Milwaukee Bucks Blog – Page 22 – NBA Blog

Influence of Jason Kidd helped bring Copeland to Milwaukee

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on Chris Copeland, who became a member of the Bucks this summer:

Chris Copeland said his relationship with Bucks coach Jason Kidd played a big role as the the 31-year-old forward signed a one-year deal with Milwaukee last month.

Copeland is expected to play a key role off the bench and his ability to space the floor should complement the Bucks young forward duo of Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“Jason Kidd has been a top reason,” Copeland said of choosing the Bucks after spending the last two years with the Indiana Pacers. “It was a blessing playing with him when we were in New York (during the 2012-’13 season). I learned a lot from him behind the scenes.

“I watched him in a short period of time show his capabilities as a coach. I just look forward to the opportunity. When they reached out, it was a no-brainer.”

Bucks sign forward Marcus Landry

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent forward Marcus Landry, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bucks blog, “Landry’s contract is not guaranteed, but it gives him the opportunity to demonstrate his skill and compete for a roster spot during training camp. Earning a roster spot may be difficult — but not impossible — as the Bucks are currently carrying 15 guaranteed contracts. NBA teams can invite up to 20 players to training camp, but are only allowed 15 rosters spots during the regular season.”

Landry, 29, was undrafted after a four-year collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin. A Milwaukee native, Landry has played professionally in the NBA, the NBA D-League and internationally since wearing the Badgers uniform from 2005-09.

Last season, Landry played 49 games for CAI Zaragoza in Spain where he averaged 10.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He played parts of the 2013-14 and 2011-12 seasons in Spain, as well as stints internationally in Puerto Rico, China and Venezuela.

Landry began his professional career with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics in 2009. He also played for the Maine Red Claws and Reno Bighorns in the D-League. He was named to the Futures All-Star roster for the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star game and won the Three-Point Shootout.

Bucks sign Chris Copeland

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent forward Chris Copeland, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Copeland is a crafty, smart player who should provide nice depth off the bench.

Copeland, 31, was undrafted out of the University of Colorado in 2006 and spent six seasons split between the NBA D-League and professional teams overseas before landing in the NBA with the New York Knicks in 2012-13. He has posted career averages of 6.4 points and 1.8 rebounds over three seasons with New York and Indiana, and has averaged 3.5 points and 0.7 rebounds through 21 playoff games (1 start).

Copeland spent the last two seasons in Indiana, and in 2014-15 averaged 6.2 points and a career-high 2.2 rebounds in 50 games (12 starts). In a 21-point effort at Atlanta on Nov. 1, 2014, he hit a career-high six 3-pointers. In his rookie campaign, Copeland finished first among NBA rookies in 3-point field goal percentage, connecting on 42.1 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. That number was also good enough to tie for 13th among all NBA players that season. Copeland was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in April of 2013.

Bucks sign first round pick Rashad Vaughn

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed their first round selection (17th overall) from the 2015 NBA Draft, Rashad Vaughn, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Vaughn, a 6-foot-6-inch guard out of UNLV, was named the Mountain West Conference’s Freshman of the Year, Honorable Mention All-League and Second Team NABC All-District 17 in 2014-15 after averaging a team-high 17.8 points, along with 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He started all 23 games in which he played for the Rebels before suffering a season-ending knee injury, and at the time of the injury, his scoring average ranked second in the MWC and third in the nation among freshmen.

Vaughn scored in double figures in 21 of his 23 games, including in each of his last 19 contests. He registered 20 or more points nine times and 30 or more two times. He scored a season-high 31 points vs. Utah State on Jan. 24, 2015, which tied the league’s freshman class single-game record for most points scored against a conference opponent.

In five NBA Summer League games to date, Vaughn is averaging 16.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

Bucks trade Zaza Pachulia to Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks announced yesterday that they acquired center Zaza Pachulia from the Milwaukee Bucks for a future second round pick.

Pachulia (6-11, 270) was originally drafted 42nd overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2003 NBA Draft. The 12-year veteran has played a total of 815 games (317 starts) for three teams (Orlando, Milwaukee and Atlanta). He has career averages of 7.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.0 minutes.

In 2014-15, he averaged 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 23.7 minutes in 73 games (45 starts) in his second stint with Milwaukee.

A native of Tbilisi, Georgia, Pachulia has played with the Georgian National Team seven times. He left Georgia in 1998 for Turkey to pursue his basketball career when he was 15 years old. He appeared in 73 games during parts of four seasons for Ulker of Istanbul, the top level of Turkey, and averaged 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game (1999-2003). He helped Ulker win the Turkish National Championship in 2001.

Bucks trade Jared Dudley to Wizards

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced yesterday that the team has acquired forward Jared Dudley from Milwaukee in exchange for a protected future second round pick.

“Jared’s versatility and shooting ability will give us depth at both forward positions and allow us to use him in a variety of lineups,” said Grunfeld. “We are also looking forward to the leadership and veteran presence that he will bring both on the court.”

Dudley (6-7, 225) holds career averages of 8.5 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting .468 from the field and .396 from three-point range over eight-plus seasons with Charlotte, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Clippers, and Milwaukee. He has appeared in 595 career games while earning 212 starts. The 22nd overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft averaged 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds with the Bucks last season.

During the 2014-15 campaign, Dudley shot .468 from the field and .385 from downtown in 72 games, including 22 starts, and hit .571 (8-14) from three-point range over six games in Milwaukee’s first round series with Chicago during the 2015 NBA Playoffs. His best season came in 2011-12 when he averaged 12.7 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting a career-high .485 from the floor in 65 games with Phoenix. Dudley was teammates with current Wizards center Marcin Gortat for two-plus seasons in Phoenix. In 29 career playoff games, he has averaged 5.9 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting .449 from the floor and .456 from three-point range.

