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Milwaukee Bucks roundtable: Checking in on the 2018 NBA Draft

By Brian Sampson

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 13: Aaron Holiday #3 of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies during the first half of the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - MARCH 13: Aaron Holiday #3 of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies during the first half of the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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3. Should the Bucks entertain or explore packaging the pick with one of their bad contracts in order to save some money?

Gage Bridgford: As mentioned in the first question, the Bucks would be wise to work their way towards lowering their cap number. Players such as Matthew Dellavedova or John Henson hold high cap numbers but have been viewed as expendable by the team. Per NBAMath, Henson was the team’s fourth most effective player, particularly on the defensive end. He added a total of 15.81 points, which helped him earn the most minutes he has received in his career. Although he doesn’t add the most value on offense or in the box score, he provides rim protection that a lot of teams could use, such as the Cleveland Cavaliers for example.

Delly will be a little more difficult to move due to his struggles the past season and lack of any, particularly dominant skill. He’s been a hustle player throughout his career, most notoriously at harassing Stephen Curry in the 2015 NBA finals. He will probably never be at that level again, but he can be a stifling player on defense when locked in.

Brian Sampson: I absolutely concur that Milwaukee should look at attaching their 17th overall pick with one of their bad contracts. However, it’s very unlikely they find something appetizing. Especially as they try to improve their team moving forward.

While Henson is an okay player, he’s still owed almost $37 million over the next three seasons. Likewise for Dellavedova, as the Bucks have to pay him about $49 million over the next three years. Those contracts will be extremely difficult for the Bucks to move even if they include the first round pick. Ultimately, they’ll try and fail to get out from under some bad contracts signed by former general manager John Hammond.

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Anthony Haag: Absolutely they should. The Bucks need to take the next step in their development. This team needs to advance to the second round of the playoffs, as just making the playoffs is not going to cut it anymore. I would like to see them re-sign Jabari Parker. We have not seen Giannis, Khris Middleton and Jabari Parker play together at full strength. I really think that a full offseason with Parker healthy would be a boost to this team.

In order to do so though, they are going to need to move some of the bad contracts they currently have. Looking at the team’s salary cap situation, for the next two years, they owe Matthew Dellavedova $18 million, Tony Snell $33 million, and John Henson for $19 million. If there is any way they can move any of those contracts to improve the team, it would be beneficial.

I definitely could see a scenario where they package the pick with one of these players for a quality center. I actually think that would be their best move. Hopefully, Horst can push the right buttons to make a deal with another team to accept one of his bad contracts.

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