https://www.walterfootball.com/nbaoffseason2009mil.php
2008-09 Season Summary:
Despite finishing fourteen games below .500 and missing the playoffs for a third straight season, 2008-2009 was not a complete disappointment in Milwaukee. Consider that Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut combined to play in just 69 games, and the Bucks still managed to improve by eight games. First year head coach Scott Skiles had a lot to do with that, bringing over his hard-nosed basketball philosophy and actually getting the Bucks to play some defense.
2009-10 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Andrew Bogut /Dan Gadzuric
PF: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute/Charlie Villanueva
SF: Richard Jefferson/Joe Alexander
SG: Michael Redd /Charlie Bell
PG: Luke Ridnour/Salim Stoudamire
NBA Free Agents:
PG Ramon Sessions (UFA)
PG Damon Jones (UFA)
SG Keith Bogans (UFA)
PF Charlie Villanueva (RFA)
C Francisco Elson (PO)
PF Malik Allen (PO)
2009-10 Team Salary: Approximately $60.7 million
2009-10 Expected League Salary Cap: $57.3 million
NBA Draft Picks:
#10
#41
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Point Guard – Luke Ridnour is the final year of his contract and is not the long-term answer while Ramon Sessions is eligible for free agency this off-season. A point guard is likely the direction the Bucks will go with their lottery pick seeing as young talent like Brandon Jennings, Jonny Flynn, and Ty Lawson could be on the board.
2. Defensive-minded big man – Milwaukee has been lacking a true shot blocking presence for a few years now. Andrew Bogut is smoother around the basket than he is a banger and Dan Gadzuric has one of the worst contracts in the NBA (two years left worth $13 million.) Mbah a Moute is not a true power forward and Charlie Villanueva is more of a perimeter player than an inside threat. Even if Francisco Elson or Malik Allen exercise their player options, the Bucks should still look at acquiring another big man.
3a. More depth on the wing – It was evident how thin the Bucks were on the wing when Michael Redd tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee and was lost for the season. Charlie Bell is a serviceable back-up shooting guard, but nothing more than that and there is the possibility that Redd may not fully recover in time for the start of next season.
3b. Assert the following rule: No cell phones allowed in the locker room – This way, Charlie Villanueva does not update his Twitter status during half-time of a game thus staying out of Scott Skiles’ doghouse.