Bucks re-sign Khris Middleton

The Milwaukee Bucks have re-signed restricted free agent forward Khris Middleton, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on July 1, “after playing for $915,000 last season, Middleton and the Bucks agreed on the parameters of a five-year, $70 million contract, averaging $14 million a season.”

“Khris played a huge role in our turnaround last season and has become a leader on our young team,” Bucks General Manager John Hammond said. “Keeping Khris in a Bucks uniform was a huge priority for us this offseason, and we’re thrilled that he’ll continue to grow with our young core as we work towards building a championship-caliber team in Wisconsin.”

Middleton, 23, has spent the last two seasons in Milwaukee after being acquired through a trade with Detroit in July of 2013, the summer after his rookie year. In a breakout season with the Bucks in 2014-15, Middleton posted career highs in points per game (13.4), rebounds per game (4.4) and assists per game (2.3). He tied for ninth in the NBA for steals per turnover ratio (122:113, 1.08), and his 3-point percentage of 40.7 tied for 10th in the league. Middleton became the first player to have multiple game-winning 3-pointers in the same season (at Phoenix on Dec. 15 and vs. Miami on March 24) since Kobe Bryant in 2009-10. He posted a career-high 30 points two times last season out of 59 total double-digit scoring games. Middleton saw his first playoff action in 2015 and led the Bucks in scoring in the postseason with 15.8 points through the six games (all starts).

The six-foot-nine-inch forward out of Texas A&M was selected 39th overall by the Pistons in the 2012 NBA Draft. Middleton owns career averages of 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He has a career field goal percentage of 45.3 and 3-point percentage of 40.3. His 3-point percentage through two seasons with Milwaukee, 41.0, ranks third on the Bucks’ all-time list.

Bucks sign Greg Monroe

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent center/forward Greg Monroe, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “deal will be worth an estimated $50 millon over three years, with the third year a player option.”

“The entire Bucks organization is thrilled to welcome Greg to Milwaukee,” Bucks General Manager John Hammond said. “Greg will be a fantastic complement to the talented young roster we’re assembling. The fact that he chose Milwaukee speaks volumes about the culture we’re developing and the bright future we envision for the Bucks.”

“Greg is a skilled low-post scorer and rebounder, and will add a whole new dimension to our young roster,” Bucks Head Coach Jason Kidd added. “He’s just 25 years old and still scratching the surface of his potential. I’m looking forward to helping him develop along with our other talented young players.”

Monroe, 25, was selected by the Pistons with the seventh-overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft and has spent the last five seasons with Detroit. In 2014-15, he averaged a double-double for the first time in his career with 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds, along with 2.1 assists. Monroe was one of only 12 players in the NBA last season to average a points/rebounds double-double, and his 10.2 rebounds per game tied for eighth in the league. On Feb. 6 vs. Denver, Monroe recorded his first career 20-point/20-rebound game with 21 points and a career-high 21 rebounds.

In each of the last four seasons Monroe has recorded at least 1,000 points and 600 rebounds, making him one of just two NBA players (DeMarcus Cousins) to accomplish that feat. In his career, Monroe has notched 158 double-doubles, which is 10th-most among all NBA players during that time span. The 6-foot-11-inch center/forward has career averages of 14.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 378 games (334 starts).

Monroe was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2011. He played at Georgetown for two years from 2008 through 2010 and earned NCAA AP All-America Third Team and First Team All-Big East honors after his sophomore season in 2010. As a high school senior at Helen Cox (Louisiana) in 2008, he was named a McDonald’s All American. Monroe will wear No. 15 for the Bucks.

Bucks, Greg Monroe agree to deal

Bucks, Greg Monroe agree to deal

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the Bucks, who are adding a whole bunch of offense to their frontcourt:

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to terms on a maximum contract with free-agent center Greg Monroe, a league source indicated Thursday.

The deal will be worth an estimated $50 millon over three years, with the third year a player option, the source said.

The Bucks will be able to sign Monroe with available cap space and will sign Khris Middleton over the cap using Larry Bird rights, which allow teams to exceed the cap to re-sign their own free agents. The Bucks agreed with Middleton Wednesday on a five-year, $70 million deal.

The Bucks beat out bids from the New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers to land Monroe, a 6-foot-11 center who averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds last season for Detroit.

2015 Bucks summer league roster

2015 Bucks summer league roster announced

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced today the team’s roster for the 2015 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The Bucks roster is highlighted by Rashad Vaughn, the 17th overall pick in last month’s NBA Draft, who will join current roster members Jorge Gutierrez, Damien Inglis and Johnny O’Bryant. Inglis, the 31st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, will be making his Bucks debut after missing the entire 2014-15 season while recovering from an ankle injury.

Milwaukee is slated to open its Summer League campaign on Friday, July 10, at 5 p.m. CT vs. the New Orleans Pelicans. The Bucks will continue their opening round play with games against the San Antonio Spurs (Sunday, July 12, at 5:30 p.m. CT) and Cleveland Cavaliers (Monday, July 13, at 3 p.m. CT). Following the opening three games, the participating teams will be seeded for the single-elimination tournament that will culminate in a championship game on July 20. A consolation round will be held for teams failing to advance, ensuring that each team is guaranteed to play no fewer than five games. In all, the 2015 NBA Summer League will feature 67 games scheduled over 11 days at the COX Pavilion and Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Full roster here: Bucks 2015 summer league roster