Stephen Jackson Looking For Extension, Bucks In Minnesota For Preseason Opener

by Frank Madden on Dec 17, 2011 12:43 AM CST in Daily Notes

Woelfel: Jackson isn't happy with current contract
Do we have our first official distraction of the season? As discussed in the FanPosts and his most recent segment on WSSP, Gery Woelfel is once again reporting that Stephen Jackson is unhappy with having a mere two years and $19.3 million remaining on his contract. Oh dear.

Jackson, who hasn't had an agent for several years, hasn't uttered a word about his contact status since the start of training camp. He was unavailable for interviews Thursday.
There is growing speculation, though, that Jackson is upset the Bucks haven't approached him about reconstructing his contract and that he was now going to approach them.

If this sounds eerily familiar, you may recall that Woelfel quoted Jackson after his introductory presser in June saying an extension was "mandatory," though if true the terms "silly" and "baffling" probably make more sense. Put bluntly, there's zero reason for the Bucks or any other team to extend Jackson: he's 33 years old, he hasn't even played a game for the Bucks yet, and for cryin' out loud he still has two years and nearly $20 million on his current deal.

Of the 15 guys on the Bucks roster, a whopping three have more guaranteed years on their current contracts than Jackson (Bogut, Mbah a Moute, Gooden) and only Bogut makes more per season. Not having an agent might help explain why no one has clued Jackson into reality at this point, though we can only hope the Bucks contain the issue before it impacts the club. It's not insignificant that Jackson has kept quiet publicly about this since Woelfel's original story months ago--we know he's not shy, and hopefully it's not something we'll be talking about a week from now.

Badger of Honor: Better Off Red: WORLDS ARE COLLIDING
Over at his other blog, our man Dan Sinclair waxes poetic on the conversion of his two favorite things: the Milwaukee Bucks and Wisconsin Badgers. Did we mention Jon Leuer is making his Bucks debut tonight in Minnesota?

JS: Dunleavy fitting in quickly; Timberwolves up first
We'll have a game preview up Saturday afternoon, but in the meantime Scott Skiles offers a hint of what to expect from the Bucks in their preseason opener in Minnesota.

"We've got some things we want to look at in particular (Saturday), and we'll take a look at those," Skiles said. "I'd like to get the rookies in there. If they're having any first NBA game-type jitters, get them over with tomorrow.
"I don't know how many minutes, but at least get them out there."

Ball Don’t Lie: Milwaukee Bucks Season Preview
Just your basic Yacht Rock-inspired preview from Kelly Dwyer, Dan Devine and Eric Freeman.

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Comments

To Stephen Jackson:

Shut the hell up and PLAY.

by tommyr on Dec 17, 2011 1:14 AM CST reply actions

Or, if shutting up is impossible for you

…then let us know somehow that — for you — words and actions bear little relationship. Some of us midwesterners think they do. And let us know that your words are just doing what comes natural for them: rushing to fill the vacuum created by the lack of real basketball games.

by unklchuk on Dec 17, 2011 1:54 AM CST up reply actions

"Silly and Baffling..."

Indeed Frank. And, as a couple of rational fans stepping back and looking at this thing how can it be any other way. Play the season without discord, assist in victories, establish thyself, and then….then, lets talk tomorrows.

Ahhh, but Frank, no ones every confused rational thought with Stephen Jackson. Impulsivity, and taken care of #1 is seemingly more congruent. And yet, lets be honest. IF the Bucks were listening, and perhaps entertaining such thoughts of extension, and have not parlayed any effort to at least open the door to such promised dialogue that was ‘mandatory’ to a needy Jackson, well, then that, my friend, falls on the laps of Buck-suits.

In many households across the land, isn’t this exactly what was scripted for Jackson’s arrival to Milwaukee? Some discord in playing somewhere he did not choose while somewhere in FLA a voice calls out for him to join a perennial winner as of late. Well, no wonder the guys is on the cusp of implosion?
*********
Tip Off looms for this evening.
Finally. Oh, and by the way, thought I read on this blog several threads back that
Fox Sports Net Wi./North was to show the game? Bucks.com has no such listings, and as of this hour most resources have nothing printed. Hope your preview this afternoon clarifies one way or the other? Thanks>>>

by ks13and1 on Dec 17, 2011 10:02 AM CST reply actions

Fox Sports Wisconsin

Cable 669 (FSWIS) on DirectTV says it’s carrying the game from 7 to 9:30. Here in Appleton, WI.

by unklchuk on Dec 17, 2011 10:32 AM CST up reply actions

(FSWIS) = Fox Sports WI>>>

by ks13and1 on Dec 17, 2011 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

OOoops.....

