UPDATE: The Charlie Bell-Milwaukee Bucks Saga
| 5
|
by Craigbwolf
Tuesday night, it was reported by the Associated Press that point guard Royal Ivey signed a one year contract with the Bucks, just one day after Charlie Bell signed an offer sheet with the Miami Heat.
Ivey played the three previous seasons for the Atlanta Hawks. As predicted here, the Bucks would allow Bell to sign with the Heat and replace him with a young point guard with upside. Ivey made $744,551 last season, and I would assume he will be making a similar salary next season in Milwaukee.
As I wrote in my initial post, the Bucks would fill Bell's spot with a small salary-type player because they need to look to the future with Villanueva and Bogut's contracts expiring soon. Ivey will compete with Lynn Greer for playing time behind starting point guard Mo Williams. Ivey is an excellent perimeter defender, but struggles to make an impact on offense. If he wants to improve, he needs to work a great deal on his jump shot, so he can be a threat on offense in the league.
In Miami, it certainly makes sense to overpay for a necessary piece, like Bell, to make a title run. However, in Milwaukee, it simply would have been money wasted. Instead, they have made the correct decision to settle for a young, inexpensive player.
Until a second consistent scorer can emerge in Milwaukee, they will be unable to seriously compete in the Central Division. Whether that second scorer is Charlie Villanueva, Mo Williams, or Yi Jianlian, the Bucks will continue to be a young team that struggles to win consistently. Therefore, limiting the dollars they have committed now in hopes of turning it around in the future, is the appropriate way to go.
http://www.cwnbathoughts.blogspot.com/
