The Woelfel World of Sports

Lady Luck looks down on Bucks

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:40:01 GMT

GERY WOELFEL

It's amazing how things sometimes work out in pro sports.

Remember when the Green Bay Packers incredibly saw quarterback Aaron Rodgers do a free fall on draft day when all the talk before the draft was how Rodgers would likely be one of the first players chosen?

The Milwaukee Bucks now seem to have been the beneficiaries of Lady Luck as well.

For starters, in the weeks leading up to the NBA trading deadline last February, the Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies had trade discussions. The Bucks coveted Mike Conley, a quality young point guard.

If the Bucks had been able to consummate that trade, Conley undoubtedly would have been their point guard of the future and there wouldn't have been any need for them to draft Jennings.

The Bucks also explored trading the 10th overall pick, the one they used to select Jennings, who last week scored a franchise rookie record 55 points against the Golden State Warriors.

The Bucks had talked to several teams, including the Washington Wizards. At the time, the Wizards had the fifth overall pick but were quite receptive to trading it.

The Bucks brass was hoping to secure Washington's pick and possibly draft sharp-shooting guard Stephen Curry. Instead, the Wizards dealt the pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a multi-player deal.

Before the draft, the Bucks also chatted with the Charlotte Bobcats. At least, that's what Terrence Williams told me Wednesday night.

Williams was the 11th overall selection,taken by New Jersey -- just one pick after the Bucks took Jennings.

According to Williams, he was told there was a strong chance he would be taken by the Bucks with the 10th pick and then traded to the Charlotte Bobcats.

Williams said he doesn't know why the trade didn't materialize and he didn't know who the Bucks would have gotten in return.

And, finally, there was yet another scenario in which Jennings almost didn't wind up being a Buck. Before the draft, he worked out with the Golden State Warriors.

According to some people who witnessed the workout, which also included highly-touted point guard Jonny Flynn, Jennings was sensational.

Based on conversations with Warriors officials, the Jennings' camp was led to believe Golden State was going to draft Jennings with the seventh overall pick.

But that didn't occur, I'm told, because Minnesota, which had the fifth and sixth picks, surprised the Warriors and most NBA officials by taking two true point guards: Ricky Rubio and Flynn.

Suddenly, Curry, who put on a stunning shooting display at the pre-draft camp in Chicago a few weeks earlier, was available for the Warriors, who quickly drafted him instead of Jennings.

With neither New York and Toronto -- the teams drafting immediately after the Warriors -- interested in drafting a point guard, Jennings fell to the Bucks.

Bucks chose wrong option on Alexander

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:08:53 GMT

GERY WOELFEL

They were all on the same page.

Going into the 2008 NBA draft, everyone involved in determining who

Milwaukee Bucks should select with the eighth overall pick was in

agreement.

Bucks general manager John Hammond, his assistant Jeff Weltman,

player personnel director Dave Babcock and head coach Scott Skiles

all felt Joe Alexander of West Virginia was the player who could

significantly impact the franchise.

Each of those individuals was duly impressed with Alexander’s

steady improvement through college and intrigued with his seemingly

unlimited upside. They were blown away by his athleticism . He

possessed exceptional leaping ability and baseline-to-baseline

speed.

While believing the 6-foot-8 Alexander was a gem, the Bucks brass

was also acutely aware that he needed some polishing. They knew it

would take more than one season before they reaped the dividends on

their investment.

The Bucks’ assessment of Alexander was shared by most NBA teams.

Most pro scouts had projected Alexander in the eight to 14 range.

The New Jersey Nets, picking 10th, coveted Alexander. So did the

Sacrmaneto Kings, who picked 12th.

There was even one team picking before the Bucks who strongly

considered taking Alexander. That was the New York Knicks, who had

the sixth pick, wound up drafting another forward, Danilo

Gallinari.

So, it wasn’t like the Bucks were taking a wild flyer on Alexander. For a team that craved a forward and desperately

needed to become more athletic, Alexander seemed like a perfect fit

for the Bucks.

Wrong.

Almost from the start of training camp, the writing was on the wall

that Alexander wasn’t in Skiles’ good graces. That became even more

evident at the outset of the regular season when Skiles opted to

give major minutes to Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, another forward who

was chosen in the second round, instead of the highly-touted

Alexander.

By the middle of the season, whispers were circulating the NBA that

Skiles didn’t like Alexander’s game. According to some NBA

officials, Skiles, a stickler for details, was annoyed by

Alexander’s lack of understanding of the pro game and his supposed

inability to follow assignments.

In the weeks leading up to the trading deadline in February, rumors

spread the Bucks had already soured on Alexander and were

attempting to trade him, with Memphis being a prominently-mentioned

destination.

