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Post by IamQuailman on Dec 18, 2014 8:36:17 GMT -6
GM Quailmen: Good morning, everyone! Welcome back to the annual Milwaukee Bucks Pre-Season Presser. I don't think we'll ever be able to top the production value of last season's pre-season presser; so we aren't even going to recreate a Will Smith song or lower me from the ceiling. But what we will do is take care of a little housekeeping. First and foremost, we as an entire organization are extremely happy with the production and effort of our team last season. We made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the inception of this league, and that is a huge step for our future.
GM Quailmen: A quick few goodbyes and farewells go out to Dino Radja, Brian Grant, Corie Blount, and Jerome Allen. Especially Brian Grant. We knew going into restricted free agency that Brian Grant would be a hot commodity, and we had even heard that some teams were willing to pay him whatever it took to get him to sign. That said, we approached RFA assuming that Brian would see the chemistry building within this team and take a discount to stay in Milwaukee. However, as we all saw, one team offered him a max contract, and that was all it took to grab Brian's attention. We wanted to desperately keep Brian, but no one player is bigger than the entire team. I would be lying to say that we didn't want to match that deal, but matching that deal would financially handicap our team. Fortunately, we were able to work out a deal with the Raptors to negotiate some compensation for not matching their offer sheet. So, once again, we would like to say thank you to Brian for his services over the years and wish him the best in Toronto (except when he plays against us).
GM Quailmen: Now on the other end of the spectrum, in RFA we were able to retain franchise cornerstone, Jalen Rose. He too was a hot commodity, receiving more than a handful of max offers. But we were undoubtedly matching any offer to Jalen Rose. Some players take that contract and get complacent, but not Jalen. He came into camp in the best shape we've ever seen, growing in almost every category imaginable. But more on training camp later... we would first like to introduce some of our newest members of this organization.
GM Quailmen: First off, we were quite active in the draft, with two draft picks. And with those two picks, we selected players that will strengthen our bench in the present and the future. With our first pick, we selected Rafer Alston, who we view as a potential successor to the backup PG role once that position comes into question. Rafer has a lot of potential but is also pretty raw and could take a few seasons before he can really make an impact on our squad. That said, his improvement in training camp points to good things coming. With our second pick, we packaged #24 and Corie Blount to move up to #22 and select Jahidi White, slightly undersized center who makes up for his height with his meaty and athletic goodness. We also traded back into the 2nd round to grab a project player in Robert Traylor. While our drafted players end there, upon the decision to move Brian Grant in RFA, we made a move to acquire rookie forward Ruben Patterson from the Atlanta Hawks for a protected future pick. Patterson is a defensive stud that still is a little raw as well, but has plenty of time to develop into a lockdown wing player that (if he continues to improves) could start next to Jalen Rose one day.
GM Quailmen: In addition to Ruben Patterson, we moved a future pick and Dino Radja for a power forward that has a history of playing hard: Derek Strong. We've seen this guy put up amazing numbers against us for seasons, and we are thrilled to have his game now apart of our squad. He will come in and immediately step into the starting power forward spot. Michael Smith and Bob Sura were also signed in free agency; however, due to disappointing training camps, we have decided to go a different direction. Lastly, we brought in Howard Eisley after we saw some tape and could see his improvement from last year's disappointing season in Philadelphia.
GM Quailmen: In the aftermath of training camp, we are proud to say that this was quite possibly the best training camp in the history of our franchise. Improvements were made across the board, with the biggest winners being Rafer Alston (+40), Ruben Patterson (+39), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (+37), Jalen Rose (+34), Jahidi White (+28), Anthony Goldwire (+25), and Gheorghe Muresan (+20). Notable jumps are in Rick Fox's perimeter defense (+10), Zydrunas's combined post defense and blocks (+16), and Terrell Brandon's combined perimeter defense and steals (+12).
GM Quailmen: We are truly excited about this team, and anything less than a return to the conference finals is a failure. We are in our prime now, and, while the Central is getting stronger, we have to maintain the pride we have as division champs to create a consistent, championship-level attitude within this organization.
GM Quailmen: At this point, I'll open the podium up to questions from the media.
(pictures forthcoming) |
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Post by JNR on Dec 18, 2014 10:17:54 GMT -6
Generic Wolves Reporter: Looking around the East, it seems that most of your competition either took a step back or hasn't gotten to your level. Do you think this is the year you can make it out of the East?
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Soundwave
Full Member
Toronto Raptors
Winter is coming
Posts: 2,465
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Post by Soundwave on Dec 18, 2014 10:23:51 GMT -6
Clark Kent, Daily Planet:
Who do you see as your biggest competitors in the Eadst?
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rpf
Full Member
New Jersey Nets
IDGAF
Posts: 1,743
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Post by rpf on Dec 18, 2014 10:59:14 GMT -6
Kris Kringle, New Jersey Star-Ledger: Who do you think really gives a shit about your team?