If I read you correctly {unklchuk} you have your satillite feed picking up Fox Sports Net Wi who covers the Bucks. I’m in Time Warner Land in S.E. Wi. who also provides the same on what would be my channel 31. I’ll go ahead and assume TWC is showing the game.
Thanks {unklchuk}.

by ks13and1 on Dec 17, 2011 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

in Milwaukee 1309 on HD

by JaneG on Dec 17, 2011 3:30 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks Jane.

Btw if someone wants to DVR the game and upload a copy to the interwebz that’d be great :)

www.BrewHoop.com

by Frank Madden on Dec 17, 2011 4:37 PM CST up reply actions

how big a file

is an almost 3 hour NBA game? And how does one copy it to what part of the interwebz?

Maybe that’s best left to folks who already know the answers to those questions.

by unklchuk on Dec 18, 2011 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

So does Minny have FOUR PGs?

Rubio, Ridnour, Barea, and Flynn??? How does Kahn still have a job?

And if SJ doesn’t quiet down about his contract, I say trade him to the highest bidder…

I’d rather see Beno start at SG all year than a loose-cannon malcontent like Jax.

by victor s on Dec 17, 2011 10:06 AM CST reply actions

Flynn is gone

Traded to the Rox.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6698564

Doesn’t mean the Barea signing made any sense…unless Rubio can’t function without other Spanish speakers or something.

www.BrewHoop.com

by Frank Madden on Dec 17, 2011 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

Let's not forget they picked up Malcolm Lee in the draft

That’s 4

by FearTheDeer on Dec 17, 2011 11:54 AM CST up reply actions

He will be more of a SG and maybe combo guard type, but those other three can't possibly play at SG, so it's still a log-jam

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | Twitter: @stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Dec 17, 2011 1:11 PM CST up reply actions

Ahh. Gotcha.

Thanks, Frank.

by victor s on Dec 17, 2011 10:46 AM CST reply actions

That's my problem with Woelfel

He hears the littlest murmur, just enough for 1 quote in an entire article, and blows the story out of proportion. He harms the public perception of the team with this crap. Now he’s got everyone questioning whether S-Jax wants to be in Milwaukee again, over some quote in June. Jackson hasn’t “went public” with it yet, but Woelfel sure is trying to make it public. Heck even Woelfel’s article said he couldn’t talk to S-Jax. Bucks insider my butt.

Jackson knows whats up, he’s at a negotiation table for himself, he has to put his desires out on the table. He did that, it’s not a big deal. Every negotiation process starts that way a player says 2 years extension, the FO says 1 year, the player says guaranteed money and player option, the FO says partial guarantee and team option, the player says extend me now, the FO says we need results first.

by FearTheDeer on Dec 17, 2011 12:11 PM CST reply actions

You're not the only one, FTD

Not for nothing, but other than his two-word answer from June 30th, what proof is there that Jackson is demanding an immediate extension?

Besides, it’s in his best interest to secure a favorable contract with more years, since he probably has only 2-3 decent seasons left in him, so it’s naive to expect someone who negotiates his own terms not to test the waters and get more years.

What if he didn’t necessarily want the raise, but wanted to rework his deal from 2 years/$19.5 mil to something like 4 years/$28 million? His average salary drops, he gets the financial security he wants, and I would hope that the Bucks would fight to make year 4 a team option. You could even front-load the deal to make it more palatable.

I say they should offer him the extension towards the end of the season if he is as good as advertised (and doesn’t ruin anyone else on the team). A happy Jack is a productive one, I would think.

http://twitter.com/WhalesLarry ...but only if you want to see someone still trying to figure Twitter out.

by Mitchell Maurer on Dec 17, 2011 12:14 PM CST up reply actions

Even the thought of wanting more money before playing a game in a Bucks uniform strikes me as tone-deaf for at least two reasons:

(1) As Frank pointed out, there is the fact that he is already under contract for multiple years and paid handsomely:

Put bluntly, there’s zero reason for the Bucks or any other team to extend Jackson: he’s 33 years old, he hasn’t even played a game for the Bucks yet, and for cryin’ out loud he still has two years and nearly $20 million on his current deal.

