The Bucks took 22-year old, 6’10″, 228 pound power forward Jon Leuer with the 40th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.  Leuer played in 34 games for Wisconsin last year and he averaged 33.5 minutes, 18.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  He played in 123 games in his four years in college and he averaged 22.8 minutes, 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.  This should make the locals happy with Leuer staying in Wisconsin.  He gives the Bucks another big body but he’s going to have to work hard to make it in the NBA.

With the 19th overall pick, the Bucks took 18-year old, 6’8″, 225 pound forward Tobias Harris.  Harris played in 34 games for Tennessee last year and he averaged 29.2 minutes, 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  The Bucks will have the luxury of bringing along Harris slowly as they have a lot of players ahead of him on the depth chart.  He has a huge upside though, so I look for him to climb that depth chart pretty quickly.  The Bucks have to feel good about dealing down 9 spots and still getting a player like Tobias Harris.

The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired 33-year old SG/SF Stephen Jackson, 25-year old point guard Shaun Livingston and the 19th overall pick in the first round tonight from the Bobcats.  The Bucks also have acquired 28-year old point guard Beno Udrih from the Kings as part of this deal.  The Bucks have dealt 31-year old SF/SF John Salmons and the #10 overall pick to the Kings in this deal.  They also sent SG/SF Corey Maggette to the Bobcats in this huge trade.

33-year old SG/SF Stephen Jackson might come to the Bucks and be the first option offensively in 2011-12.  Jackson played in 67 games (all starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 35.9 minutes, 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  He has now played in 747 games (656 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 33.5 minutes, 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  25-year old point guard Shaun Livingston played in 73 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.  Livingston has now played in 266 games (79 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 23.5 minutes, 7.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.  28-year old point guard Beno Udrih played in 79 games (64 starts) for the Kings last year and he averaged 34.6 minutes, 13.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  Udrih has now played in 503 games (234 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 24.3 minutes, 9.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

31-year old SG John Salmons had a disappointing year for the Bucks last year, so they didn’t mind getting rid of him.  Salmons played in 73 games (70 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 35.0 minutes, 14.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Salmons played in 103 games (98 starts) in his two years with the Bucks and he averaged 35.8 minutes, 15.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  The Bucks were also probably doing backflips to get rid of 31-year old small forward Corey Maggette as part of this deal.  Maggette played in 67 games (18 starts) in 2010-11 with the Bucks and he averaged 20.9 minutes, 12.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in his only year with the team.

The Kings dealt the #7 overall pick to the Bobcats as part of this deal. 

The Bucks are in a win now mode.  Getting rid of Maggette and Salmons’ contracts was huge for the Bucks.  The interesting thing about this deal, other than the Bucks getting the best player in it (Stephen Jackson), is that the Bucks got two point guards.  I wonder is that means Brandon Jennings is on the trade block tonight?

The Milwaukee Bucks are trying to package the #10 overall pick and center Andrew Bogut to the Timberwolves for the #2 overall pick and salary cap filler.  The T-Wolves are on the hunt for a legit center and Bogut definitely qualifies as one of those.  The Bucks must be convinced that Bogut won’t be able to stay healthy or they would be dumb to deal him as centers are hard to find.  If the Bucks can’t get a deal done, then they will likely be looking to add a power forward or center in the first round at #10.  Power forward Tristan Thompson out of Texas would be a good fit for the team.

The Bucks have selected 19-year old power forward Tiny Gallon with the 47th overall pick of the NBA Draft. Gallon played in 30 games (21 starts) at Oklahoma last season and he averaged 10.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. The only negative about Gallon is that he will have to watch his weight as he is 6’9″, 290 pounds but he does have a nice upside and the Bucks had a need a power forward so I like this pick for them.

UPDATE: (10/6/2010) – The Bucks have waived Tiny Gallon.

The Bucks have selected 23-year old center Jerome Jordan with the 44th overall pick of the NBA Draft. Jordan is 7’0″, 253 pounds so he’s a legit pivot man. Jordan played in 35 games (all starts) at Tulsa last season and he averaged 15.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game. He played in 133 games (119 starts) in college and he averaged 11.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 2.5 blocked shots per game. The Bucks continued to add muscle and size with the pick of Jordan.

UPDATE: (6/25/2010) – The Bucks will trade Jerome Jordan to the Knicks on July 8th. It is not known right now what they will get back for him.

The Bucks have selected SG/SF Darington Hobson with the 37th overall pick of the NBA Draft. Hobson played in 35 games (all starts) at New Mexico last season and he averaged 15.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He played in 90 games (all starts) in college and he averaged 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Bucks like Hobson because he’s a good rebounder which will likely get him some P.T. as a rookie in 2010-11.

UPDATE: (10/26/2010) – Darington Hobson is going to miss his rookie season due to left hip surgery. This is a bad break for him but he wasn’t going to get much P.T. anyway, so now he can watch and learn.

The Milwaukee Bucks have picked 21-year old power forward Larry Sanders with the 15th overall pick of the NBA Draft. Sanders played in 35 games (32 starts) at VCU last season and he averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.6 blocked shots per game. In his three years at VCU, Sanders played in 101 games (82 starts) in which he averaged 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 2.7 blocked shots per game. Sanders gives the Bucks more muscle inside and a good helper for Andrew Bogut.

The Bucks have already traded for SF/SG Corey Maggette and SG Chris Douglas-Roberts to help the team offensively. With that in mind I see the Bucks going for big guys in tomorrow night’s NBA Draft. The Bucks are armed with the 15th, 37th, 44th and 47th overall picks in the draft and they will likely be able to stock up on forwards and maybe snag a center to back up Andrew Bogut. The Bucks have certainly positioned themselves to improve for the 2010-11 season so far this off-season.

The Bucks selected 21-year old shooting guard Jodie Meeks with the 41st pick in the NBA Draft. Meeks really had a breakout season at Kentucky last season but he should have played one more year in college so that he would have got picked in the first round. Meeks played in 81 games in three seasons at Kentucky and he averaged 15.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Meeks has a big upside and he was a outstanding pick for the Bucks.