Milwaukee Bucks Off-Season Moves

Corey Maggette

After a surprisingly successful season last year, that ended in taking the Atlanta Hawks to game seven in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Bucks had an eventful off-season. The Bucks started their off-season by signing free agent Corey Maggette who averaged over 20 points last season for the Golden State Warriors. The signing of Maggette brings a much needed wing scoring punch to a team that struggled to score at times last year. A major reason that General Manager Tom Hammond wanted to bring Maggette to Milwaukee was his ability to get to the free throw line. Maggette has consistently been on of the best in the NBA at getting to the line and converting his free throws shooting over 83%. Maggette also shoots a high percentage from the field with a 51.6% average. Maggette gives last year's Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year Brandon Jennings a solid wing scoring threat and someone to run the floor with the lightning quick guard.

The Bucks next move was to draft length and size in the NBA Draft. They accomplished this goal with first round pick Larry Sanders from Virginia Commonwealth University. The fifteenth overall pick is 6'11" with long arms and great shot blocking ability who should provide a dynamic one two punch down low with center Andrew Bogut. The power forward is considered a project who is very raw, but with tremendous upside. The Bucks had three second round picks and used their first one on New Mexico small forward Darington Hobson. Next was power forward/center Tiny Gallon. The Bucks got size and more defensive presense with this pick as Gallon is a force to be reckoned with down low. The Bucks traded their third and final second round pick to the New York Knicks for cash considerations but the Bucks feel they got the size, talent, and defensive presence they coveted heading into the draft.

Drew Gooden

The Bucks were far from over in shaping their roster and ended up trading a future second round pick for New Jersey Nets second year shooting guard Chris Douglas Roberts. Roberts will provide a much needed bench scoring option. At this point in the off-season, many thought the Bucks were close to being done with off-season transactions but instead they made a big splash by signing veteran power forward Drew Gooden and re-signing shooting guard John Salmons. Gooden was rewarded with a five year, thirty two million dollar contract and will finally give the Bucks the power forward they've been lacking since Vin Baker. He and Larry Sanders should provide the Bucks with plenty of options and depth at the front court positions. Salmons was rewarded with a five year, thirty nine million dollar contract. Salmons helped lead the Bucks to the playoffs after being traded from the Chicago Bulls halfway through last year. The Bucks rounded out their roster and off-season moves by signing veteran backup point guard Keyon Dooling. The former New Jersey Net will provide a veteran backup point guard to spell second year starter Brandon Jennings.

The Milwaukee Bucks were extremely active this off-season and if you are a Bucks fan, it's hard not to be excited for next year considering how successful they were with less talent last year. The key will be whether or not Coach Scott Skiles can mold his team into a cohesive unit with chemistry as strong as last year. It's impossible to not be optimistic for next year consider how the Bucks finished last year and after seeing all the off-season moves. It's a nice change from the past few years of low expectations and even lower accomplishments.