JSOnline: Report: Robert 'Tractor' Traylor found dead
Tragic news out of Puerto Rico, where a report appeared on a Facebook Page for a Puerto Rican professional basketball team saying former Bucks player Robert Traylor has died. Initial reports that Traylor suffered a heart attack were not confirmed. Traylor had heart surgery in 2006 to correct an enlarged heart valve.
Traylor was acquired in a draft-day trade with the Dallas Mavericks during the 1998 Draft when he was sent to Milwaukee in exchange for fellow-draftees Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity. While hindsight views this as an extraordinarily lopsided trade, the circumstances at the time were more complicated than many remember. The Mavericks' interest in Dirk was enough to warrant picking him with their #6 pick, but knowing that few other teams were as high on the German prospect, Dallas was able to gain an extra pick by selecting Traylor and trading down with Milwaukee, who had a strong interest in 'Tractor.' Pat Garrity was in turn traded for Phoenix reserve point guard Steve Nash.
We at Brew Hoop express our deepest sympathy for Traylor's family and friends. Traylor was 34 years old.
Additional coverage: CBSSports.com, SBNation Cleveland, ESPN
Bucksketball: Discussing Off-Season Priorities: Part 1 | Part 2
Jeremy, Ian, and Josh discuss what they feel are the biggest issues facing the Milwaukee Bucks this off-season. They all agree on one thing: there are plenty of issues. Additional wing scoring and a true backup center stand out as key needs, but where should Milwaukee look? The guys examine the draft, free agency, and potential trades to shore up the team.
Where 55 Happens: Pythagoras Loves Basketball: 2010-2011 Season
I finish off the 2010-2011 season's examination of Milwaukee's Pythagorean numbers. How much did plain-old bad luck hurt the Bucks this season? Plus, a reason to hope!
JSOnline: 'Greyhound' always able to scratch his niche
A retrospective on Bobby Dandridge, the quick small forward annointed as the "Greyhound" by Bucks radio announcer Eddie Doucette. Dandridge was a key contributor to the Bucks 1971 Championship team, but his lack of acclaim led former Bucks GM Wayne Embry to call his efforts "underappreciated." As a young'un myself, I never got the chance to bask in the glory of a Milwaukee championship run, but it sure makes reading these articles fun.
ESPN: Gottlieb's big board
Doug Gottlieb knows plenty about college basketball, so he's certainly seen a lot from this year's top NBA prospects. His top 30 features some surprises, with projected top-10 picks sliding down his Big Board while predicted late first-round selections take their places. Who you choose to trust? That's your decision. Edit: this is an Insider link not available for free. Check the comments for a quick little summary.