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Bucks ownership excited about the future (AUDIO)

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Mark Lasry, Wes Edens & Jamie Dinan

Mark Lasry, Wes Edens & Jamie Dinan

Milwaukee Bucks primary owners Wes Edens, Marc Lasry and Jamie Dinan met with reporters before Wednesday night’s regular season finale against the Indiana Pacers.

Nobody was happy about the team’s 33-49 record, but after completing a lease agreement that will allow construction of the team’s new downtown arena to begin in June, the Bucks ownership team displayed an optimism about the team’s future.

Wes Edens did most of the talking and said the main objective is still winning a championship. [Read more…]

Drew takes the high road, thanks Bucks fans

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Former Milwaukee Bucks coach, fired after just one season in Milwaukee, issued the following statement today.

Larry Drew

Larry Drew

“I would like to thank Senator Herb Kohl and John Hammond for giving me the opportunity to coach the Milwaukee Bucks this past season.  Although my tenure was brief, it will forever be memorable.

“Thank you to all of the great Bucks fans for your love and suport, you truly are some of the best fans ikn the NBA.

“My swift termination did come as a surprise to me, but I accept new owners Wesley Edens’ and Marc Lasry’s decision that they’ve made.  I wish the entire Bucks organization and the great city of Milwaukee nothing but the best in the future.”

Drew went 15-67 in his only season on the Bucks bench, good for the worst record in the league.  The Bucks got into the draft lottery and drew the second overall pick, using that selection on Duke’s Jabari Parker.

 

 

Lasry & Edens admit mistakes in Kidd discussions

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Milwaukee Bucks owners Marc Lasry and Wes Edens admitted Wednesday that they messed up the hiring process of new coach Jason Kidd.

Jason Kidd - Photo: Doug Russell

Jason Kidd – Photo: Doug Russell

Kidd was introduced to the media at a Wednesday morning news conference at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Kidd left the Brooklyn Nets after one season, making the playoffs after a 44-38 regular season finish.  The Nets won their first round playoff series against Toronto, then bowed to Miami in round two.

Kidd agreed to a three-year contract worth $15 million.  It brings his salary in line with recent deals given to New York’s Derek Fisher and Golden State’s Steve Kerr.

The hiring process was far from smooth.  Word leaked out that co-owners Marc Lasry and Wes Edens were meeting with Kidd, while Larry Drew was still the Bucks head coach.

AUDIO: Marc Lasry is asked why they bungled the process :17

AUDIO: Lasry on why they kept GM John Hammond out of the loop :13

The Bucks ended up sending a pair of second round picks to Brooklyn for the right to sign Kidd. [Read more…]

Bucks will introduce Kidd as new coach today

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The Milwaukee Bucks officially named Jason Kidd as the team’s new head coach on Tuesday.  They’ll introduce him to Milwaukee at a 11:30am news conferenced at the BMO Harris Bradley Center this morning.

The Bucks signed Kidd after the Brooklyn Nets agreed to release him from his contract in exchange for two second round draft picks in the 2015 and 2019 NBA Drafts.  Kidd will become the 14th head coach in the history of the Bucks franchise.

“Jason is a determined leader, a tough-minded competitor and a great teammate,” said Bucks owners Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry.  “We believe his focus, vision and intensity will help him work alongside John (Hammond) and David (Morway) to rebuild the Milwaukee Bucks as we aspire to achieve excellence over the next several years.  We are excited that Jason will call Milwaukee his new home.”

The 41-year-old Kidd most recently served as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets where he led the team toa  44-38 record and a sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.  The Nets upset the three-seed Toronto Raptors in seven games in the opening round, then fell to Miami in round 2.

 

Bucks coaching move leaves a bad taste (Viewpoint)

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When Herb Kohl sold the Milwaukee Bucks to co-owners MarcLasry and Wed Edens, basketball fans in the state rejoiced.  Finally, an

Former coach Larry Drew and GM John Hammond

Former coach Larry Drew and GM John Hammond

ownership group that will hopefully turn the Bucks into a winning franchise again.

The Bucks selected Duke’s Jabari Parker with the second overall pick and NBA fans in Milwaukee and Wisconsin continued to feel good about the future.

But soon after, Lasry and Edens decided to seek permission and eventually interview Jason Kidd for Larry Drews head coaching job.

When ownership changes take place, it’s normal to fire the coach and even the general manager and start over.  But Lasry and Edens didn’t make changes right away.  They instead moved forward in discussions with Kidd while not once, sharing their intentions with GM John Hammond.

