Chapel Mil: Marshall Added to Bucks' Roster

Milwaukee Bucks have not done much in the offseason. Last year, they were making all sorts of weird splashes by bringing back the likes of Carlos Delfino and Zaza Pachuila plus giving O.J. Mayo a three-year contract to get fat on the bench. This year, they haven't done much besides what happened in the draft. But after adding Jerryd Bayless in free agency, Milwaukee sneakily claimed Kendall Marshall off waivers this weekend adding another guard to the fold. This is a great low risk, high reward situation taking a chance on the former North Carolina point guard.

After one season with Phoenix, the first-round pick got an opportunity with Los Angeles Lakers as they suffered through one of their worst seasons as a franchise. Marshall did not suffer like the team as he flourished under Mike D'Antoni's system averaging eight points and nearly nine assists a game starting 45 of the 54 games he played for Los Angeles last season after spending a little time in the D-League to begin the 2014 season after being traded from Phoenix to Washington then released. Lakers waived Marshall as they have Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash and Jordan Clarkson, their second-round pick, all as point guards. But Los Angeles thought about bringing him back if Marshall cleared waivers, but it didn't happen as the sneaky Bucks claimed his contract.

This is Milwaukee's first true point guard in awhile. Brandon Knight, Nate Wolters and a couple others are combo guards whom can run the floor but are not really point guards. Bucks now have a pass-first point guard with a great group of wings and post players who could really benefit from what Marshall brings to the table. He might have some of the best vision in the NBA finding the open man all the time. Sure, he is not the most athletic player in the world and sometimes cannot score, but if Milwaukee is bringing him off the bench, do they really need him scoring double figures a game? Marshall also brings another element for the Bucks on and off the court.

If you follow Marshall on social media, you know he is a must-follow on Twitter and Instagram, but one of the things you know is Bucks forward John Henson and him are best friends. Some people wonder if it is good to play with your friends as sometimes, it can get you in trouble. But I argue it is a great thing to have friends especially growing up in the league. Henson and Marshall playing together can only pay off dividends. Marshall will already be comfortable with one of the Bucks post players, and Henson can teach other players on the team how Marshall works on the team making the transition easier for the Bucks. I love Henson and Marshall calling it #ChapelMil and need it on a t-shirt immediately.

.@_John_Henson_ #ChapelMil act tuffff
— Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) July 20, 2014

I am not the biggest Chipolte guy, but this is also funny stuff with the hashtag included.

and lastly, I'd like to thank chipotle. I'm lookin forward to seein what the chipotles in MIL have to offer. #FearTheBeardedDeer
— Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) July 20, 2014

While Marshall will be a delight on social media and with how the Bucks allow their players to be themselves on Twitter, it should be real fun. Another thing about Marshall to Milwaukee is having Jason Kidd as a head coach. He is the ripe age of 22. Marshall grew up watching Kidd play basketball, and Kidd had a great deal of pass-first tendencies early on in his career. There is a good chance Kidd could make a huge impact on Marshall's career in the long-term.

Bucks are building something fun. I know for a couple weeks this summer I worried about losing a ton of games this season, but now, it seems like Milwaukee has quite the fun, young team versus the hodgepodge of misfits like last season. Should be a fun season

Charlie.

Jason Kidd Doesn't Owe You Answers

Milwaukee Bucks introduced Jason Kidd to Milwaukee yesterday morning. They brought in their new coach after Larry Drew was ousted rather quickly, and the press conference did not make them go 1-0 to start the Kidd era. People tagged it as 'awkward' and Kidd avoided all sorts of questions about the situation itself. The criticism of Kidd's press conference happened at a rampant rate with everyone trying to make their own dodging joke. Bucks are in such a weird spot due to everyone on the Internet hating their coach, but everyone embracing their players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker. They aren't the bad boys, but not many people want this team to succeed next season.

It is sort of surprising to see how many media members rushed to criticize Kidd for dodging all sorts of questions. This is PR 101. Kidd didn't want to spend the press conference talking about what just happened. He knows at some point, Kidd will have to face the music and talk about the situation in Brooklyn, that will eventually happen, but this isn't the time for it. But right now, this is not the topic Kidd wants to talk about, he just wants to move forward. This is a problem right now with media and other outlets where they expect answers at the drop of a hat and then get pissed when it doesn't happen.

It makes sense that's how the new generation thinks about things because so many things happen immediately.  In the days before the Internet, you had to read about the press conference the next day and now, there is an immediate reaction with need of opinion. In reality, we need to let it simmer. Sure, Kidd didn't come up guns ablazin' where you want to go 'HELL YEAH COACH, LET'S RUN THROUGH SOME BRICK WALLS!!!'  We would love to have those sort of things from all of the coaches we bring in, but every coach is different. Kidd didn't need to win the press conference. He owes the media nothing and knows they are killing him right now yet the main part of the whole thing is building this young team to make a push to the playoffs. 

