Just thought I'd put his name out there for consideration.  Right now the Bucks sit at about $49 Million, before the additions of the 3 rookies salaries, and their roster is already technically at 12.  I still see the Bucks bringing back Ridnour for about $3-3.5 Million, which leaves them with about $2 Million under the salary cap, and probably $9 million or so under the luxury tax.  This leaves them a chance to re-sign Salmons, or another SG, and go after a PF with their MLE.  Here is my question though:  Instead of signing a PF with the MLE, why not trade for T'Wolves PF Al Jefferson?  While I have always been a Drew Gooden fan, and I think he would look good in the red & green, I think moving Redd's dead weight contract straight up for Jefferson, which can be done at the start of the season with Minny's cap space and trade exceptions, is the best use of Redd's contract.  We've talked it to death on this site, but there just doesn't seem to be a 2011 FA (outside of 'Melo) who would be worth signing to a max contract that the Bucks would have to offer.  By trading for Jefferson (which I think the Wolves would do straight up, as they desperately want to move the $32 Million left on his deal), the Bucks suddenly look like a contender in the East for years to come, and I would feel pretty confident saying they will be a 50+ win team for the next three years, when Maggette and Jefferson's contracts are up.  With the deal, the team would look like this:

PG - Jennings/Ridnour

SG - FA(Salmons?)/CDR/Hobson

SF - Delfino/Maggette/Prince

PF - Jefferson/Sanders/'Sova'

C - Bogut/Tiny/FA

I don't know about you, but I would be hog wild about that team.  It finally pairs Jefferson with a legit C in Bogut, and for the Bucks we add one of the best young PF's in the game who has shown he can average 20/10 as a 24 year old, and we'll have him under contract during his prime NBA years.  I'd be more than willing to throw in next years first rounder, since it would probably be a late pick any way, or even, god forbid, Sova, just to make the deal work.  I would hate to lose Ersan, but if you are getting a player who obviously replaces him in the line-up (this deal would push him to the third option at PF after all) then I think you have to do it.  With this deal we actually pick up more cap room as well, which could allow us to front load a Salmons deal, even possibly giving him a third year for $8.5 Million, doing a 3 year/$26 Million kind of deal.  Use the rest of that leftover to sign a back-up Center, and I'm not sure there is another team in the East (as of right now, before the whole FA bonanza) that is better then the Bucks on paper.  My only fear is how Jefferson would gel with the group, but I think he would jump at the chance to play with a legitimate center on a contender with Jennings feeding him the ball at PG.  This would also allow the Bucks to bring Maggette off the bench as a 6th man, since his scoring wouldn't be as vital for the first unit.

Thoughts?

Just thought I'd point out all the dap that Hammonds has been getting from the media as of late, with his trade deadline moves already being praised for there subtle brilliance.  Bill Simmons (for my money one of the best NBA writers in the business, if not the sharpest) includes Hammonds among his top 3 GM's (along with Morey in Houston and Presti in OKC) for they shrewd business sense:

"Just in the past three years, we've seen general managers Sam Presti (Zombie Sonics), Daryl Morey (Rockets) and John Hammond (Bucks) build competitive teams by prudently watching their cap, searching for bargains, building around young talent and picks, and/or carving out enough cap space to take advantage of desperate suitors who will pay with draft picks or young players just to dump an unsavory contract. There's a method to their madness. They are the minority, not the majority. Most of their competitors sabotaged themselves and inadvertently reduced the value of franchises as a whole."

There's also a great write up on the cover of SI.com's NBA page today, highlighting how the Bucks moves have not only set the team up for a play-off run this season or next, but also the endless possibilities that are now available in 2011: 

"One All-Star ought to do it because several key pieces are already in place. The Bucks have a budding star in point guard Brandon Jennings and a stud center in Bogut. They have a highly skilled forward in Ersan Ilyasova and a strong wing defender in Luc Mbah a Moute. And they have three picks -- one first- and two second-rounders -- in each of the next three drafts."

The entire article is a good read, especially for any Bucks fan excited about not only this season, but the chance for an even greater rise next season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100224

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y8slku6

Just thought I would put this out there, as we have been discussing possible deals the Bucks might be able to get involved in.  Any chance a Mike Redd/J.Alexander for McGrady trade is something that could get done?  I feel like if Redd is able to come back strong from the injury and show he's still got some of that old player in him it could be a good move for the Rockets, as McGrady certainly isn't the player he used to be anymore, and hasn't been for about 4 seasons now, and they would actually save some money this season to go and get a possible free agent who is waived at the deadline to add depth in the front court and make a push for the play-off run, plus they gain a young, talented player who they could take the time to develop and pair up with Budinger in the front court.  It might also work better to ship Kurt Thomas their way instead of Joe, but Kurt's been such a steadying force for this Bucks team I'd be reluctant to see him go.

For the Bucks, you add a player in McGrady who could be a solid scorer off the bench, and he could also teach a thing or two to young money as the team makes a push for the play-offs, but, more importantly, they clear Mike's cap space for next season, allowing them to make a possible splash in free agency.  I know it seems ridiculous to think of a major UFA coming to the Bucks in the off-season, but if they keep things up, they could be a (God willing) 5 seed in the East based off of a stud rookie, All-Star caliber Center, and a bunch of role players.

I also post this because there has been more and more talk lately of the discontent D-Wade is starting to have in Miami, and I feel like Milwaukee could be a perfect fit for him starting next year.  He'd be paired with a strong Center once more, as well as a talented PG who could allow him to play off the ball while also have two players to take on more of the scoring load for him, plus he gets to play in the familiar confines of the BC, just a short drive away from the North Chicago Berbs he grew up in.

I know this is all speculation and will probably never happen, but hey, it's worth a shot, isn't it?

I've included the ESPN Trade Machine snapshot that shows the deal not only works, but, according to Hollinger, doesn't negatively or positively affect either team, which would probably help it make sense for both teams, ironically.

Thoughts?