The history of the Milwaukee Bucks is marked by several crucial junctures that, if altered, could have redefined the team’s journey.
These significant “what if” scenarios invite us to ponder the potential alternate paths the franchise might have taken. Ranging from moments of untapped potential to unexpected turns of events, this examination highlights three of the most prominent crossroads that hold the power to rewrite the Bucks’ story. In revisiting these instances, we gain valuable insights into how the interplay of chance and decision-making can profoundly influence the realm of professional sports.
What if the Milwaukee Bucks never traded Dirk Nowitzki?
Did you know that Dirk Nowitzki, the legendary basketball player, wasn’t initially drafted by the Dallas Mavericks? Surprising as it may be, Dirk was originally chosen by the Milwaukee Bucks but was swiftly traded to the Mavericks on draft day in exchange for Robert Traylor. In case Robert Traylor isn’t a familiar name, it’s because his professional career left little impact.
Traylor struggled to average more than 5.5 points per game throughout his brief time in the league, eventually exiting the NBA after just seven seasons. This leads us to a compelling question: What if the Bucks had held onto Dirk and not traded him to the Mavs? Let’s delve into this intriguing scenario.
Contemplating the Bucks’ prospective trajectory during the 1998-99 draft, they possessed a young yet promising roster. Having acquired Ray Allen two years prior and with the emergence of Glenn Robinson, the team was on the cusp of a breakthrough season. Imagine adding Dirk Nowitzki to this core instead of Robert Traylor, whom they traded away after two uneventful years. The ramifications could have been substantial.
If we envision the selection of Dirk, it’s plausible that the Bucks would have retained the 19th overall pick they traded away. For the sake of discussion, let’s assume they chose Pat Garrity, the player actually taken at that position. Acknowledging that both Garrity and Nowitzki struggled in their rookie year, it’s unlikely they would have immediately transformed the Bucks’ fortunes.
Nevertheless, incremental improvement would have been expected. In the truncated season, the Bucks closed with a 28-22 record, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Their playoff journey, however, concluded in the first round at the hands of the eventual Eastern Conference champions, the Indiana Pacers.
Although the presence of Dirk and Garrity could have fortified the Bucks against the Pacers, it’s doubtful they could have overcome a Reggie Miller-led squad. In the subsequent 1999-00 season, the Bucks acquired veteran point guard Sam Cassell, only to once again be defeated by the Pacers, this time in a decisive Game 5, during the 2000 NBA playoffs.
As the seasons progressed, Milwaukee’s youthful talents blossomed into stars, propelling the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals in the subsequent year, where they narrowly fell to Allen Iverson and the 76ers after a grueling seven-game series. Notably, they were only a single game away from the NBA Finals. With Dirk in the lineup, they might have confronted the formidable Kobe-Shaq Lakers for the championship.
A third-year Nowitzki, averaging 21.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while shooting 47.4 percent, would undeniably have been a formidable force in such a crucial series. While it’s improbable that the Bucks would have dethroned the Lakers’ dominant duo, their presence in the Finals could have reshaped the league’s landscape significantly.
Envision a scenario where the Bucks possessed two future Hall-of-Famers—Ray Allen and Dirk Nowitzki— in their prime, standing on the cusp of stardom. The potential for this team seemed limitless. Had this young core remained intact, it’s plausible that the Bucks might have graced the NBA Finals once more and potentially captured a championship.
In retrospect, parting ways with Nowitzki in favor of Traylor emerges as a monumental misstep for the Bucks. When considering these potential outcomes, it becomes evident that the decision to acquire Traylor instead of Nowitzki stands as one of the franchise’s most regrettable blunders. The prospect of having two future Hall of Famers simultaneously could have reshaped their history and even led to championship triumphs had Dirk’s path been different.
What if the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Stephen Curry?
In a pivotal trade in March 2012, the Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks set off a wave of speculation and what-ifs that continue to intrigue basketball enthusiasts.
This trade involved sending Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown from the Warriors to the Bucks in exchange for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson. This transaction marked a significant moment for the Warriors, as they entrusted their future to Stephen Curry, a young guard recovering from ankle surgery, while bidding farewell to the fan-favorite Ellis.
However, a fascinating revelation came to light through Marc Lasry, a Bucks’ owner since 2014, indicating that the Warriors had indeed floated Curry’s name during negotiations. Curiously, it was the Bucks’ medical team that hesitated due to Curry’s history of ankle surgeries, casting doubts on his ability to maintain a sustained, healthy career in the NBA. The hindsight of Curry’s trajectory highlights the Warriors’ prescience in centering their future on him, leaving Ellis to fade from the limelight.
As time passed, the narrative around the trade took on different shades. Larry Riley, the Warriors’ General Manager in 2012, later clarified that Curry’s name was used as bait, with Monta Ellis being the focal point of the trade. Presently, with the wisdom of hindsight, the Warriors’ decision to prioritize Curry appears genius. Nonetheless, during that juncture, many perceived the Bucks as the victors, receiving a proven scorer in Ellis in exchange for a frequently injured center.
Amidst this backdrop emerges the compelling “what if” scenario: What if Stephen Curry had been at the center of the trade, donning the Bucks’ colors instead of Monta Ellis? The possibility arises that the Warriors might have leaned towards keeping Ellis, an established scorer, while parting ways with Curry due to his susceptibility to injuries. This notion gains credence considering Ellis himself admitted that the Warriors had to choose between him and Curry to bolster their championship prospects.
