after a quick start to the season, in which they were at one point considered a possible 4 seed in the playoffs, the bucks have melted into the #8 position, looking more like last year's squad with every game.  sure, injuries have had an effect on the team, with joe smith missing about 2 1/2 months, mo williams struggling with plantair fasciaitis and a sprained ankle, and charlie bell, the team's defensive stopper, also missing significant action.

i think what is really happening tho, is that they are finding out that bobby simmons is not the player they hoped he was when they signed him to a 5 year, $47 million contract last summer.  as the league's most improved player last season, his abilities were overrated going into free agency.  after signing the small forward, the bucks made the move to trade desmond mason and a 1st round pick to the hornets for jamaal magloire.  i like magloire's rebounding and defensive presence, but giving up an athlete like mason, along with a 1st rounder seemed a bit high to me.  this trade also took place shortly after bucks management told mason that he'd be "a buck for life".  to me, whenever a player, coach or GM is given such a vote of confidence, it usually means his days are numbered.   it did make sense tho, considering the bucks had simmons and toni kukoc at the SF position, and the opportunity to add another big man doesnt come along very often. 

with magloire now on the roster, along with joe smith, andrew bogut, and charlie bell, it was my thought the bucks would put more emphasis on defense, hopefully raising their blocked shots and steals statistics along the way.  however, they continue to play a ball chasing defense which, too often, leaves an opposing player wide open either for a 3 point attempt, or a drive to the basket.  i know they recently had a streak ended in which they didnt allow an opponent 100 points for 13 consecutive games, but that wasnt all due to a smothering defensive effort as much as it was the overall down-turn in scoring accross the league.

my idea to change the fortunes of this team, at least starting next year, is to try and re-acquire ray allen from the seattle sonics.  its apparent seattle is looking to dump alot of salary since they have struggled this season, and it looks as if they wont get public funding for a new arena.  by packaging bobby simmons with dan gadzurich, the bucks could get allen and another player in return. who that would be, to me, is irrelevant. teaming allen with michael redd would give the bucks one of the most feared shooting tandems in the league.  

consider the potential starting lineup for next year...PG, t.j. ford, SG, ray allen, SF, michael redd, PF, andrew bogut, C, jamaal magloire.  with mo williams, jiri welch, charlie bell, and joe smith as the 4 guys coming off the bench.  bringing allen back wont exactly help the defense any, but would add more offense, which the bucks have struggled with as of late.

unless they could pull off a trade including simmons and gadzurich for kevin garnett, this would be the most attractive possibility.  obviously there are other guys out there who i wouldnt mind seeing in a bucks jersey, but i dont think D-wade, steve nash, or dwight howard are rumored to be traded any time soon.