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Milwaukee Bucks: Ilyasova Deal Opens Free Agency Doors

By Ti Windisch

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We’ve officially reached the end of an era for the Milwaukee Bucks. Ersan Ilyasova, the by-far longest tenured Buck on the roster, has been traded to the Detroit Pistons for Shawne Williams and Caron Butler. Ilyasova had an up and down career as a Buck and was overpaid by former owner Herb Kohl, but he was still around forever and I will miss him.

We will also miss Shawne Williams and Caron Butler, although not as greatly because I don’t expect their stay in Milwaukee to last longer than a few days at most. Neither are owed any guaranteed money, meaning that John Hammond can simply let them both go and shed Ersan’s nearly $8 million for no cost.

That gives Milwaukee something so precious–salary cap space. Milwaukee may be up to $22 million under the cap now, depending on Jared Dudley’s player option, which is enough to both re-sign Khris Middleton and make a run at a promising free agent as well.

One option is Jimmy Butler, Chicago’s free agent shooting guard sensation. The Bulls front office is relatively stingy, and as pointed out by Paul earlier today they may look to pinch some pennies and avoid paying Butler his max. Milwaukee shouldn’t hesitate to add a player of Butler’s caliber–the guy is very close to being a two-way superstar.

That may not be entirely realistic though, considering the Bucks already have the restricted free agency rights to Khris Middleton, a cheaper investment. Realistically the Bucks are already set with starters at four positions, point guard, shooting guard (if Middleton returns), small forward and power forward. That leaves the center spot.

Although I still believe John Henson could be a capable center, he is unproven. Free agent centers such as Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Brook Lopez and potentially Roy Hibbert are very proven. But they’re also kind of old to fit in with the Young Bucks.

Greg Monroe is not. He’s just 24 years old, and an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Rumor is he and the New York Knicks have been in talks, but rumors are cheap. Monroe needs to look at some cold hard facts before he inks with the Knicks.

The Bucks are a better team, with way more potential to be great over the next few years than New York is. That’s just a fact. Aside from an aging Carmelo Anthony and a high draft pick in this year’s NBA Draft, the Knicks don’t have a strong roster at all. Compare that to Michael Carter-Williams, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, a strong, ever improving young core group of players.

Next up is the money. Since the Ersan deal, Monroe stands to make as much in Milwaukee as he could anywhere else. The Bucks can pay Monroe first and then go over the cap to re-sign Middleton without going into the luxury tax, and that’s before shedding any other contracts (like O.J. Mayo’s huge $8 million next season).

Monroe and the Bucks could be a perfect fit for each other, and bring great basketball to Milwaukee for years to come. A MCW/Middleton/Giannis/Jabari/Monroe lineup would be a strong team, especially in the Eastern Conference. The best part for Milwaukee would be the potential though. The ages of that lineup? 23/23/20/20/24.

If Middleton and Monroe both signed at least three-year deals with the Bucks, that starting five would all be affordable and under contract through the 2017-18 NBA season. With the cap projected to rise a bunch by then, the Bucks would have space to sign complimentary pieces and keep their own young stars, and build themselves into a premier NBA team.

Although I feel like Monroe’s the best fit for the Bucks right now, it’s not a do-or-die situation for Milwaukee. Adding a center like Hibbert or Lopez would be great for the Bucks as well. Those two players are both still on the younger side of 30 and would be productive pieces for years down the line.

But in my perfect fantasy offseason? Monroe signs with the Bucks, Middleton follows, and the Bucks have a constantly-improving young lineup for the foreseeable future.

That team with Mayo, Henson, Jerryd Bayless and the ever-forgotten Damien Inglis coming off of the bench would compete for a top seed in the East right away. I just hope we get to see them try.

Next: It's Official: Ersan Ilyasova Has Been Traded

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