Of the 15 guys on the Bucks roster, a whopping three have more guaranteed years on their current contracts than Jackson (Bogut, Mbah a Moute, Gooden) and only Bogut makes more per season

(2) His current absence from practice, during a critical time for building a rapport with new teammates in a condensed season, is exactly the reason no team in their right mind would extend a 33-year old. Assuming the injury is serious enough to keep him out completely (and not some half-baked negotiating ploy mixed in with a minor setback), it speaks to the decline of his body in his late career. 33-year olds get injured more often and generally play worse than they did in their prime. He’s a lesser player than he once was, and will continue to become a more hollow shell of himself in the next few years. That’s life in the NBA.

It would be nice to see him play a complete season at a high level and lead the Bucks in several important categories before even hearing word one about an extension.

Stephen Jackson is allowed to want more money, but can’t be upset when the Bucks understandably say “hell no, are you crazy.” As long as he isn’t mad, then I’m fine with it all. For now I will assume the fact that he thinks he deserves more money is just a minor detail, but it just feels wrong to me. He is known for saying what’s on his mind, but he shouldn’t be allowed to act so tone-deaf without some deserved scrutiny.

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | Twitter: @stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Dec 17, 2011 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

"Midwestern nice"

We have a new minister at my UU church. From the east coast. His assignment is for a year. Kinda on-the-job training. He’s admitted in quiet conversation that he likes and respects our Fellowship a lot (as he should! ;), but finds it a bit tricky to fit in. One of the reasons he says is Midwestern nice. Defined very simply, that means people don’t speak plainly and don’t really expect others to speak plainly either. Blunt talk, our minister feels, gets communication moving quickly on the right track. Midwestern nice hides important feelings, takes easy offense at blunt expression, and generally gums up the works.

I know this is a stereotype. But I think it has application in the Stephen Jackson situation. He’s speaking bluntly (with a pretty lousy case to make) and folks are, well, shocked/offended. I don’t think they should be. I don’t think his statements mean much. Think they are clearly outside the midwestern concept that expressing a little feeling suggests a lot. Like an iceberg shows 10% of itself.

If Stephen Jackson takes actions that hurt our team, then he’s guilty. Right now he’s just letting off steam or whatever it is that collects in his distinctive mind.

Hammond should let Jackson be Jackson, maybe talk to him, but certainly not acknowledge this as any kind of confrontation.

by unklchuk on Dec 17, 2011 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

It's absolutely true

I moved from Milwaukee to NJ in 2007, and people are far more blunt than what I grew up with. Midwestern transplants (in my experience) are viewed as “patient” and “flexible”, but it’s definitely the “Midwest-nice” you described.

Jackson, on the other hand, is from a rough part of Houston, and simply does not mince words. He wants what he wants, and he really doesn’t care what people say about it.

So long as he doesn’t let it affect his relationship with the team, I can’t see it being a problem, and if he wants more years for slightly less money, I say put a package together and let him know that if he proves himself, he can get what he wants.

http://twitter.com/WhalesLarry ...but only if you want to see someone still trying to figure Twitter out.

by Mitchell Maurer on Dec 17, 2011 1:56 PM CST up reply actions

+1

by unklchuk on Dec 17, 2011 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

Appreciate the retort / insight into the author....

With history as baggage I fully admit to jumping on the bandwagon {fear the deer} regarding Jackson. You bring up a good point relative to the author who I know little about. All that said partner, if ‘mandatory’ is an operative word relative to Jacksons peace of mind, then just perhaps there could be a “strong wind blowing” in Milwaukee soon?. If he did mention such needs to Bucks staff, and that staff has yet to begin some dialogue well, as the Zen Master said, “We Shall See”?

by ks13and1 on Dec 17, 2011 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks, FearTheDeer

…for good sense

by unklchuk on Dec 17, 2011 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

No chance

He wouldn’t get it even if he was healthy. And what other team would? Amnesty?

by toasterrebound on Dec 17, 2011 2:08 PM CST reply actions

Also, Stephen Jackson raps

under the alias “Stak5”.

