Milwaukee Bucks Blog – Page 23 – NBA Blog

Bucks reportedly have interest in Brook Lopez

Bucks reportedly have interest in Brook Lopez

Here’s ESPN NY reporting on Bucks free agency, which reportedly will include Nets center Brook Lopez as a target:

The Milwaukee Bucks intend to pursue Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez this summer, according to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein. Lopez, 27, is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.

Nets general manager Billy King has said retaining Lopez and forward Thaddeus Young is his No. 1 priority this offseason. The Nets can ill-afford to lose Lopez because they don’t have the salary-cap means to replace him in free agency.

Because the Nets hold Lopez’s Bird rights, they are the only team that can offer Lopez a five-year, max contract.

New Milwaukee Bucks uniforms revealed

The Milwaukee Bucks unveiled their new home and road uniforms this afternoon at the team’s inaugural Summer Block Party event on the grounds of Schlitz Park. The jersey unveiling continues an updated visual identity for the franchise that began in April when the team presented a new color palette and three unique Bucks basketball logos.

Members of the current Bucks roster and franchise greats were on hand as fans joined together to enjoy local musical acts, food, drink and Bucks chatter at the tipoff to the summer festival season, but the attention turned to the future during a special ceremony in which the new uniforms were revealed. Bucks All-Stars Bobby Dandridge and Vin Baker joined Head Coach Jason Kidd and current players Giannis Antetokounmpo, John Henson, Damien Inglis and Jabari Parker to span the timeline from the team’s championship history to its future.

According to the Bucks: White remains the base color on the new home uniforms with lettering and numbers presented in Good Land Green outlined in Cream City Cream. Good Land Green is the base color of the new road uniforms with lettering and numbers presented in white outlined in Cream City Cream. Great Lakes Blue is featured as an accent color on both uniforms.

“Our new uniforms will serve as a showcase of our franchise’s proud heritage and bright future on the NBA’s global stage,” Bucks Vice President of Strategy and Operations Alex Lasry said. “The new look is a perfect representation of the city and state we call home – honoring our blue-collar community values in a modern design that speaks to the exciting future for the team and region.”

Tyler Ennis undergoes shoulder surgery

Bucks guard Tyler Ennis undergoes shoulder surgery

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced that guard Tyler Ennis underwent successful labral repair surgery to his right shoulder today. After consultation with Bucks orthopaedist Dr. Michael Gordon and Dr. David Altcheck from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, the procedure was performed this morning in New York.

Ennis was acquired along with Miles Plumlee and Michael Carter-Williams on Feb. 19 in a three-team deal with Phoenix and Philadelphia. In 25 games (one start) this season for Milwaukee, Ennis averaged 4.0 points, 2.4 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game.

Bucks hire Suki Hobson for training staff

The Milwaukee Bucks today announced that Suki Hobson has been added to the team’s training staff as Senior Strength and Rehabilitation Specialist. Hobson brings over 15 years of experience working with elite athletes in the fields of strength, power and injury rehabilitation to the Bucks organization.

Hobson joins the Bucks full-time after previously running her own interdisciplinary athletic performance and sports consultancy company, Athlete Revolution International, which is based in Melbourne, Australia, and operated around the world. Regarded for her innovative, athlete-centered, goal-driven and scientific approach to training, Hobson is a leader in the fields of strength training and athlete rehabilitation, with a particular emphasis in rehabilitation from ACL injuries. She has previously worked with multiple Australian Football League teams as well as the Queensland Academy of Sport, where she trained Olympic athletes during two summer and one winter Olympic cycles.

Bucks trying to make sure that actual Bucks fans attend their next home game

Bucks trying to make sure that actual Bucks fans attend their next home game

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the Bucks, whose Chicago-based first round playoff opponent is practically another local team:

Bucks trying to make sure that actual Bucks fans attend the next Bucks home game

The first two home playoff games for the Bucks were sellouts last week, with the crowds nearly evenly divided between Milwaukee and Chicago fans.

But Game 6 on Thursday might be a bit different.

Plenty of Bulls fans will be in the stands as always, but the Bucks have tried to make sure more of their fans are holding tickets. The team is having a pre-sale of tickets until noon Wednesday, limited to fans with Wisconsin zip codes.

“There certainly will be Bulls fans here, and that’s fine,” said Bucks vice president of marketing Dustin Godsey. “Our goal is to give local fans the opportunity to get tickets.”

Bucks sign Jorge Gutierrez to multi-year contract

Bucks sign Jorge Gutierrez to multi-year contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Jorge Gutierrez to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Gutierrez is the 60th Gatorade Call-Up of the 2014-15 NBA Development League season.

Gutierrez appeared in seven games for the Bucks earlier this season and averaged 3.6 points and 2.1 rebounds while playing 13.4 minutes per game. He made one start for Milwaukee on Feb. 2 at Toronto, and tied his career high for scoring with 13 points on Feb. 6 at Houston. He signed his initial 10-day contact on Jan. 28 and a second 10-day contract on Feb. 7.

Gutierrez has also played 15 games for the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League this season and averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 29.8 minutes per game.

Bucks struggling since trading Brandon Knight

Bucks struggling since trading Brandon Knight

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the struggling Bucks:

Since Brandon Knight left the Bucks in a trade deadline deal, Milwaukee has struggled to a 4-13 record.

Knight has not played recently for his new team, the Phoenix Suns, due to a sprained left ankle. The Suns are 4-6 in the games he has played and 9-8 since making the trade for Knight and two other deals on Feb. 19.

Knight told azcentral.com about the Bucks: “Their struggles aren’t my struggles any more. I moreso feel bad for the guys that I was there with. I feel a little bit bad for them because they know the hard work we put in. I know they feel it kind of went down the drain a bit.

“I wish those guys the best. Hopefully they can get back on track. I’m about the Suns right now.”

Bucks: No timetable for return of OJ Mayo, Jared Dudley

Bucks: No timetable for return of OJ Mayo, Jared Dudley

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel blog with a health update on the banged-up Bucks:

It doesn’t sound like key reserves O.J. Mayo and Jared Dudley will be back soon.

Bucks coach Jason Kidd said at Friday’s shootaround that there is “no timetable” for the return of the two players, both sidelined by injuries. Mayo is out with a right hamstring injury and Dudley has a lower back issue.

Mayo and Dudley accompanied the team on its last road trip but were sent home when the Bucks arrived in New Orleans, in an effort to get better treatment for their injuries.

Mayo played 27 minutes against Utah on Feb. 28 but has played very limited minutes in just two games since then. Dudley has been out the last three games after trying to fight through knee and back ailments.

Bucks sign Chris Johnson to second 10-day contract

Bucks sign Chris Johnson to second 10-day contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Chris Johnson to a second 10-day contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Johnson appeared in five games for the Bucks during his first 10-day contract and averaged 4.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game.

Johnson signed his initial 10-day contract on March 6.

Jared Dudley in serious shooting slump

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on a veteran Buck:

Jared Dudley is in a serious shooting slump.

Since the Milwaukee Bucks returned from the all-star break, Dudley has compiled only a few hits and plenty of misses.

How bad is it?

The 29-year-old forward is shooting 14.3% from three-point range (3 of 21) and 25.5% overall (13 of 51) in his last eight games.

It got so bad on Saturday night that he had two wide-open looks in a matter of seconds early in the fourth quarter and missed both.

This is the same player who was shooting 44.2% from beyond the arc and 50.6% overall before the break. It’s the same player who hit all 10 of his shots in a game against the Atlanta Hawks in December, including 4 three-pointers, while leading the Bucks to a 30-point victory over one of the league’s top teams.