Bucks adding Stacey Augmon to Coaching Staff

Earlier this morning, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported that the Milwaukee Bucks are close to hiring UNLV assistant coach Stacey Augmon as an assistant coach. Augmon had been an assistant coach prior to the hire, holding a place on the Denver Nuggets bench from 2007-2011 and his alma mater UNLV from 2011-2016. He was thought of to be a strong candidate for the UNLV head coaching job when it was open this summer, but was passed up twice.

Augmon, known as "The Plastic Man", starred at UNLV in college and played for 15 years in the NBA. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team back in 1991(!), and played for five teams during his career, filling a variety of roles as a versatile 6'8" forward.

If the name sounds familiar in relation to the Bucks, that might be because Augmon was an assistant coach for the Bucks Summer League team this past July, working with Rashad Vaughn and rookies Malcolm Brogdon and Thon Maker. Augmon had this to say in July about working with Thon Maker:

"I definitely compare Maker to Manute Bol,’’ said Augmon, referring to the 7-foot-7 Bol, who played 10 seasons in the NBA and was one of the league’s most imposing defenders. "I believe Maker can make the 3-pointer better than Manute but, on the defensive end, they are similar. He (Maker) covers a lot of ground and alters a lot of shots just like Manute Bol.

"That’s why Maker and Manute Bol are definitely similar. When you came in the lane against Manute Bol, he would alter your shot or block your shot. I see the same similarities with Maker.’’

Augmon's arrival fills the vacancy left by the departure of assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer, who is now with the Houston Rockets. Augmon is expected to join the Bucks coaching staff later this month before training camp gets underway in Madison.