No, really.

http://twitter.com/WhalesLarry ...but only if you want to see someone still trying to figure Twitter out.

by Mitchell Maurer on Dec 17, 2011 2:20 PM CST reply actions

Hope he's better than Shaq

Although with my opinion of rap “better” is relative.

"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian

by CanadaBucks on Dec 17, 2011 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

If you are ever looking to give hip-hop a shot, let me know. I will come ready with good suggestions for non-gangster stuff that actually has depth and creativity.

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | Twitter: @stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Dec 17, 2011 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

I think my 16 year old son ruined my taste

I liked Run DMC and a few other older rap groups, I like old school reggae djs, just can’t stand
“Insert rap artists name” featuring Chris Brown ad naseum.

"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian

by CanadaBucks on Dec 17, 2011 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

Yea, that's no good. I can beat that stuff.

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | Twitter: @stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Dec 17, 2011 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

The TV talking heads of various "deep thinkers"

…keep praising rap music as a very creative and meaningful musical field. For ideas and strong writing. Suspect I need to let down my ear plugs and give it a real listen. So yes, Steve, bring it on… (At your convenience.)

by unklchuk on Dec 17, 2011 3:57 PM CST up reply actions

Two words

Kendrick Lamar. Easily one of the best artists out there. Section.80 was the album of the year, IMO.

http://twitter.com/WhalesLarry ...but only if you want to see someone still trying to figure Twitter out.

by Mitchell Maurer on Dec 17, 2011 6:00 PM CST up reply actions

Overly Dedicated > Section 80

I’m just saying

by FearTheDeer on Dec 17, 2011 9:48 PM CST up reply actions

for your convenience

http://twitter.com/WhalesLarry ...but only if you want to see someone still trying to figure Twitter out.

by Mitchell Maurer on Dec 17, 2011 6:00 PM CST up reply actions

Okay this is for whomever is interested. Chuk gave me the "meaningful musical field" queue, so here we go:

There are just a few off the top of my head that should get you to rethink hip hop from what you may have heard before (some in content, some in both form and content). YouTube links to the songs will be provided (I do NOT vouch for any video content, so just stick to the audio for these songs). In no particular order, here is a sampler:

1. Sage Francis – End of Times

2. Sage Francis – Hey Bobby

3. Soul Position – Share This

4. Soul Position – Hand Me Downs

5. Qwel – Vincent Van Gogh Coke Ad

6. Atmosphere – The Best Day

7. Brother Ali – Us

8. Edan – Beauty

9. Ghettosocks – Don’t Turn Around

10. Lupe Fiasco – All Black Everything

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | Twitter: @stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Dec 17, 2011 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

That should be a good start. If you want more (anyone), just let me know.

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | Twitter: @stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Dec 17, 2011 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

The only one I've ever heard o

Is Lupe Fiasco and that’s because he was featured on NBA 2K7

"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian

by CanadaBucks on Dec 17, 2011 6:07 PM CST up reply actions

But I will try it

With a somewhat open mind. As long as it’s not “The Game”

"He always plays like he's a pit bull that hasn't been fed in about a year and that you've got pork chops in your pockets and that's the basketball." Of course, he's Canadian

by CanadaBucks on Dec 17, 2011 6:08 PM CST up reply actions

That's all I can ask (don't worry it's decidedly not "The Game")

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | Twitter: @stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Dec 17, 2011 6:30 PM CST up reply actions

Alright world, what do you think. Feedback is welcome people.

You won’t hurt my feelings.

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | Twitter: @stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Dec 18, 2011 8:02 PM CST up reply actions

How 'bout 25 words or less

…defining this music? To prepare me for what I am about to experience.

Is this mainstream (in its field)? Or is this a sub-genre of your definition that stresses different things than the mainstream?

IOW, if I listen to all of it and decide that I love or hate it, what is it that I should tell friends that I love or hate? And if that’s an obscure or stupid question, never mind.

by unklchuk on Dec 18, 2011 8:13 AM CST up reply actions