The third team in that trade of note leading up to the 2011 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks had different aims than the Charlotte Bobcats (add a pick) and Sacramento Kings (uhhh ...). But were they successful in meeting it?
NBA Draft Grades 2011: Bucks Try To Clear Decks Just A Bit, Pick Up Tobias Harris
Gained: Tobias Harris, Jon Leuer, Beno Udrih, Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston.
Gave up: Rights to Jimmer Fredette, John Salmons, Corey Maggette.
Synopsis: The Bucks dropped about $8 million in salary obligations in the deal, created a stronger point guard rotation with Udrih and Livingston, added one of the better defenders in the league in Jackson and still picked up a so-called “lottery talent” in Harris at No. 19.
The issue, at least in the Bucks-Bobcats portion of the trade, is fit. Milwaukee already excels on defense. Hello Scott Skiles, hello Andrew Bogut. The Bucks need scoring punch ... which is why the team traded for Maggette a year ago. Udrih will help there (trust me, his value isn't on defense), but he won't play anything like the minutes he became accustomed to in Sacramento. Harris is a year or two away from contributing much of anything.
Shedding salary is something the team simply had to do. But I’m not sure the team is much better for the trade and draft. Let’s shrug on in to 2011-12.
Grade: C.
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