Bucks Decline to Match Sessions Offer Sheet

The Milwaukee Bucks declined to match the offer sheet that combo point guard/shooting guard Ramon Session signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves (source here). Last Friday Sessions signed a four-year offer sheet with the Timberwolves worth a reported $16 million. This move comes as no surprise as Bucks General Manager John Hammond continues to re-shape the roster he inherited from former Bucks General Manager Larry Harris. Signing Sessions would have put the Bucks over the luxury tax threshold, which neither Hammond nor Bucks Owner Herb Kohl were interested in doing.

The Bucks already have a crowded backcourt with Brandon Jennings, Luke Rindour and Roko Ukic at point guard as well as Michael Redd, Jodie Meeks and Charlie Bell at shooting guard. The last name on that list Charlie Bell is an example of the difference between the Larry Harris regime and the John Hammond regime. While General Manager of the Bucks, Harris matched the five-year $18.5 million offer sheet that Bell signed with the Miami Heat in 2007 (source here). The Bell contract has proved to be wasted money and it was smart for Hammond not to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor.

Bucks fans are fortunate that Hammond has a long-term vision for the roster. There is so much turnover in professional front offices, usually General Managers mortgage their future for short term results. Hammond could have resigned Sessions but it would have created an even bigger logjam at the guard position. Instead, much like declining to re-sign Charlie Villanueva, Hammond opted for long-term financial relief. The open question is whether long-term financial relief will come at the expense of short-term results.

Milwaukee Bucks Continue Wheeling and Dealing

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond continued to reshape the Bucks’ roster by trading power forward Amir Johnson and guard Sonny Weems to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for small forward Carlos Delfino and guard Roko Ukic. Earlier in the off-season, the Bucks acquired Johnson from the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade. After the Bucks signed free agent power forward Hakim Warrick to a one-year contract at the end of July, Johnson became expendable (source: here). Delfino joins the Bucks in a “sign and trade;” he played in Russia last season, but the Raptors retained his rights (source: here).

This deal works out well for both sides because the Bucks have a glut of power forwards and the Raptors have a surplus of small forwards. Johnson was in the final year of a three-year contract, anyway. Preliminary indications are that Delfino will sign a three-year deal for $3 to $4 million a season (source: here).

Hammond acquiring Delfino is no shocker. Hammond was in the Detroit Pistons front office when the Pistons drafted Delfino in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft, and has kept an eye on Delfino ever since. With these moves, Hammond is reshuffling the Bucks roster without committing too much money long term. This allows the Bucks to have ongoing financial flexibility and some fresh blood, too. All in all, I think it was a good move.