and makes keeping Redd more appealing. Jefferson’s not a lockdown defender but he should be respectable, so you can protect Redd a little by having RJ take the tougher wing covers.

Still, there’s obviously something of an imbalance on the roster right now unless Skiles just wants to go really small for half the game. I’m curious to see if John Hammond finds any more deals that he likes, because I don’t think he’s going to trade anyone simply to dump their salary.

www.BrewHoop.com

by Frank Madden on Jun 28, 2008 1:14 AM CDT reply actions