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Post by WigNosy on Dec 18, 2014 11:04:16 GMT -6
Word around the league is that you tried very hard to move up higher in the draft and were unable to find a team willing to exchange with you. Are you satisfied with the players you got or should we continue to hear the trade market simmering in Milwaukee?
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Post by IamQuailman on Dec 18, 2014 11:54:11 GMT -6
Generic Wolves Reporter: Looking around the East, it seems that most of your competition either took a step back or hasn't gotten to your level. Do you think this is the year you can make it out of the East? Thanks for the question, generic wolves reporter! With the Celtics going in a different direction than last year, it definitely feels like the door is wide open for our team to make a push for the top of the East. That said, there are many other very capable teams in this conference, and it will be a hard fight for the top throughout the season and hopefully through the playoffs. |
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Post by IamQuailman on Dec 18, 2014 11:59:20 GMT -6
Clark Kent, Daily Planet: Who do you see as your biggest competitors in the Eadst? Clark Kent, thanks for the question! Biggest competitors.... hm... I would definitely have to say the Heat are perennial playoff participants, as well as the Magic. The Hawks made the playoffs last year and only got better this off-season. The Pistons always put up a good fight. The Nets will continue their late season surge. The Cavaliers look to be a contender for the Central division. And the Hornets look like they got a squad that could make some noise.
Did I forget anyone?
Oh yeah, the Raptors. I guess they look decent. On paper. 
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Post by IamQuailman on Dec 18, 2014 12:00:31 GMT -6
Kris Kringle, New Jersey Star-Ledger: Who do you think really gives a shit about your team? Kris Kringle, thanks.
Your mom tends to like it when we play hard ball. She likes the backdoor post pass when we drive to the rim and dunk it in with authority.
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Post by IamQuailman on Dec 18, 2014 12:04:23 GMT -6
Word around the league is that you tried very hard to move up higher in the draft and were unable to find a team willing to exchange with you. Are you satisfied with the players you got or should we continue to hear the trade market simmering in Milwaukee? Thanks for the questions!
We were very active in trying to move up in the draft to secure a defensively sound wing player, but unfortunately we weren't initially able to do so. We highly coveted Larry Hughes, and once he started falling, we got a lot more aggressive with reaching out to those lotto teams. Once Larry was gone, we still pinged other GMs inquiring about trades moving up in the late lotto through late teens area, but we also fell through there despite some very near-deals being in the works. However, what's done is done. We are very happy with Rafer and Jahidi. We are even more excited that we could acquire Ruben from the Hawks. He was one of the players we highly coveted after Hughes was off the table. We see a lot of good potential in him and he could turn into a great fit for our team! As for other trades, I think we are happy with where we are and may look to stand pat.
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rpf
Full Member
New Jersey Nets
IDGAF
Posts: 1,743
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Post by rpf on Dec 18, 2014 15:59:00 GMT -6
Kris Kringle, New Jersey Star-Ledger: Who do you think really gives a shit about your team? Kris Kringle, thanks.
Your mom tends to like it when we play hard ball. She likes the backdoor post pass when we drive to the rim and dunk it in with authority.
Your sources are wrong, she likes lay ups. Good day sir. |
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Post by Nick Malone 77 on Dec 18, 2014 17:18:48 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: How hard of a decision was it to let Brian Grant go to Toronto and bring back Jalen Rose?
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Post by IamQuailman on Dec 19, 2014 15:52:23 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: How hard of a decision was it to let Brian Grant go to Toronto and bring back Jalen Rose? GM Quailmen: The decision to bring Jalen Rose back was the easiest of all offseason. Brian Grant was tough. We didn't want to let him go, but at the same time, the contract offer he received was hard to swallow. Letting him go was hard to swallow, but at least some pick compensation made it easier to let go. Brian is a tough, defensive big. He plays hard and does a lot that doesn't show up in the stat sheets. We wish him the best in Toronto and there are no hard feelings! |
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Soundwave
Full Member
Toronto Raptors
Winter is coming
Posts: 2,465
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Post by Soundwave on Dec 20, 2014 10:42:44 GMT -6
Clark Kent, Daily Planet:
Please describe your team's defensive philosophy.
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557 
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Post by logpmess on Dec 21, 2014 17:11:06 GMT -6
With you taking on a significant amount of responsibility as commissioner, do you feel like you will still give your team the appropriate amount of attention they need?
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Post by Conroy on Dec 22, 2014 8:56:18 GMT -6
Sports Guy Bill Simmons here, how much stock are you putting into your teams 6-0 preseason ? Do you think you'll have 6 players averaging double digit points during the regular season?
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Post by IamQuailman on Dec 22, 2014 10:13:50 GMT -6
AWARDED 5 POINTS! (i'll come back in a sec and answer the last two questions)
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Post by thesyndicate on Dec 22, 2014 13:58:00 GMT -6
IS it Championship or bust this year or is the west still too strong?
How did you feel about the RFA process as your team was right smack in the middle.
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credit loco for photoshop