Milwaukee Bucks Talk With NBA TV Host Rick Kamla

What does the future look like for the Milwaukee Bucks, and what do they need to change in the present? Rick Kamla shares his thoughts in the second part of our interview with the NBA TV host.

It’s all too easy to overreact in the NBA, where there’s a fine line between success and failure. After a disappointing season, but as the proud owners of a talented young core of players, where exactly do the Milwaukee Bucks stand at present?

Is there a need for changes already, or should there be enough patience from all parties involved to just sit tight and let the team develop? The answer could be a little bit of both.

In the second and final part of our interview series with Rick Kamla (@NBATVRick), the NBA TV host sheds some light on what he still has faith in for the Bucks, and where exactly they may be in need of taking a different direction.

On What The Milwaukee Bucks Are Missing:

After a down season, the Bucks head into a summer filled with possibilities. They have a good pick at 10th overall in the NBA Draft, and they have some cap flexibility to play with if they choose to add some new faces via free agency.

What should they be targeting though? What’s the missing piece? At what position do they need to change? Kamla has a very definitive view on one Bucks experiment that just isn’t working.

"Michael Carter-Williams (5) shoots during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports“If I was the Bucks I’d be looking at a point guard. I just don’t think Michael Carter-Williams is the answer. He’s not a shooter, I’m not sure he ever will be. He’s been in the league a few years now, and he’s had some injuries, but to me, when you get hurt you can still shoot. I said the same thing about Derrick Rose, when guys come back from extended injuries where they’ve missed weeks and weeks, months and months, and you don’t see improvements in their jump shot, that tells me they haven’t been in the gym long enough shooting.I think the Bucks are good to go with Middleton at the two, and Giannis as point guard or point forward. I’m not sure how that’s going to work, but Giannis to me slots in at small forward, Jabari at power forward and, of course, Greg Monroe at the five. Regardless of if Giannis swings one to three, you have four of your five starting positions locked up tight. I like all four of those players.I think the Bucks are close, I really do, but I would look for a ball-handler, a ball distributor.”"

On Whether The Bucks Should Already Be Looking Past Greg Monroe At Center:

There was great adulation among Bucks fans after the signing of Greg Monroe last summer, but it just hasn’t worked out as anybody would have planned. Lineup changes and benchings created their own discussion points around Greg Monroe, but persistent trade rumors have escalated that discussion to new heights.

With decisions to be made on Miles Plumlee, and the possibility for Monroe to walk away next summer, is it time for the Bucks to concede that he was a bad fit and move on?

"“I think if Bucks fans are unhappy with Greg Monroe, or just want him for this contract then to let him go, I don’t agree with that at all. I think Greg Monroe is a really, really solid big. He’s a double-double lock-in, but he’s not a shot blocker, he’s not a really explosive, exciting player. He’s a grinder, he’s a solid NBA player, a lot of teams would be really happy to have him.I mean, if you have him at the five and Jabari at the four, rim protection is going to be an issue. Neither of those guys are shot blockers, so I can understand the want of a three block per game guy. The problem is the teams that have them have either maxed them out, or are going to max them out. So I’d be happy with Greg Monroe, I would not already be looking to greener pastures at the center position if I were a Bucks fan.”"

On John Henson‘s Inconsistent Role And His Potential To Add Some Defense In The Middle:

John Henson is a center who the Bucks have already committed to as his four year, $44 million extension will kick in next season, yet his minutes can be puzzlingly inconsistent.

Considering that at the very least he could offer the sort of rim protection that Monroe and Parker are unable to provide inside, is there any sense of why he doesn’t have a bigger role? Should that be something they look to change next season?

"“Well, I don’t know if Henson should start over Monroe or Parker, but I’m a big John Henson fan. He’s a shot blocker. If given 30 minutes per game, there’s not a doubt in my mind that he would average at least two and a half, maybe get it up to three blocks per game.Look, it’s a mystery to me. I’m a fantasy basketball player and every time I see John Henson have a 17 points, 14 rebounds, four block game, I want to click on the mouse and pick him up. Then I realize his next game is going to be six points, five rebounds and one block, and then the game after that is going to be three, two and one with five fouls. Or Jason Kidd one night, due to a matchup thing or whatever, will decide to run him out there and give him 30 minutes, and then the next night he’ll give him eight. So, it’s a confusing, mysterious yo-yo with John Henson.”"

On What Went Wrong Last Season And What To Expect Next Season:

After the surprising playoff appearance that culminated in a spirited series performance against the Chicago Bulls, expectations were high for the Bucks. The fact that things didn’t pan out doesn’t have to be anything more than a bump in the road in the long run, but it’s still important to identify the cause.

Kamla saw the Bucks as one of his biggest underachievers last season, but does he have confidence in them to bounce back?

"“I thought two of the teams that I projected last year to be playoff teams, and they weren’t, were Orlando and Milwaukee. I think Milwaukee has playoff talent. I think the four guys that we talked about earlier should be enough to be a playoff team in the East, and it wasn’t, and I’m not sure why.You know, Kidd had the health issue that kept him out, maybe that was a setback, I don’t know. But I’d fully expect the Bucks to be a playoff team next year. I don’t expect top four, but I expect five, six, seven or eight. Two years ago they overachieved and made the playoffs and last year they underachieved and made the playoffs, so my expectation is that the Bucks will be a playoff team next year.”"

Next: NBA Draft Interview With Rick Kamla Of NBA TV

NBA TV host Rick Kamla will be part of the network’s week-long NBA Draft coverage, which includes Draft HQ (Monday, June 20 at 9 p.m. ET), Mock Draft 2016 (Wednesday, June 22 at 9 p.m. ET) and live draft day coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 23.

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