Venturing into this realm of conjecture, we encounter the tantalizing nature of the “what if” game in the realm of sports. Picturing Stephen Curry as a Milwaukee Buck during that particular week, which was more realistic than it might seem now, leads us to an intricate web of hypothetical scenarios that could have reshaped the trajectories of both the Warriors and the Bucks, thereby altering the NBA landscape.
Envisioning this alternate reality, where Monta Ellis thrives in Milwaukee, averaging 19 points and six assists per game during his inaugural full season, the Bucks finish the 2012-13 season with a 38-44 record, making it to the Eastern Conference playoffs’ first round before bowing out. With Ellis alongside Brandon Jennings, the Bucks envisaged a new era of basketball marked by their potent scoring duo. However, Ellis’s eventual departure for the Dallas Mavericks in 2013 changed this trajectory.
In this parallel universe, if Curry had indeed become a Buck, his growth could have faced setbacks. Amid coaching changes, including Scott Skiles’ departure and Jim Boylen’s interim stint, Curry’s development might have encountered hurdles. While his partnership with Jennings could have established a formidable shooting duo, the Bucks’ struggles under Skiles’ defense-centric approach could have persisted. As the coaching carousel continued with Larry Drew taking over during the 2013-14 season, the Bucks faced challenges, concluding with a 15-67 record.
Notably, Curry’s presence could have sparked a transformation in the Bucks’ 3-point shooting prowess. This enhancement, in turn, might have influenced their draft position and choices in subsequent years. Curry’s arrival could have propelled the Bucks into playoff contention earlier than their actual trajectory.
Furthermore, the synergy between Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo could have reshaped the Bucks’ future. Together, they might have formed a dynamic core that contended with established teams like the Cavaliers, Raptors, and Celtics in the East. Their partnership could have ushered in multiple Eastern Conference Finals appearances, drastically altering the conference’s landscape.
In retrospect, pondering the “what if” scenario involving Stephen Curry’s tenure in Milwaukee unveils a captivating narrative of a potential alternative reality. While the actual course of events unfolded differently, this exercise underscores the intricate interplay of decisions and possibilities that shape the world of professional sports. The Bucks could have evolved into a championship contender with Curry’s leadership, altering not only their own trajectory but also the broader landscape of the NBA.
What if Dr. J came to the Milwaukee Bucks?
Undoubtedly, one of the most monumental “what if” scenarios within the annals of the franchise’s history revolves around the Milwaukee Bucks’ loss of the opportunity to acquire the legendary forward Julius Erving in 1972, a move that could have instantaneously redefined an entire era. To the uninitiated, the Bucks had initially chosen Erving as the 12th pick in the 1972 NBA Draft.
At that point, Erving had already established himself as a standout in the ABA, showcasing his prowess with the Virginia Squires the previous year. In a surprising turn, just before the draft, Erving inked an illicit contract with the Atlanta Hawks. This strategic move came about as Erving realized that his agent, Steve Arnold, hadn’t prioritized his financial interests, considering his dual compensation from the ABA and the Squires during the contract negotiation.
The ensuing transition to the NBA was fraught with legal turmoil involving the Bucks, Hawks, and ABA. Despite Erving’s intention to play for the Hawks during the 1972-73 season, the dubious nature of the deal left the Bucks’ General Manager, Wayne Embry, deeply perturbed. Embry explicitly contended, “As far as the by-laws of the National Basketball Association go, the rights to Julius Erving belong to the Milwaukee Bucks—it’s as clear cut as that.”
With the Bucks holding the trump card of Erving’s draft rights, the specter loomed large that they could ascend to even greater dominance, surpassing the already formidable lineup of Abdul-Jabbar, Dandridge, and Robertson. This sentiment was echoed by Dick Motta, the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, who bluntly remarked that if Erving joined the Bucks, the league would become “the most boring” due to their overwhelming strength.
As the Hawks encountered fines for Erving’s participation in exhibition games, the NBA intervened and declared that Erving belonged to the Bucks. The Hawks, however, resisted, initiating an antitrust lawsuit against the league. The federal court ultimately ruled that Erving was obligated to honor his contract with the Squires and continue competing in the ABA. The resolution saw the Bucks eventually receive compensation in the form of draft picks and $100,000 from the Hawks.
Embry provided insight into this ordeal in a conversation with The Athletic’s Eric Nehm in February 2019 (Subscription required), including their pursuit of Erving post the ABA-NBA merger. Embry acknowledged that although the situation was distressing, it was a risk worth considering. The notion was that with Erving on board, the Bucks could have potentially replicated the championship-laden trajectory of the Boston Celtics in the ’50s and ’60s.
Embry shared that Erving’s decision not to join Milwaukee was partly influenced by their already formidable roster, anchored by Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. A subsequent effort to sign Erving after the ABA folded unraveled the illicit nature of Atlanta’s signing, resulting in cash compensation and draft picks for the Bucks.
Imagining the dynamic quartet of Abdul-Jabbar, Dandridge, Erving, and Robertson on the same court underscores the transformative potential that this assembly could have unleashed. The presence of Erving might have prolonged a period of Bucks’ prosperity, conceivably altering the trajectory of trading Abdul-Jabbar, contrasting with the swift dissolution that followed their 1974 NBA Finals appearance.
In the sports world, some moments can completely change a team’s path. The Milwaukee Bucks have faced such moments where they could have taken a different direction. They make us wonder “what if” certain things happened. Whether it’s missing out on a star like Julius Erving, almost getting Dirk Nowitzki, or the near chance of having Stephen Curry, these situations show how luck and decisions shape a team’s story.
While we can only guess what might have been, these thoughts show us how unexpected moments leave a big impact on the Milwaukee Bucks’ history, both on and off the court.
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