5 Players the Milwaukee Bucks gave up on way too soon

Gary Payton II, Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Gary Payton II, Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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Milwaukee Bucks: Ricky Pierce, Boston Celtics: Danny Ainge
MILWAUKEE, WI – CIRCA 1986 (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Players the Milwaukee Bucks gave up on way too soon: No. 3 – Ricky Pierce

Ricky Pierce was one of the most dynamic sixth men in the league during his run with Milwaukee Bucks during the 80s. He was a microwave scorer who consistently averaged over 15 a game for a talented Bucks team and was as big a part as any of Milwaukee’s success during that timeframe.

His best season was by far during the 1990-91 campaign, where he averaged 22.5 points on nearly 50 percent from the field. The 1990 season led to his first and only All-Star selection and also happened to be his last year in Milwaukee as he was dealt to the  Seattle Super Sonics midseason in a deal for Dale Ellis. Ellis played just 102 regular season games with the Bucks after the move before rejoining the team during his final season in 1999-2000.

The trade almost instantly led to the collapse of the Bucks who, in turn, spent the next eight seasons under .500 until Ray Allen arrived in the 1999-2000 season.

While Pierce had done plenty of time with the Bucks, the franchise has to feel they could’ve at least remained competitive had they kept him around.