Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Thursday, June 26, 2008
Bucks, Hammond eager to pick eighth
 In this Nov. 18, 2007 file photo, West Virginia's Joe Alexander, right, goes in for the layup against Prairie View's Jacolby Satterwhite in Morgantown, W.Va. Alexander is a potential first round draft pick in the NBA Draft, which takes place June 26 in New York. (AP Photo/Mollie Woody, File) |
MILWAUKEE — John Hammond peered over the Milwaukee Bucks' practice court as he chatted on the phone.
It was anyone's guess who the new Bucks general manager was talking to. A team interested in a deal for Olympian Michael Redd? Milwaukee's eighth draft pick? Something else?
The only thing for certain is Hammond has been busy in his first weeks in charge.
``There will be more discussions that will occur, but I expect us right now to have that eighth pick,'' said Hammond, who took over when Larry Harris was let go in March.
One thing seems certain with the Bucks' lottery pick on Thursday: It will likely come down to Anthony Randolph or Joe Alexander if either is available. At least, that's the hand the Bucks' organization showed.
Milwaukee, which also selects 37th, has a pressing need that Randolph or Alexander could fill in the small forward role. Alexander looks more prepared for an immediate impact, while Randolph could have more potential.
``I love the style of play that's about to be played here. It's very similar to what I had in West Virginia,'' Alexander told reporters after his workout.
Said Randolph: ``I think it's a great organization. I think I'd be a great fit here.''
Either way, the Bucks' miserable season was filled with increasingly selfish play as the losses accumulated. The group lacked a slasher who could get to the basket, strength inside and defensive grit.
Hammond brought in Scott Skiles, probably the toughest person on the team, to be the coach and now wants someone who could get into the rotation quickly.
``I think any time you have a lottery pick, that guy, you need to get him on the floor. I'm not putting pressure on Scott to say you have to play a guy like that. He knows that we've discussed that sort of thing,'' Hammond said.
Alexander also came in for a second visit, one that would've have gone unnoticed except a reporter walked in with him.
But it could be a ploy, the type of smoke screen teams put up to hide their true intentions.
``I'll still say we still need to go with the best player on the board, and hopefully that'll fill whatever need we have. Obviously, we're a team that has numerous needs,'' Hammond said.
Player personnel director Dave Babcock said he hadn't attended any workouts besides those at the practice facility, either.
``The chances of trading back are not great. It could happen, don't get me wrong, but right now we're at eight and that's where we're focused,'' he said.
Hammond's process won't end just with picking eighth and then again in the second round at No. 37, where the Bucks have said they'll select a European talent that can continue to develop overseas or someone certain to make their roster.
If the Bucks don't pull a draft-day deal to shed salary, Hammond will continue looking for someone to take the numerous big contracts that he inherited. He said he thought he would not make any moves to the current roster until after the draft.
``(We're) 100 percent a work in progress,'' said Hammond, who acknowledged he's growing anxious and sleeping less the nights before the draft. ``We have needs, we have a team that needs to improve and get better and hopefully this draft pick will be one piece into that.''
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