OJ Mayo to Bucks?

[GGGG]

I agree.  I think the problem is the same problem that has plagued the Bucks for the last 20 plus years.  Herb Kohl continues to influence the decisions of the general manager.  Herb doesn't want to rebuild and the Bucks will continue to tread water because of it. 

Herb Kohl = Bud Selig=pre-Harlan Packers.  Poor owner who has no idea how to run a modern day sports franchise.

[MerrittsMustache]

I agree.  I think the problem is the same problem that has plagued the Bucks for the last 20 plus years.  Herb Kohl continues to influence the decisions of the general manager.  Herb doesn't want to rebuild and the Bucks will continue to tread water because of it.  

Making the playoffs brought the Bucks 2 sold-out playoff games and the push to make the playoffs probably sold a couple hundred more tickets to a handful of games. For a struggling franchise, that can be a bit of a windfall. The problem is that it's not a sustain-able model because eventually the casual fans are going to stop caring about first round playoff exits (many are already at this point) or the team is going to end up missing the playoffs and drafting a role player in that 10-14 range, which isn't going to make them much more competitive.

On the other hand, the Bucks may not be able to survive in Milwaukee if they blew it up, tanked and started to build through the draft. The Bucks averaged just over 15,000 fans or 80.3% capacity, which means only NO, Sacramento, Cleveland and Detroit filled their stadiums less than the Bucks (from a % standpoint). Those 4 teams averaged 27 wins this season. The Bucks won 38 games and made the playoffs. The sorry-a$$ Bobcats outdrew the Bucks for crying out loud! So did the basketball team from the small, private university that shares the Bucks arena   It would be a huge gamble for the Bucks to put a terrible product out there, even for a season, with the hopes of landing Wiggins, Parker or some other franchise-altering player who would probably need 2-3 years to develop because the loss in revenue may be too much.

Ideally the Bucks would follow the RC Buford model of building through the draft but success is far from a given doing that. If Portland takes Durant then OKC ends up with Oden and the fate of both of those franchises is very different today. Hell, if the Bucks took Grant Hill or Jason Kidd #1 over Glenn Robinson in 1994, the franchise may be in a very different place today.

IMO, the Bucks need to take their chances on the rebuild but they may have missed their window.  Jennings had value. Ilyasova had value. Portland had interest in Ellis last offseason - Ellis plus the #12 pick (2012 Draft) could have potentially landed the Bucks the #6 pick. Hindsight is 20/20 but Damian Lillard would look good in a Bucks' uni for the next few seasons.

[martyconlonontherun]

Making the playoffs brought the Bucks 2 sold-out playoff games and the push to make the playoffs probably sold a couple hundred more tickets to a handful of games. For a struggling franchise, that can be a bit of a windfall. The problem is that it's not a sustain-able model because eventually the casual fans are going to stop caring about first round playoff exits (many are already at this point) or the team is going to end up missing the playoffs and drafting a role player in that 10-14 range, which isn't going to make them much more competitive.

On the other hand, the Bucks may not be able to survive in Milwaukee if they blew it up, tanked and started to build through the draft. The Bucks averaged just over 15,000 fans or 80.3% capacity, which means only NO, Sacramento, Cleveland and Detroit filled their stadiums less than the Bucks (from a % standpoint). Those 4 teams averaged 27 wins this season. The Bucks won 38 games and made the playoffs. The sorry-a$$ Bobcats outdrew the Bucks for crying out loud! So did the basketball team from the small, private university that shares the Bucks arena   It would be a huge gamble for the Bucks to put a terrible product out there, even for a season, with the hopes of landing Wiggins, Parker or some other franchise-altering player who would probably need 2-3 years to develop because the loss in revenue may be too much.

Ideally the Bucks would follow the RC Buford model of building through the draft but success is far from a given doing that. If Portland takes Durant then OKC ends up with Oden and the fate of both of those franchises is very different today. Hell, if the Bucks took Grant Hill or Jason Kidd #1 over Glenn Robinson in 1994, the franchise may be in a very different place today.

IMO, the Bucks need to take their chances on the rebuild but they may have missed their window.  Jennings had value. Ilyasova had value. Portland had interest in Ellis last offseason - Ellis plus the #12 pick (2012 Draft) could have potentially landed the Bucks the #6 pick. Hindsight is 20/20 but Damian Lillard would look good in a Bucks' uni for the next few seasons.

Not to mention Tobes who you traded for a rental. They could've trimmed cost last year and still made the 8th seed while getting swept by Miami. Instead, they threw away assets and added salary during the year for a playoff 'push'.

[Wareagle]

No inside information, but this seems like a move made in part to ensure the Bucks get a replacement arena built before Kohl sells the team to a group that will keep the team there. 

If the Bucks tank this year, I would think it becomes politically easier to deny city/county/state funds for a new arena in the Park East.  If the Bucks make the playoffs, I think it's a different story. 

[Hards Alumni]

No inside information, but this seems like a move made in part to ensure the Bucks get a replacement arena built before Kohl sells the team to a group that will keep the team there. 

If the Bucks tank this year, I would think it becomes politically easier to deny city/county/state funds for a new arena in the Park East.  If the Bucks make the playoffs, I think it's a different story. 

OJ Mayo's presence in Milwaukee would not change anything relative to the construction of a new arena downtown.  The city will eventually agree and choke on the cash to build it.  Mark my words.

[keefe]

OJ Mayo's presence in Milwaukee would not change anything relative to the construction of a new arena downtown.  The city will eventually agree and choke on the cash to build it.  Mark my words.

The House That OJ Built??

[Eldon]

I was just at Yankee Stadium the other day.  It's a shame that they hardly (barely, actually) commemorate the old yankee stadium, which was across the street.  No plaque, no sign, no nothing except a piece of the old wall and a small sign at one of the entrances of the recreational baseball diamonds that now sit there.  You'd think that they'd have something marking where home plate was, but nope.

[keefe]

I was just at Yankee Stadium the other day.  It's a shame that they hardly (barely, actually) commemorate the old yankee stadium, which was across the street.  No plaque, no sign, no nothing except a piece of the old wall and a small sign at one of the entrances of the recreational baseball diamonds that now sit there.  You'd think that they'd have something marking where home plate was, but nope.

We as a society tend to view the past as decrepit while the future holds promise. The American cultural fascination with progress drives innovation though at the expense of tradition.

[We R Final Four]

No inside information, but this seems like a move made in part to ensure the Bucks get a replacement arena built before Kohl sells the team to a group that will keep the team there. 

If the Bucks tank this year, I would think it becomes politically easier to deny city/county/state funds for a new arena in the Park East.  If the Bucks make the playoffs, I think it's a different story. 

What?? The move you are referring to is the OJ Mayo deal?  Wow--I had no idea that he had that kind of influence.

Secondly, the Bucks seem to always make the playoffs---#6-#8 so I seriously doubt if the Bucks are the 8th seed once again that by doing so will change any storyline.

[Tums Festival]

Mediocre team adding a mediocre player at a price that fits in the meat of the salary bell curve. Way to stay average.

[Hards Alumni]

We as a society tend to view the past as decrepit while the future holds promise. The American cultural fascination with progress drives innovation though at the expense of tradition.

I'm not sure that is accurate.  Nostalgia is present everywhere.

[keefe]

I'm not sure that is accurate.  Nostalgia is present everywhere.

Nostalgia yes. Preservation no. Europe and Asia are much better at maintaining their cultural heritage.