The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

GERY WOELFEL

First, it was Richard Jefferson.

Then, it was Charlie Villanueva.

Now, in the next couple of days, it'll be Ramon Sessions.

Three players who started for the Milaukee Bucks last season; three players who'll likely be starting for other teams this season.

The Bucks traded Jefferson, a talented small forward, to San Antonio -- just one year after they acquired him from New Jersey.

Villanueva, one of the better young forwards in the game, bolted to Detroit in free agency. And the Bucks didn't so much as make him a qualifying offer.

As for Sessions, he's is on the cusp of joining the Minnesota Timberwolves, who signed him to a four-year, $16 million offer sheet.

NBA officials wouldn't be surprised if the Bucks matched the offer, they'd be shocked.

Why?

Two words: luxury tax.

The Bucks' payroll is at $68.316 million (A list of all the Bucks' salaries is at the end of this story). The luxury tax is $69.920M Do the math. The Bucks are just $1.6M under the tax threshold.

If they'd sign Sessions, who'll make just under $4 million in the first season of his new deal, the Bucks would be approximately $2.4M over the cap.

Under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, that would mean the Bucks would have to give the NBA $2.4M.

The Bucks have never been over the luxury tax, and they won't be now, either.

So long Ramon Sessions.

Sessions' impending departure thus means the Bucks will have lost three of their top four scorers from last seasons: Jefferson averaged 19.6 points, Villanueva averaged 16.2 and Sessions, despite playing just 27 minutes a game, averaged 12.4.

That's a whopping 48.2 points a game.

Making matters worse, the Bucks didn't pick up one -- not one -- certifiable scorer to help offset the losses of Jefferson, Villanueva and Sessions.

Two words for Michael Redd, the Bucks' only legitimate and reliable scorer: good luck.

BUCKS 2009-2110 SALARIES:
Michael Redd….....$17.04M
Andrew Bogut….....$10.00M
Dan Gadzuric….....$6.74M
Luke Ridnour….....$6.50M
Kurt Thomas ……....$3.80M
Charlie Bell……....$3.60M
Carlos Delfino……...$3.5M
Hakim Warrick…....$3.00M
Joe Alexander…....$2.58M
Brandon Jennings..$2.16M
Ersan Ilyasova....$2.10M
Bruce Bowen…….....$2.00M
Francisco Elson…..$1.70M
Roko Ukic………......$1.35M
Luc Mbah a Moute….$736,000
Walter Sharpe…....$736,000
Jodie Meeks…….....$650,000

* Count Chubby Wells, Sessions' agent, among those who don't think the Bucks will match the Timberwolves' offer.

* Wells on Sessions' reaction to Minnesota's offer: "He is so happy. I mean I don't have the words to explain how happy he is.''

* I was told the New York Knicks came awfully close to landing Sessions. Said Wells: "Yeah, I thought we were really close with the Knicks on a couple of occasions.''

* Wells acknowledged he was still in talks with the L.A. Clippers when Minnesota made its last-minute, successful pitch for Sessions.

* Wells said two other teams had contacted him last week about Sessions, although neither one put an offer on the table.

* There has been some speculation the Bucks might trade Kurt Thomas, the veteran forward they obtained from San Antonio in the Jefferson trade, before training camp.

But that's unlikely as Thomas recently bought a house in Milwaukee and plans to arrive there next week.

* Bucks GM John Hammond said he will likely invite another three players to training camp. Hammond didn't disclose any names.

* Mark Termini, the agent for former Bucks guard Damon Jones, said he's been in discussions "with a number of teams'' about his client.