A Real Head-Scratcher

The 2013 offseason has been among the more interesting in the history of the NBA.

Usually during the offseason, teams attempt to get better; they look to make that one big acquisition that will kick them over the top, and guarantee them a top seed in their conference. The summer of 2013 has been the complete reverse. Teams are tanking, throwing away their already talented rosters in order to obtain a higher draft pick in the much heralded class of 2014. It should come as a surprise to no one that the Bucks are taking the reverse route.

General Manager Hammond and Co. have become the laughing stock of the offseason, in both fan circles and media outlets. Grantland deemed the Bucks current plan hilariously bad, whereas other have said that the Bucks simply do not know what they're doing. Looking back at the Bucks "illogical" moves, though, the insults might not be justified.

First of all, the Bucks drafted Giannis Adetokunbo. A project player for a team that is at least several years away from being competitive. Scouts agree that Adetokunbo's potential is through the roof, though he is a bit of an unknown quantity. Many have shredded this pick, as Giannis is so raw and has very little experience playing against upper level competition. Adetokunbo has exactly what the Bucks need, though; huge potential. No pick that the Bucks were going to make would kick them over the top this year, yet fans and media alike are casting that to the side. A player with star potential down the road is a match made in heaven for a young team like the Bucks.

Next, the Bucks let Monta Ellis walk and signed OJ Mayo. Hammond offered Ellis a lucrative contract, but the shooting guard decided he wanted more. Instead of caving to the demands of Ellis, Hammond decided to move on. By all accounts, that is a smart move in and of itself. Hammond decided to sign a shooting guard to replace Ellis, and he found that in Mayo. He is not the run-and-chuck guard that Ellis is, though he is not as explosive either. Still, Mayo is a more efficient guard offensively and defensively, and is younger than Ellis.

Following that, the Bucks gave an offer sheet to Atlanta guard Jeff Teague. The point guard is considerably more efficient than current Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings, shoots higher percentages, and averages more assists. He may not be the flashy street-baller that Jennings is, but he is definitely an improvement. Not only is he a better overall guard, sources close to Teague have said that he actually wants to be in Milwaukee. Whether that is because his former Atlanta coach Larry Drew is the new Bucks coach, or because he actually wants to be in Milwaukee should be irrelevant; he wants to here. That should be music to Bucks fans' ears.

Former Bucks point guard Luke Ridnour is coming back to Milwaukee, as well. This excerpt from Grantland explains why this is a good move:


“Luke Ridnour is one of the most underrated jump shooters in the league. Out of the 45 NBA players with at least 350 midrange attempts this season, Ridnour ranks first in efficiency, hitting 49 percent of his shots. He was unbelievably accurate from the right baseline, where he made 56 percent”

Oh, and on top of all of that, Hammond acquired a coach with playoff experience and a great repertoire with players. No longer do the young players have to worry about inconsistent minutes from Scott Skiles or random, full game benchings from Jim Boylan. The Bucks now have a coach that the players will connect with and believe in.

Let's make like the media, though, and ignore all of that. Ignore the fact that the Bucks have made sizable improvements at each of their back court positions, while adding a forward with star potential. Ignore the fact that they have acquired one of the most efficient back up guards in the NBA. Forget that a new, better coach is taking the helm.

What matters is that the Bucks are not tanking. They have decided to build around the young nucleus that they have; Larry Sanders and John Henson. This is what people are laughing at. What it all boils down too, though, is that only one team will get Andrew Wiggins. Only one team will get Jabari Parker. Of all of the other teams that are throwing the 2013-14 season, only two are likely to truly reap the benefits, and that is only if Wiggins and Parker: a) decide to leave college after this year, being one and done players b) aren't busts

The draft is a huge gamble, which makes sense considering that he is called the lottery. The Bucks have decided not to take the huge gamble, and have actually improved.

Will the Larry O'Brien trophy be in Milwaukee this year? No, not even close. Realistically, the Bucks will probably not do better than the sixth seed in the playoffs. Consider that they have the talent to be a sixth seeded team with a young nucleus, and a potential star at the small forward spot, and the Bucks are not as far away as people are writing them off to be.