BTBP Roundtable #3: Draft, Playoffs, Free Throws

Nov 18, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) is congratulated by center Zaza Pachulia (27) after a basket in the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

With the improved play of Pachulia and Ilyasova, how do you feel about Milwaukee’s front court options?

AMcG: I think the Bucks’ frontcourt options are vastly underrated, particularly when you consider that Jabari Parker has still to be added back into the mix. I understand the calls for a center, but in Pachulia, Plumlee and Henson, Milwaukee has a solid and dependable center rotation that certainly shouldn’t let them down.

TW: I feel lucky we have those two, because right now they’re the Bucks only real options up there. Henson hasn’t played well aside from his blocking (which is very good, I’ll give him that) and I’m still a Plumlee proponent but he mysteriously disappears and doesn’t get playing time most games so who knows what Milwaukee really has in him.

If it weren’t for Big Z and Turkish Thunder’s consistency the Bucks might not even be in the playoff race, those guys have done yeoman’ work without getting really any credit for it, sadly enough.

DG: After this year, Zaza has one year left at a little over five million dollars. If he keeps this play up, his trade value is never going to be higher for the Bucks than it will be this off-season. As much as it pains me to say it, he’s more valuable now to the team’s future as an asset than will be as a player. Ilyasova’s contract is still difficult to trade, and ever since signing his extension in 2012, he has had stretches of games where he puts it all together, and then kind of disappears for long stretches. I suspect this is a trend that will continue.

JT: I’ve been incredibly impressed by Zaza this whole year. There was maybe a two week stretch where it looked like he might have lost his starting role to Henson, but ever since overcoming some injuries, Zaza’s been huge for us. On the other hand, I think how well Ersan plays dictates what his future will be. Don’t get me wrong, he’s putting up great numbers as of late, especially setting a new career-high in points with 34, but he plays in Parker’s position and it wouldn’t be bad for the Bucks to sell high on Ersan, if he keeps up this kind of production.

AL: For this year, I feel great! Seeing Ersan’s career night in person was SWEEEET, AND Zaza’s game in Brooklyn was insane. Ride them out this year, then Jabari and Mr. Mystery draft pick/free agent can’t come soon enough.

BA: In terms of this season, I think the starting frontcourt is just fine. Fans love to hate Kidd’s rotations (in terms of those two) when Zaza misses three layups in a row or when Ersan isn’t shooting the lights out, but they’ve been pretty damn good lately. Nobody gets too excited about the big slow white guys, but their play has been far from the biggest problems for the team in the past few weeks.

Next: Looking Ahead To The Draft