Can Danny?

The Question: Is winning a priority?

The Answer: No and No.

The Solution: When GM John Hammond said that the Bucks were going to be frugal this offseason, he should have just said that they were going to be starting rebuilding. Honestly, it's a better approach. Admit that the team needs a fresh start and fans could be interested in the youth movement. Say that you're frugal and people just think that the ownership is going to be cheap and not put a good product on the floor. Also, the Bucks need to rebuild. The Richard Jefferson/Michael Redd Bucks aren't winning jack so they should look to at least reshuffle those contracts, if not dump them outright.

The first trade that jumped out at me was the unthinkable: Zach Randolph for Richard Jefferson. The Clippers need a SF; the Bucks need a PF. But I just can't, in good faith, promote a trade for Z-Bo so I came up with another option.

Richard Jefferson and Charlie Bell for Andrei Kirilenko: AK-47's deal is the same length as Jefferson's (and a year shorter than Bell's) and he brings in a power forward who actually plays defense. The deal also cuts a million dollars off of the cap. Utah gets a backup guard and the small forward that they've been missing since... Adrian Dantley? (No offense to Byron Russell and Blue Edwards).

Now that the frontcourt is situated, it's time to take a look at the backcourt.

The shooting guard spot is owned by Michael Redd and I think I'd trade him away for little to nothing, as long as it dumped his 2010 salary. I've been supporting a Redd/McGrady trade for over a year now and I think it still makes sense.

Tracy McGrady and Kyle Lowry* for Michael Redd and Dan Gadzuric: The Bucks get a solid enough PG in Lowry and dump a year off of both Redd and Gadzooky's contracts. T-Mac might never play again which is even better for the owners who might be able to have insurance pay McGrady's 20+ million if he doesn't lace up the sneakers next season.

I know that some fans might expect more for Redd or want to wait until next year when he's an expiring deal but I don't think it works out for the Bucks. I really can't imagine there are many teams looking to get a rather one-dimensional SG who has around 35 million owed to him over the next two years. His value as an expiring contract is ruined by the fact that the Bucks might still be in frugal mode next year; if a team isn't willing to take back contracts then the expiring contract loses almost all usefulness.

And if McGrady is able to play, he's probably just as good all-around as Redd. Is it ideal? No. But I think it helps them team more than keeping Michael Redd would.

* Lowry's inclusion in the deal depends on what is going on with Ramon Sessions. If the Bucks think they can, after the draft and deals, afford to keep Sessions, then they might just take back T-Mac for Redd and Gadzuric and not spend the 2 million on Lowry. If they think Sessions is going to cost too much, then they grab Lowry in the Redd/T-Mac deal. Ideally, the Bucks keep Sessions.

As for the draft, I'd say that the main focus should be on either Demar DeRozan, Earl Clark, or Gerald Henderson. The PG's in the draft are nice but they all have as many flaws as Ramon Sessions so why not go with the devil you know? I'd consider dealing down and getting the Bulls' #16 and #26 but I think I'd rather just get the guy I want at ten than risk taking the leftover scraps later. Since DeRozan is moving up the draft, let's say that the #10 pick is Gerald Henderson.

With the second round draft pick, I'd replace Michael Redd's awkward release with Dionte Christmas.

As for Charlie Villanueva, I'd probably just let him go. He's a nice player but his flaws equal his strengths and he gives up as much as he adds to a team.

That gives the Bucks a lineup of: Sessions, Henderson, T-Mac , AK-47, and Bogut

The bench is: Luke Ridnour, Dionte Christmas,  Luc Mbah a Moute, Joe Alexander, Malik Allen, Francisco Elson, and possibly Ersan Ilyasova.

The Bucks might not be pretty this year but this time next year, their moves won't be determined by the luxury tax (and adding another high lotto pick won't hurt).