BTBP Roundtable #2: Spacing, Point Guards and Big Men
By Adam McGee
Mar 20, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) drives to the basket defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
With the Bucks reportedly having turned down a lightly protected Lakers’ first-round pick as part of the Brandon Knight trade, are you happy with MCW, or would you have preferred the pick?
AMcG: Carter-Williams is currently frustrating the hell out of me, but I still think taking him was the right decision. Coming from a weak draft class or not, MCW was still the Rookie of the Year, and a player who physically seems like he was custom built to run this team. Who knows how long you have to wait to get that pick conveyed, and then who’s to say the Bucks wouldn’t choose a flop. Going with a guy who’s already made an impact in the league wasn’t a bad decision.
TW: At first I was happier with MCW but with the way Ennis has played lately and the fact that MCW keeps trying (and epically failing) to play hero ball (against Brooklyn on Friday: 7/26 shooting, just four assists. So much for pass-first) late in games has me a little concerned. That could be a top ten pick either this year or next year, which could’ve transformed into a very good player. I’m not officially unhappy with not getting the pick yet, but things are leaning that way right now.
DG: The pick. That pick is awesome. It’s top 5-protected this year, then only top-3 protected the next two years, then unprotected in 2018. Maybe the Lakers get their act together by then, but it still seems like a safe bet that it’s effectively a top-10 lottery pick when it winds up being conveyed. Did I mention that Michael Carter-Williams is shooting 7.7 percent from three since donning a Bucks jersey? 7.7 PERCENT.
JT: This is definitely something I’ve gone over in my head a lot since the trade and I would take MCW over the pick. While there certainly has been some growing pains with MCW since he’s come to Milwaukee, he hasn’t had the same bench production that Knight had behind him and even more importantly, he hasn’t played with Jabari yet. It would be a different story had the Bucks not gotten off to the start that they did and there would have been more of an incentive to take the pick, but that’s not the case. It’s hard to not react like there isn’t a problem right now, but after taking a look at the full scope of the team, we just have to be patient.
AL: I’m tired of draft picks, man. (Ignore that I do the draft prospect reviews…) It’s time to add proven and effective talent to our core. There aren’t any players the Bucks would get with that pick, which will probably not even convey until 2016, that could dramatically alter the franchise’s fortunes. It’s time to start laying the foundation and start building the walls.
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