There are some that believe Hammond will eventually be relieved of his duties and Kidd will gain control of the Bucks both as coach and general manager.  The Bucks say they’re hiring Kidd to coach.  He’s expected to get a three-year deal ranging from 12 to 15-million dollars.  But don’t think for one minute that Kidd won’t eventually push for both jobs.  [Read more…]

Bucks select Parker with No. 2 overall pick

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The Milwaukee Bucks wanted Duke’s Jabari Parker and Parker made it perfectly clear that he wanted to play for the Bucks.  The match made in

Jabari Parker / Photo Courtesy of Rob Kinnan-USA Today Sports

Jabari Parker / Photo Courtesy of Rob Kinnan-USA Today Sports

heaven became reality when Cleveland used the top overall pick in the draft on Kansas Jayhawk Andrew Wiggins.  The Bucks then grabbed Parker with the second overall selection.

The Bucks ownership team of Marc Lasry and Wes Edens couldn’t be happier.  They get a player that has excellent character and is ready to play and contribute immediately.  And even more importantly, Parker wants to play in Milwaukee.

Parker can play either forward spot, big or small and he’s already drawing comparisons to NBA greats like Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony.

AUDIO: GM John Hammond compares Parker to Carmelo Anthony :14

Many of the so-called draft guru’s give the Bucks a top grade for the Parker selection.  They say he’s an immediate contributor, a player that will average 20-points a game in the NBA and be a All-Star.

AUDIO: GM John Hammond said Parker is a great fit with the Bucks :12

The Bucks weren’t done at the forward position after picking Parker.  They added 6’8, 240-pound forward Damien Inglis with the 31st selection, the first pick of the second round.  They followed that by picking LSU power forward Johnny O’Bryant with the 36th pick.

The Bucks wound up the night by selecting Pittsburgh guard Lamar Patterson 48th overall, then traded him to Atlanta for a 2015 second round pick.

Bucks narrow top selection to Parker or Wiggins

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Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry indicated Monday that the Bucks will likely use the second overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft on Duke’s Jabari Parker or Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins.  Foot surgery for Kansas big man Joel Embiid last week has seemingly knocked him out of the Bucks plans.

After a 15-67 record last season, the Bucks are looking for immediate help.  At a meeting of the Milwaukee Press Club and Rotary Club on Monday morning, Lasry said, “I think he’s a phenomenal individual, but with the injury and not knowing how severe or long it will take to recover, I think for us today we’re going to want somebody who’s going to help us on Day One.”

Lasry talked about building a foundation of young players over the next two or three seasons that would help attract free agents.  “Nobody’s coming to Milwaukee if the team does what it did last year,” said Lasry.

The Bucks are also seeking public financing to help build a new arena.  Lasry and co-owner Wes Edens have put up $100 million, and former owner Herb Kohl has done the same.  Lasry said he estimates it could take $350 million to $400 million to build a new arena.

Rodgers to buy into the Bucks?

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Today’s Racine Journal-Times is reporting that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has spoken with the new owners of the Milwaukee Bucks, Marc Lasry and Wes Edens about investing in the team.

Lasry and Edens have said that are seeking local minority owners, in part to help pay for the cost of a new arena for the team to play in. The NBA has said that if there isn’t a new arena in place by 2017, they can buy the team back for a $25 million profit, far below what the Bucks could be worth on the open market by then.

Bucks get 2nd pick in NBA’s Draft Lottery

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The Milwaukee Bucks went into Tuesday night’s Draft Lottery with the best odds (25%) of obtaining the top pick in the June 26th draft.  But it was the Cleveland Cavaliers (1.7%) that came from the 9th position to grab the top pick.  They’ll draft number-1 for the third time in the last four years.

The Bucks get the number two pick, the first time in their history that they’ll draft from that position.

The Cavs will have their pick of top players like Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid of Kansas and Jabari Parker of Duke.  But regardless of who Cleveland goes with, the Bucks are going to get a real good player with the next pick.

Since the NBA introduced the lottery system in 1985, the second spot has produced a number of top players, like Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning and reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant.

Vote of confidence

Bucks General Manager John Hammond received a vote of confidence from the Bucks new ownership group.  Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens say Hammond will oversee the June 26th draft and continue as the Bucks GM for the near future.  Hammond and current head coach Larry Drew both have two years left on their contracts.

 

NBA needs an arena deal or they could move the Bucks

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According to an ESPN.com report, the NBA has the right to buy back the Milwaukee Bucks from prospective owners Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry for $575-million, if a deal to build a new arena is not in place by November 2017.

The $575-million is $25-million more than Edens and Lasry paid for the team from former senator Herb Kohl.

Kohl told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently  that the Bucks need a new arena or they will be gone.

Both Kohl and the ownership group of Edens and Lasry, committed $100-million each towards a new arena in Milwaukee.  It’s believed a new facility will cost at least $400-million to build. [Read more…]