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Milwaukee Bucks: What To Expect From Roy Hibbert, Spencer Hawes

By Ti Windisch

Mar 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Spencer Hawes (00) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Charlotte won 115-91. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Spencer Hawes (00) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Charlotte won 115-91. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Spencer Hawes (00) protects the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Orlando Magic at Amway Center.The Hornets won 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Spencer Hawes (00) protects the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Orlando Magic at Amway Center.The Hornets won 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Hawes’ Expectations

Much like Hibbert, it’s hard to expect all that much from Spencer Hawes as a Milwaukee Buck. He’s definitely a center, despite being listed as a power forward for some of his career. Even if he could play the four, it’s not like there are tons of minutes available there in Milwaukee either.

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Jabari Parker, Michael Beasley, Mirza Teletovic and sometimes Giannis Antetokounmpo already need more than the 48 minutes the Bucks have at power forward this season. Again, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hawes be thrown in as a chance to prove himself or in case of a spot opening up, but as things currently stand there doesn’t seem to be much place for him.

The one draw that Hawes has and Hibbert doesn’t is the potential of floor spacing. Thon already brings that to an extent, but Hawes being able to capably play the center position and nailing 40-plus percent of his threes would bring a new dynamic to Milwaukee’s offense.

The defense would be a completely different story though, and if his play in Charlotte this season is any indication Hawes doesn’t have the touch he once did from three-point territory. The Bucks have more reason to find out what they have in him thanks to his player option for next season, however.

Hibbert will be an unrestricted free agent this summer no matter what. Hawes could opt-in to make $6 million next season. If he decides to do so the Bucks would either need to keep him, waive him or trade him.

That could lead to more minutes for Hawes than Hibbert in the early going. Hibbert is owed something like $2.5 million for the rest of the season from the Bucks, because Charlotte has already paid half of his game checks (the full $5 million is on Milwaukee’s cap sheet, though.)

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Hawes is owed closer to $3 million for the rest of this season, plus he might take that player option for another $6 million, meaning the Bucks could be paying him triple what Hibbert will get. That’s incentive right there to see what the team has in Hawes, even with the expectations as low as they are after his disappointing recent history.

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