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Jon Horst named NBA Executive of the Year

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Jon Horst

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Jon Horst has been named NBA Executive of the Year, becoming the second GM in Bucks history to win the award.

In his second season as the Bucks’ General Manager, Horst hired Mike Budenholzer, who was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year and assembled a team that went on to have the best record in the NBA at 60-22.

The Bucks were the top scoring team in the league in 2018-19 and finished the regular season with a top five offense and defense.  The Bucks also advanced past the First Round of the playoffs, and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, for the first time since 2001.

The Bucks are now 104-60 (.634) over the last two seasons with Horst as the team’s general manager, having made the playoffs in each season.

Horst is the second Bucks general manager to earn NBA Executive of the Year, joining John Hammond who won the award following the 2009-10 season.

 

Bucks reportedly opening search for new GM

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According to an ESPN report, the Milwaukee Bucks are planning to conduct a search for their next general manager.

John Hammond’s contract was up after the upcoming season and he received permission to interview in Orlando, where he signed a five year contract to become the new general manager for the Magic.

Assistant general manager Justin Zanik, who was hired from the Utah Jazz earlier in 2016, was reportedly considered to be the GM-in-waiting, expecting to move into the job when John Hammond’s deal was done.

In ESPN’s Mark Stein’s report, Zanik will interview for the GM post and be given strong consideration to succeed Hammond, but nothing has ever been promised.  Zanik will run the Bucks front office during the process, with the NBA Draft coming up on June 22nd.

Hammond leaving Milwaukee for GM post in Orlando

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John Hammond

Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond is leaving his job in Milwaukee to take the GM post with the Orlando Magic.

Hammond gets a five-year deal with the Magic and joins former co-worker Jeff Weltman in Orlando.  The two worked together in Detroit for a year before Hammond took the job in Milwaukee and brought Weltman with him as his assistant general manager.

Hammond had one year left on his contract in Milwaukee, but a plan was already in place for that to be his final year.  Had he not accepted the job in Orlando, it was expected that Hammond would have finished out the next year, then moved into a consulting role.  Assistant general manager Justin Zanik would move into the general manager position.  Zanik was brought in last summer as the heir apparent to Hammond. [Read more…]

Bucks return Middleton, lose Parker

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Jabari Parker shoots against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Khris Middleton’s return to the court was supposed to be the start of good things to come for the Milwaukee Bucks.  But forward Jabari Parker went down with what the team is calling a sprained left knee, putting a damper on the night.

The Bucks (22-29) went out and lost to the Miami Heat 106-88, their 11th loss in the last 13 games.  The Heat (23-30) won its 12th straight game.

Parker injured the same knee that required surgery during his rookie season when he suffered a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in a December 2014 game against Phoenix.  He would miss the rest of the season.

Parker will undergo an MRI today to determine the severity of the injury.

Hassan Whiteside had 23 points and 16 rebounds to lead Miami.  Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Bucks.  Parker scored 14 points before getting hurt.  Khris Middleton played 15 minutes in his first game back from a serious hamstring injury.  He finished with five points.

AUDIO: John Hammond on Jabari Parker’s injury :12

AUDIO: Jason Terry says it’s tough to see Jabari Parker go down :11

AUDIO: Jason Terry says the Bucks need more effort & energy :14

 

Bucks deal Plumlee to Hornets

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The Milwaukee Bucks signed Miles Plumlee to a four-year, $50 million contract last summer, but things didn’t work out the way either side had hoped.

Bucks general manager John Hammond sent Plumlee to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, getting big men Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes in return.  The Bucks also released Steve Novak to make room for the extra roster spot.

Plumlee averaged 2.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 32 games for the Bucks this season.

Hawes is a 10-year NBA veteran with stints with Sacramento, Philadelphia, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Hornets.  He averaged 7.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in 35 games for Charlotte this season. [Read more…]

Bucks suffer big loss before training camp even starts

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Khris Middleton - Photo Courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Khris Middleton – Photo Courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Milwaukee Bucks say guard Khris Middleton suffered a left hamstring injury in preseason workouts that will require surgery.  General Manager John Hammond said Middleton is expected to be sidelined for approximately six months, with surgery planned for next week.

“We’re obviously disappointed for Khris and our team, but injuries are an unfortunate part of the game,” said Hammond.  “We’ll rely on our overall roster depth to help us while Khris is out for a significant period of the season.”

The 25-year-old Middleton averaged career-high 18.2 points, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals last season along with 3.8 rebounds in 79 games.

The Bucks will open training camp next week.

Bucks give GM Hammond a contract extension

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John Hammond

John Hammond

The Milwaukee Bucks have given general manager John Hammond a one-year contract extension that keeps him in Milwaukee through the 2017-18 season.

According to reports, assistant general manager Justin Zanik would assume the general manager duties when Hammond’s new deal runs out.  Zanik was hired to a multiyear contract.

The Bucks are entering their third season under the new ownership of West Edens, Marc Lasry and Jamie Dinan.  They’re hoping to improve on the 33-49 season of a year ago.

Hammond has been the Bucks general manager since 2008.  He was named the NBA’s Executive of the Year in 2009-’10.

Free Agency begins

The NBA free agency period opened at 11 p.m. Thursday night.  The Bucks have nothing to report at the moment, but they do plan to be active.  They’re searching for backcourt help and perimeter shooting.

 

Bucks tab Zanik as new Assistant General Manager

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Milwaukee Bucks logo 11

The Milwaukee Bucks have a new assistant general manager. Thursday the team officially announced the hiring of Justin Zanik, who comes to Milwaukee after fulfilling the same role with the Utah Jazz for the past three season.

The 41-year-old Zanik will be directly involved in management of the day-to-day basketball operations.

In the statement making the announcement, current Bucks General Manager John Hammond said of Zanik, “He is a proven executive who brings a diverse background and wealth of basketball knowledge.” [Read more…]

NBA Draft Lottery takes place tonight

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John Hammond

John Hammond

The NBA Draft Lottery takes place tonight (Tuesday) in New York City.  The lottery gives the Bucks a slim chance of improving their draft position in the upcoming June 23rd NBA Draft.

After missing the playoffs, the Bucks currently own the number-ten pick in the first round and the lottery will give them a 6.5% chance of moving up to the top three, and a 1.8% chance of actually landing the top pick in the draft.

The Bucks overcame those odds in 2005 when they won the top overall pick and selected Andrew Bogut.  They also scored a top player two years ago when they took Jabari Parker with the second overall selection.

Bucks coach Jason Kidd will represent the team on the lottery’s T-V broadcast, while vice president Alex Lasry watches the selection of the ping pong balls backstage.

Tonight’s lottery begins around 6:45 on ESPN.

AUDIO: GM John Hammond on the Bucks needs in the 2016 Draft :12

AUDIO: John Hammond asked if the Bucks will address need or best player :24

 

Bucks will focus on three-point shooting in the offseason

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Khris Middleton

Khris Middleton – Photo Courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks

Three-point shooting has become a must for NBA teams and the Milwaukee Bucks fell well short in that department this season.

General Manager John Hammond and coach Jason Kidd both say job-one will be to bring in shooters during the draft and free agency.

Kidd said he was hoping to have as many as four outside threats this past year, but O-J Mayo, Jerryd Bayless and Greivis Vasquez were hurt for much of the season as Khris Middleton was forced to take on a larger role.

As a result, the Bucks made 440  three-pointers for the season.  To put that number into perspective, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors made 402 three-pointers all by himself.

The Bucks were also hoping veteran Steve Novak would help, but the former Marquette Golden Eagle and Brown Deer native only played three games before his season ended with a knee injury.