Behind the Bucks Pass
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Milwaukee Bucks: 49 years in 49 days – 1997-98 season

By Ti Windisch

OAKLAND, CA - 1998: Ray Allen #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks attempts a dunk during a 1998 NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at the Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - 1998: Ray Allen #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks attempts a dunk during a 1998 NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at the Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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A massive trade marked year two of the Ray Allen era in Milwaukee as a tough one for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The season: 1997-98

The record: 36-46

The postseason: N/A

The story:

The Milwaukee Bucks were really good at making inexplicable trades, and another one took place before the 1997-98 NBA season when the Bucks sent Vin Baker to Seattle in a three-team deal.

In exchange for Baker, the SuperSonics sent Shawn Kemp to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who sent Terrell Brandon to Milwaukee to complete the three-team, three-All-Star deal. The Bucks also sent out Sherman Douglas, and received Tyrone Hill and a first round pick from the Cavs.

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Whatever the reasons were for the Bucks feeling the need to hop into that trade, it did not show immediate returns. Brandon was good, but not Vin Baker good, in his first season, posting 16.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

Generally, trading away a foot of height isn’t a great plan. Baker stood at 6’11”, while Brandon ran the point at 5’11”. In fairness, Baker didn’t average a double-double in the first year after the trade, although he did post 19 points and eight boards per game.

In Baker’s absence Glenn Robinson stepped up and led the team in scoring while averaging 23.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Ray Allen grew into a role as a star in his second season, as he averaged 19.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.4 steals in 40.1 minutes per game.

Allen’s consistency that year was remarkable. He may not have been an All-Star, but Allen was incredibly consistent, playing all of those minutes and not missing a single regular season game.

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Hill and Ervin Johnson were the Bucks’ starting bigs that season, and while both were solid they combined to score less per game than Baker did himself, with Hill putting up 10.0 points per game and Johnson adding 8.0 points per game himself.

Johnson was a summer addition to Milwaukee. The Bucks got him in a trade that saw the team send Johnny Newman, Joe Wolf, and the draft rights to Danny Fortson. That move was the first made after Mike Dunleavy stepped down as vice president of basketball operations and general manager, although Bob Weinhauer would not be named general manager until after that deal went through.

All of these moves led to an inconsistent team, and one that wasn’t capable of winning very many games. Ray Allen’s improvements helped the Bucks improve their win total modestly, although the team still went just 36-46. Milwaukee was a bottom-ten offense and defense, and struggled heavily outside of a few good streaks.

Next: 49 years in 49 days: 1996-97 season

In a shortened next season, the Milwaukee Bucks would finally start to make waves in the Eastern Conference with their collection of fun, young players.

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