>From: gheiden.RemoveThis@mail.mcw.edu (Gary Heidenreich)
>
>"lukane" <gelukane.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:<10bd9mf14md9qbd.RemoveThis@corp.supernews.com>...
>> getting skinner back is more important kukoc, his day is over.
>>
>
>I don't necessarily know about that. Skinner is a very nice player,
>but one reason he was nice to have was that he was gotten on the
>cheap. He definatly has earned any raise coming to him. Kukoc is a
>player who brings intangibles to the team. The Bucks can hopefully
>get him at a reasonable price also.
>
>
I would prefer to re-sign Skinner and let Kukoc walk. As much as I value
Kukoc's experience and the intangibles you mention, he did not have a good year
this season and I really don't know if the Bucks can take the necessary steps
forward if they have to find ways to play Van Horn and Kukoc together. That
combination simply didn't seem to work very well and since Van Horn almost
certainly isn't going anywhere and Kukoc is aging and nowhere near the scorer
Van Horn is for the most part, I would say let Kukoc walk and put the efforts
into re-signing Skinner if possible.
Personally, I don't think Skinner is going to return. The Bucks don't have a
lot of money to work with and I would be surprised if he didn't get a good
offer somewhere else. I hope he doesn't :) but I think he will.
>
>
>Skinner, will cost more next
>year, but I think what Harris doesn't want to do is pay Skinner 6m a
>season for 4-5 seasons (or a contract like Ollie got).
>
>
I agree. I would go $2.5M, maybe $3M although I wouldn't want to go that
high. It'll be interesting to see what the market is for Blount. He and Okur
are about the only two guys I could see spending the entire mid-level on, but I
have to think both guys will get considerably better offers than that -- Okur
should for sure and Blount probably will. A lot of teams with worse frontcourts
than the Bucks have a whole lotta cap room to work with this summer.
>
>
>Harris is correct, there are players out there who can do the job at a
>reasonable salary. He proved that last season, as well as teams like
>SA, Denver, and the ilk.
>
>
Yup and even when the Bucks get more cap room to work with after next season
(although much of that will go to re-signing Redd), I still think the strategy
the team employed last summer (and Grunfeld was a big part of that too) is a
sound one to use from here on out. It makes sense to see if you can find
talented players with upside for a bargain price. You can't build a team around
players like that, but they are ideal role players to surround your nucleus --
and in Redd, Mason and Ford, the Bucks have an exciting young nucleus to build
around.
>
>
>Redd is now the team's franchise player and he will get paid as such
>when the time comes. And you know what, I'm sure I'm one of many who
>won't mind, unlike paying Thomas all that cash. Redd has busted his
>ass since he was drafted. THAT is the type of player the Bucks must
>build around. Leadership by example, and he has set an excellent
>example (unlike the Big Three).
>
>Gary Heidenreich
>
>
Precisely. Thomas was given a big contract based on the hope he would
perform at a high level. If Redd receives a big contract, it will be based on
the knowledge he alrady has performed at a high level. Redd is a wonderful part
of this team's foundation and I look forward to seeing him continue to improve
in the future.
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