But a trade for Alexander never materialized, and Alexander’s playing

time virtually became non-existent. In a nine-game stretch from Feb. 27 to March 21, he played only four games. The most minutes he

received in that span was 8:20.

While Alexander was practically a fixture on the bench, his Lottery

colleagues were fixtures on the court, especially all seven players

drafted before him -- Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Miami’s Michael

Beasley, Memphis’ O.J. Mayo, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook,

Minnesota’s Kevin Love, Gallinari and the Los Angeles Clippers’

Eric Gordon.

Each of those aforementioned players wound up playing in at least

78 of the 82 regular-season games --with the exception of

Gallinari, who was hurt.

Each those rookies also averaged at least 25 minutes

a game. Gordon, picked one spot in front of Alexander, averaged

34.3 minutes for the season.

And Alexander?

He wound up playing in just 59 games. He averaged a paltry 12.1

minutes a game. It wasn’t exactly the scenario Alexander envisioned

while almost pleading with a reporter at an NBA pre-draft camp in

Orlando to tell Skiles to pick him.

Yet, while Alexander seldom played extensive minutes, he performed

reasonably well when he was allowed to stay on the court.

In the six games in which he played at least 24 minutes but not

more than 29 last season -- essentially half a game -- Alexander

averaged 11.6 points. He shot a highly-respectable 49 percent from

the field.

Perhaps the most telling sign of what Skiles and Co. thought of

Alexander occurred in the last several weeks of the season when it

was amply apparent the Bucks weren’t going to make the playoffs.

Alexander played 25 or more minutes just three times in the last 12

games. In the season finale, Alexander barely got off the bench,

totaling just 13 minutes.

Conversely, Golden State coach Don Nelson used the final weeks of

the season to guage the potential of the Warriors’ top pick,

Anthony Randolph, the 14th overall draft pick.

Randolph, whom the Bucks gave serious consideration to drafting

before opting for Alexander, played 25 minutes or more in 11 of the

final 12 games.

In his last eight games, Randolph was outstanding. He not only

averaged 15.1 points but grabbed 10.6 rebounds a game and had 12

steals.

The Warriors have picked up Randolph’s option, and this season, he

has already started a game. He appears headed for a long and

productive NBA career.

Meanwhile, Alexander’s future looks murky. After turning in a

highly-encouraging summer league showing --16.6 points a game --

and following that with what some observers said was an excellent

showing at Tim Grgrich’s camp, Alexander partially tore a hamstring

before training camp and hasn’t played since.

Furthermore, the Bucks brass decided last week not to pick up the

third-year option on his contract. Both Hammond and Skiles said the

principal reason for not picking up Alexander’s option was that

they haven’t had enough time to evaluate him.

Asked if he regretted not playing Alexander more last season,

especially down the stretch, to get a better evaluation of

Alexander, who is just 23, Skiles said, "No. No. Young players have to learn how to

play winning basketball. That’s the most important lesson they have

to learn.

"Just to put him out there, just to get minutes and say we’re going

to live with anything that they do ...

"In my experience, and I’ve had a lot of experience with young

players that have had success, I just don’t look at that as a valid

way.

"They have to earn their way onto the floor like everybody else and

be productive when they are on the floor.’’

Skiles also defends the Bucks’ selection of Alexander, insisting it

wasn’t a mistake.

"I would never say that,’’ Skiles said.

Suffice to say, there are many observers who disagree, including

some within the Bucks organization. By not picking up Alexander’s

option, he becomes an unrestricted free agent in July.

If he signs with another team, the Bucks wouldn’t receive any

compensation. If that occurs, the Alexander selection may go down

as one of the biggest draft blunders in Bucks’ history.

So, why didn’t the Bucks exhibit the patience they requested of

their fans on draft night when they chose Alexander and pick up

Alexander’s option year which, in the big picture of the NBA, is

only $2.7 million?

"We can’t get caught up in necessarily where Joe was picked,’’

Skiles said. "He’s not a pick anymore. He’s Joe Alexander. That’s

who he is. He’s a player on our team.

"We’re making the best decisions that we can for the long-range

future of the Milwaukee Bucks.’’

And Hammond and Skiles made that decision even though Skiles

contends Alexander can become a good player.

"Sure. Absolutely,’’ Skiles said. "Yeah, he’s got a chance.’’

And the talent-challenged Bucks should have been the ones to give

him that chance.

Milwaukee hopes to buck the odds

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:25:46 GMT

GERY WOELFEL

Don't expect the Milwaukee Bucks to reap immediate dividends after radically revamping their roster during the offseason.

At least, that's the opinion of numerous roundball pundits around the country.