If Kidd's first season doesn't work out the way we want and the Bucks struggle again which would delight a ton of media members, that's fine if a couple things happen. For one, Giannis takes another step as a basketball player. Parker gets off to a good start in Milwaukee. Brandon Knight becomes a different point guard under the tutelage of Kidd. And maybe most importantly if he's not traded, Larry Sanders returns to form with a new coach. All of those things are more important winning next year. If the Bucks only win 24 to 26 games, but all of those things happen, the foundation is set for Milwaukee to be a real solid team for the future. That's more important than anything else right now. Winning is secondary despite everyone in the media wanting him to fall directly on his face.   

My stance on Kidd was always I thought it had some backstabbing elements to it, but in the end, he is the coach and if he wins, that's all that matters. What also is weirdly strange about the whole thing is Milwaukee stole the headlines from some of the biggest free agents. This story fascinated everyone in the NBA community. It also means a great deal of things for the Bucks in the national scope. People will look at this team closer. Bucks are going to get at least one or two games on national television whether it is an ESPN, TNT, ABC or FOX Sports 1 game because their matchups with Brooklyn are appointment television.  This paragraph is something we haven't been able to say about Milwaukee years so yes, good press is bad press. 

All is hopefully quiet on the Bucks front for now. It will be about filling the coaching staff and deciding what players they want to keep or bring in. It should be a fun offseason leading up to the October tip-off.  

Charlie. 

Ford: Bucks and Lakers Could Be Trade Partners

ESPN.com's senior NBA writer and insider, Chad Ford, said in his chat yesterday that the Lakers are possibly looking to deal their #7 pick in the upcoming draft. Ideally, they'd like to get a veteran All-Star to go with Kobe Bryant but he speculates that they might not get such a talent for said pick.

Here's what he said exactly in response to a fan's question regarding the Lakers' plans for the #7 pick:

 Kobe is coming back. He doesn't want to be in the lottery. Of the players that will be left on the board when the Lakers draft, both Marcus Smart and Julius Randle would be instant impact players. But they wouldn't have the same impact that a veteran All-Star would. I think the Lakers will try hard to package that pick to get back a veteran talent to pair with Kobe if they can. But that's a big if. Teams covet the No. 7 pick, but I don't think they get Kevin Love, Al Horford, LaMarcus Aldridge for it. Maybe something like Larry Sanders and Brandon Knight.

This isn't totally far-fetched as it's been reported that the Bucks are likely to be active when it comes to acquiring another first round pick.

Naturally, this intrigues Bucks fans because with the new owners, you'd like to have a brand new infusion of rookies to move the franchise forward. I love Larry and Brandon. They're good guys who genuinely like (don't mind) playing in Milwaukee. However, you would be clearing a lot of future salary with Sanders' 4/$44 contract kicking in this coming season. I'm guessing the owners wouldn't be opposed to getting out of his deal after his shenanigans this past year.

Also, Knight will be in the final year of his rookie contract and will most likely be due to be overpaid after he'd undoubtedly improve yet again this year. Knight averaged a very solid 18 and 5 on the worst team in the league last year. He's too much of a gym rat to not improve.

The Bucks would more than likely have to take back a guy like Steve Nash for salary filler. Not sure what would happen with Nash if he did end up in Milwaukee but if he stays, I could definitely think of worse locker room guys to mentor the youth.

I'm not sure it makes a lot of sense for the Lakers to deal the pick because Kobe's clearly not getting any younger and this would be their chance to find the next legend to replace him, as they always seem to do.

The problem the Lakers face is that, outside of the #7 pick, they have exactly zero assets. They ended up not trading Pau Gasol, Nash is done, Kobe is done and the rest of their players last year were tank commanders. Nick Young, Wesley Johnson, Xavier Henry, etc. You kidding me? The only thing I'd be interested in personally (other than the #7 pick), would be Kendall Marshall who showed what he could do after the Lakers took a flier on him halfway through the season.

If the trade were to go down, they'd gain two assets from one and could have some talent to go with Kobe and they'd still have money to throw at a free agent this offseason.

For the Bucks, you'd have the #2, #7 picks as well as the plethora of second rounders that John Hammond covets. You could be looking at taking Jabari Parker and Marcus Smart with the 2 and 7 picks respectively. Those wouldn't be my two choices but those two have the best chance at impacting a team both on the court as well as turning the culture of the organization.

This type of trade really gives you options in a few different areas (who to take, who to start, etc.). Areas that I won't get into right now because that will be its own post, Tappers. That is all for now.

Be good.

-Big Money