11/05/24
June 22, 2005
Porter gets his walking papers.: Despite overachieving with a mediocre squad, and having the #1 pick in the draft in hand, the Bucks have fired Terry Porter with 1 year left on his contract.
posted by lilnemo to basketball at 06:21 PM - 9 comments
More telling than the discrepancies in the results of the trades is the fact that a lot of the players the Bucks traded for were out the door by the end of the season. It doesn't seem like they even thought about spinning the final year of a player's contract for a proven veteran. They just opted for the cap relief, which is an okay strategy, provided you lure and sign a good free agent with that cash.
posted by lilnemo at 06:57 PM on June 22, 2005
Porter was lured into a no-win situation and didn't win. I at least hope he gets considered for the Portland job; he might be the type of guy to right that ship.
posted by dfleming at 07:09 PM on June 22, 2005
maybe he didn't gel with either of the two guys that worked out with the Bucks this week ahead of the draft? dunno, but the timing seems a touch odd. kind of like Sutter getting canned by the Blackhawks. What did he do this past non-season that warranted his dismissal? (new GM bringing in "his guy" obviously, not wanting to derail)
posted by gspm at 07:12 PM on June 22, 2005
I certainly hope so. The "unofficial" coaching carousel rumors so far: Seattle - McMillan re-signs. Detroit - Flip Saunders. IF L.B. "retires". Portland - Porter makes sense here. Minnesota - Musselman makes sense here (if Sam & Spree leave) Milwaukee - I can't see too many coaches lining up for a franchise that may be losing its franchise player (Redd), has fired it's head coach with 1 year left on his contract, and looks to be drafting a player who could be the next Great White Stiff. Realistically, who's left at the table and worthy of dropping Porter for? Bzdelik? McMillan looks too entrenched in Seattle to consider rebuilding again. If Flip didn't give the Cavs the time of day, there's no way he'd opt for the Bucks. Musselman has almost too much flexibility here, he could literally turn up anywhere.
posted by lilnemo at 07:22 PM on June 22, 2005
Is nobody interested in PJ Carllesimo? I always figured he'd resurface again. It'd be quite dramatic if the T-Wolves signed him.
posted by Ufez Jones at 07:32 PM on June 22, 2005
Its a damm shame how coaches are going down left and right. Saunders, Musselmann, now Porter. When a coach signs a 4year contract, let him coach 4years. You got the 1st pick of the draft, and even without that the Bucks gotta long way to go, with or without Porter.
posted by Rage Rod 74 at 07:54 PM on June 22, 2005
The Wolves hired Casey a few days ago.
posted by cobra! at 09:05 AM on June 23, 2005
It never ceases to amaze me how a coach can always be blamed for the ineptness of the team he coaches or manages. While it is possible for a coach to be the problem for a teams woes, blaming him every time seems a bit wrong to me. After all, most of these "leaders" once played at these levels themselves and know how it all works. I do believe that the players NEED to be held accountable for the bad records and bad play that causes these coaches to lose their jobs, after all, they are the ones making the crazy mad money, not the coaches!
posted by melcarek69 at 12:23 PM on June 24, 2005
Nate McMillan, Flip Saunders, and Eric Musselman are all being discussed as possible candidates. Pardon me, but this bites. Considering the level of talent that the Bucks possess, I don't see any of these guys getting more out of this squad than Porter did. Why is it that management always view a coaching change as the panacea for what are essentially bad roster moves? Lets look at what the Bucks got for the break-up of the "Big 3": Glenn Robinson became Toni Kukoc, Leon Smith, and a 2003 draft pick. Kukoc is the only player currently playing for the Bucks, coming off of the bench. Leon Smith has yet to remain stable enough to stay in the league. The draft pick turned out to be TJ Ford, whom they are "hopeful" will play sometime this season. Ray Allen became Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. Payton was a 1 year rental that resulted in George Karl's dismissal. While Mason has proven to be a talent, his numbers have yet to match those of Allen. Adding insult to injury, trade throw in Ronald Murray had a breakout season and is part of the Sonics rotation. Sam Cassell became Joe Smith and Anthony Peeler. Smith has been an off and on contributor, and a shell of the player he seemed to be in Golden State. Peeler didn't play a game for the Bucks. So in that exchange you go from a rough average of 60 PPG, 15 RPG, 12 APG down to 33 PPG, 14 RPG, and 6 APG. Thats the difference between Allen-Cassell-Robinson's last combined year in Milwaukee, and Kukoc-Mason-Smith's past combined season averages.