It's over.
The gruesome death march that was the Bucks' 2006-‘07 season came to an unceremonious end last week with a 106-96 loss in Cleveland. Unable to overcome a rash of injuries and find a rhythm, the Bucks limp into the National Basketball Association draft lottery dragging behind them a 28-54 record.
With so many problems this year, it's not even worth trying to figure out what went wrong. The team, despite management's high hopes, was flawed from the start. Poor player personnel decisions led to a roster that didn't adapt well to its coach. Terry Stotts wasn't the right fit for this team and he was finally let go with a little more than two months left in the season. Now, it will be up to Larry Krystkowiak to right this ship.
Obviously, a new approach is necessary. Upon taking the top job, Krystkowiak instilled a stronger defensive attitude. The Bucks finished 5-13 under their new leader, but played most of those games without Michael Redd (who, despite missing a good portion of the season with injury, finished sixth in the league scoring with 26.6 points per game), Andrew Bogut, and Charlie Villanueva.
A lot will be made of the team's injuries, especially the one that sidelined Bobby Simmons. The forward missed the entire season -- his second of a five-year free-agent deal worth $47 million. The Chicago resident was rarely on the team bench during the season.
Moves like this are ones that Harris can ill-afford to repeat if he's serious about turning this team into a playoff-caliber squad. And it can't just be talk again; this time there needs to be some serious, honest-to-goodness evaluation of what there is and isn't.
Harris has gold in Redd and Bogut. Bogut finished his second NBA season injured. When he was in action, he struggled to adapt to the role that Stotts had in mind. Still, he finished the year averaging 12 points with eight boards in 66 games. Redd missed 29 games with injuries, but still finished sixth in the league in scoring with 26.6 points per night, including a franchise-record 57-point effort in November.
They are two players to build around. Past them, there is plenty of room to improve.
In the backcourt, Mo Williams and Charlie Bell are both free agents; Williams unrestricted. They fit in well for a team trying to figure itself out, but may not exactly be the foundation for a winner. Williams was emerged from relative obscurity at the point this year, averaging 17 points and six rebounds per game. Bell played in all 82 games and averaged just over 13 points a night.
The team also has an option on Earl Boykins, while Brian Skinner has a player option to return. Ruben Patterson is an unrestricted free agent.
Harris has options, though. He will have a significant amount of money available under the salary cap and this year's draft looks to be -- at least on paper -- to be one of the deepest and most talented in recent history. That leaves little reason for Harris to break the bank resigning his own players, most of whom are better-suited to bench duty.
Depending on how the lottery shakes out, the Bucks could be in the running for a top-notch point guard to set up Redd or a solid front court player to complement Bogut.
The moves have to count this year. Few things are more dangerous than a lame-duck GM. Enough has been written and said about injuries; with the team's lease running out after next season and questions about the long-term viability of the franchise popping up, now's the time for Harris to prove his mettle.
