(a sorta) League Preview: Milwaukee Bucks

I am going to attempt to wind my way through the League’s 30 teams in time for the season. So far, I have done New Jersey. In the spirit of a better tomorrow, I will continue with other cellar dwellers, this one of the Eastern Central variety.

Milwaukee Bucks

Depth chart:

PG Luke Ridnour Brandon Jennings
SG Michael Redd Carlos Delfino Charlie Bell
SF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute Joe Alexander Ersan Ilyasova
PF Hakim Warrick Kurt Thomas
C Andrew Bogut Dan Gadzuric

These guys are screwed. Tough financial times for owner Senator Herb Kohl resulted in the outright losses of Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva and (likely) Ramon Sessions. Losing talent on a talent strapped team is a sad thing. Milwaukee’s season is a Bogut injury from total lottery-ville. With a healthy Bogut and a healthy Michael Redd, the Bucks have enough scrappers to remain respectable. Ridnour is a legit NBA starter, so if Jennings can actually beat him out, Milwaukee may even generate some occasional excitement.

Milwaukee’s problem is that in a forward rich League, they have a bunch of maybes, has beens and nobodys. Perhaps somehow Ilyasova will surprise, but I expect very little from Alexander at this point. Mbah a Moute may earn the starting job on hustle points. Not a good sign. Look for a Michael Redd fire sale leading up to the trade deadline.