The Bucks, in an attempt to gain roster and salary-cap flexibility, lost three starters over the summer: Veteran starting small forward Richard Jefferson was dealt to San Antonio, and starting power forward Charlie Villanueva and starting point guard Ramon Sessions moved on to Detroit and Minnesota, respectively, via free agency.

The Bucks are expected to have eight new players on their regular-season roster.

The new-look Bucks aren't looking too good to many scribes. Consider:

* Lindy's Pro Basketball magazine predicts the Bucks will finish last in the five-team Central Division.

* Sports Illustrated magazine ranks the Bucks 15th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.

* Sporting News magazine projects a fourth-place finish for the Bucks in the Central Division.

* ESPN magazine lists the Bucks as the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference, just in front of New Jersey.

* ESPN's Bill Simmons envisions the Bucks posting a 19-63 record. The only team that will win fewer games, according to Simmons, is Sacramento. Simmons sees the Kings going 15-67.

The oddsmakers aren't exactly on the Bucks' bandwagon, either.

The over-under in Las Vegas on the number of Bucks' wins is 25.5, and Bodog.com gives the Bucks' odds of winning the 2010 NBA championship at 150/1 -- the worst odds of the 30 NBA teams.

And my prediction?

I expect the Bucks to win 30 games and finish third in the Central Division behind Cleveland and Chicago and ahead of Detroit and Indiana.

News isn't good for Bucks' Alexander

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:25:21 GMT

GERY WOELFEL

Joe Alexander seemingly can't catch a break.

Alexander, the Milwaukee Bucks' 2008 Lottery pick, who has been sidelined all preseason with a right hamstring injury, is expected to be sidelined now for approximately eight -to-12 more weeks.

Alexander recently got a second opinion from a doctor on the Green Packers medical team and the news wasn't enouraging.

Bucks officials have said Alexander has a strained hamstring, although it is now believed the hamstring is at partially torn.

"It's definitely tough anytime you're not on the court, but you can't think about that all the time,'' Alexander said. "All you can think about is what you have to do to get better.''

Alexander had a bitterly disappointing rookie season after being the eighth overall pick in the draft. He played in 59 games last season but didn't start any of them.

He wound up averaging 4.7 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

Alexander worked hard during the offseason and played well in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He appeared to be making noticeable progress in at least breaking into the Bucks' rotation this season.

But then Alexander suffered his hamstring injury just prior to the start of training camp and has been virtually an observer during training camp.

"I feel for Joe,'' Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "He had a very good summer. It's a big setback for him.''

Despite the setback, Alexander said the injury shouldn't affect his contractual situation. The Bucks have until the end of the month to decide whether to pick up the option for his third season.

"Absolutely not,'' Alexander said. "A hamstring injury is a very temporary problem whereas extending my contract has to do with what will happen in the next four or five years.

"When if you put that against what is happening to me in the next month, this hamstring thing is a very small issue.

"So I don't think it should affect the contract decision, and I don't think it will.''

Bottom line: Thompson should have used Wolf's draft model

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:42:20 GMT

GERY WOELFEL

It has become painfully obvious Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson has a radically different draft philosophy than his predecessor Ron Wolf.

When Wolf brilliantly ran the Packers football operations, he made it a priority to draft offensive linemen.

In fact, Wolf consistently used high draft picks to select such quality offensive linemen as Chad Clifton and Mike Flanagan and Aaron Taylor and Earl Dotson.

Wolf also chose another highly-productive offensive lineman, Mike Wahle, in the second round of the 1998 supplemental draft.

Thompson, meanwhile, has refrained from using high draft picks on offensive linemen. Thompson has overseen five drafts in Green Bay and has secured 18 players in the first three rounds.

In those five years, Thompson never expended a first-round pick on an offensive lineman. He has used only one second-round pick -- Daryn Colledge in 2006 -- and just one third-round pick -- Jason Spitz in 2006 -- on an offensive lineman.

Now, do you understand why the Packers offensive line is so offensive?

Favre takes Packers-Vikings rivalry to new heights

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:01:51 GMT

BY GERY WOELFEL

Monday night's NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings will likely be the most anticipated one of the regular season.

It may be the most anticipated game of the entire season, including the Super Bowl.

And we have Brett Favre to thank for that.

If Favre had gone into retirement, like so many perturbed Packers fans had desired, this Packers-Vikings grudge match would still be an entertaining affair. After all, the admiration these teams harbor for the other resembles that of Hatfields for the McCoys.

But Favre's imposing presence takes this game to a whole different level. His decision to sign with the Vikings during training camp may have been the most sacrilegious act ever in PackersNation.

Can you image Bart Starr ever doing such a despicable thing?

Can you image Vincent Lombardi ever coaching another team? Never mind!

Favre's presence in this early-season showdown between NFC North Division powers creates countless storylines. Like:

* What kind of game will Favre's successor in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers, have?

* What will be running through the collective minds of Packers GM Ted Thompson and Packers coach Mike "the train has left the station'' McCarthy if Favre scorches the green and gold?

* What will Favre say to the media if he stubs his toes?

* Is there a bounty out on Favre?

* Who will be the first Packer to sack Favre? And will he given a game ball for it?

* Will Favre shake hands and embrace McCarthy before the game -- like Favre did when he faced the his old coach Mike Holmgren and the Seattle Seahawks for the first time?

* If Favre scores a touchdown, will he hightail out of the end zone and do the Lambeau Leap?

* How many times will the TV cameras zoom in on Deanna?

I don't know about you, but this game can't start soon enough.

Money isn't everything to Bucks' Ilyasova

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:57:56 GMT

GERY WOELFEL

ST. FRANCIS -- For professional athletes, it's all about the money, right?

Well, maybe not for all of them.

Take Ersan Ilyasova, the Milwaukee Bucks' intriguing young forward.

Ilyasova played last season for Regal FC Barcelona in the Spanish League, and he played quite well.

His impressive play and his appealing upside made the 6-foot-9 Ilyasova an attractive free-agent prospect over the summer.

The Bucks were just one of several options for him, and they were certainly weren't the best one -- at least from a financial standpoint.

According to Ilyasova, FC Barcelona made a serious pitch to retain him, offering a lucrative, five-year offer.

Ilyasova said he also got a sweet offer from Olympiakos, the Athens-based powerhouse. Olympakos had a four-year, guaranteed contract on the table for him.

Ilyasova wouldn't disclose the monetary numbers for the FC Barcelona or Olympiakos offers, but conceded it was "more money than the Bucks.''

The Bucks signed Ilyasova to a three-year, $7 million deal.

Ilyasova wouldn't have signed on the dotted line with the Bucks if Tolga Tugsavul, Ilyasova's agent, had his druthers.

"He wanted me to stay in Europe,'' Ilyasova said.

Ilyasova, who was born in Eskisehir, Turkey, certainly wouldn't have had an issue if he continued plying his craft in Europe.

But Ilyasova, a fiercely independent individual, wasn't about to let his agent sway his opinion, much less determine his future.

"The agent is to bring the offers,'' Ilyasova said, "but the decision is me.''

Ilyasova was almost obsessed about returning to the NBA and proving, especially to himself, that he could compete at the highest level of the game.

Ilyasova attempted to do that after the Bucks chose him in the second round of the 2005 NBA draft, but the thin-as-a-rail 19-year-old wasn't close to being ready.

The Bucks assigned him to the NBA's minor league -- the Development League -- with the Tulsa 66ers. The following season Ilyasova showed enough growth that he stuck with the Bucks. He played in 66 games and even started 14.

Bucks officials were delighted with his progress and expected him to play a prominent role in the years to come.

But while attending the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, then Bucks general manager Larry Harris was stunned to learn that Ilyasova was returning to Europe.

Ilyasova, 22, is reluctant to explain why he left the Bucks, but he isn't hesitant about why he's come back.

"It's more of a challenge,'' Ilyasova said. "When I was here the first time, I was just 19.

"A lot of things have changed since then. I'm more experienced. I had more playing time.

"I'm happy to be here.''

But not as happy as his wife, Julia. She grew up in Milwaukee and felt a sense of security being around her parents.

There had been rumblings that Julia prodded Ersan toward signing with the Bucks this summer, but Ersan insists her opinion didn't influence his.

"She is very excited to be here again,'' Ilyasova said. "It's more easy for her here.

"(But) it wasn't why I came here. ... I see myself as an NBA player.''

Ilyasova probably sees himself as eventually being a big-time NBA player, although he isn't about to publicly make that proclamation.

For now, he wants to establish himself as a key contributor for the Bucks. He is in a heated battle for one of the two starting forward spots and believes, unlike his last stint with the team, he is infinitely more prepared to start.

"Why not?'' Ilyasova responds when asked if he could earn a starter's role. "Everybody has an even chance here.''

If he doesn't start, Ilyasova said he's not going to be devastated. It's not about him, he says, it's about the team.

"First of all, my goal is playing on a winning team,'' Ilyasova said. "I want to help this team win. Our goal is to be in the playoffs.''

Where he could make some extra cash and recoup a portion of the money he lost by not signing with either FC Barcelona or Olympiakos.

"It was a huge decision I make to come back to the NBA,'' Ilyasova said about passing on the bucks for the Bucks. "I'm happy with my decision. It's not about the money.''