Per ESPN

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Sources: Bucks lure Hammond away from Dumars' side to be new GM

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

Updated: April 11, 2008, 12:17 PM ET

Various teams have tried in recent years, but it's the Milwaukee Bucks who have managed to lure John Hammond away from the Detroit Pistons to be their new general manager, according to NBA front-office sources.

Hammond's first task in Milwaukee, according to sources, will be hiring a veteran coach. Sources told ESPN.com last month that Larry Krystkowiak's dismissal at season's end was considered a certainty no matter who succeeded GM Larry Harris because of owner Herb Kohl's desire for more experience on the bench.

Sources told ESPN.com on Friday that Hammond, pursued in recent years by Portland, Toronto and others after a long and successful run as Joe Dumars' top aide in Detroit, has accepted the Bucks' offer and will be officially introduced as Larry Harris' replacement as early as Monday.

The Bucks and Harris parted company on March 19 after Harris, with his contract expiring in June, initiated a series of meetings aimed at either securing an extension or bringing a halt to the growing uncertainty surrounding his lame-duck status before the end of the regular season.

Milwaukee did show interest in new Knicks president Donnie Walsh as well as TNT analyst Doug Collins. Yet the Bucks knew landing either of them to replace Harris was a long shot given New York's desperation to hire the longtime Indiana Pacers executive and Walsh's strong urge to take over his hometown team, as well as Collins' reluctance to leave the TV arena.

Hammond also initially resisted the Bucks' overtures but eventually decided that this was the right time to leap after working in the Pistons' front office since the 2001-02 season, operating closely with Dumars in the construction of a roster that has delivered seven consecutive 50-win seasons and five straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals, highlighted by Detroit's run to the championship in 2004. Hammond has also been an assistant coach in Detroit and previously worked on the bench and in the front office with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Hammond's first task in Milwaukee, according to sources, will be hiring a veteran coach to help the Bucks make a firm assessment of their talent after a group expected to compete for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference woefully underachieved in Larry Krystkowiak's first full season on the bench. The Bucks awoke Friday with a record of 26-52, placing them a lowly 13th in the East. Sources told ESPN.com last month that Krystkowiak's dismissal at season's end was considered a certainty no matter who succeeded Harris because of owner Herb Kohl's desire for more experience on the bench.

In addition to Walsh and Collins, other candidates Milwaukee considered include Phoenix Suns vice president of basketball operations David Griffin, two veteran GMs in Rick Sund and Billy King, Washington Wizards executive Tommy Sheppard and the two top aides to R.C. Buford in San Antonio: Dennis Lindsey and Dell Demps.

Although the Pistons were reluctant to lose Hammond to a division rival, Dumars still has a strong staff that includes director of basketball operations Tony Ronzone and director of basketball administration Jeff Weltman.

Wow, I'm surprised he took the job. He's walking into one tough situation, but he's earned the opportunity to get a chance. I suppose he's definitely a better option than Bill Simmons. It will be interesting to see what he does this offseason, I imagine he's going to try and resign Bogut long-term, and I wouldn't be shocked if they try and unload Mo Williams or Michael Redd...

Not to mention, Krystkowiak will almost surely be fired, so he will also need a coach. Larry Brown seems like a fit all of a sudden.

Still, I don't see the Bucks being competitive next year...



Joe Dumars Front Office Management Tree
/ \
John Hammond Steve Perry



Ronzone almost joined Houston's front office this past offseason as well...

I will miss hearing him on the 1130 rock financial pistons pre-game show with rob otto or matt dery

This is a great hire for the Bucks, IMO.

I think he's got a lot of pieces in place already, he'll just Pistonize them and they'll be much improved.

Speaking of that, will he try to pillage the Pistons?

Since Kohl wants an experienced head coach, I suppose you won't see Michael Curry or Lindsey heading there, but what if he throws a bunch of $ at Arnie Kander?

I don't know about anyone else but Arnie Kander won't go. Remember GHill offering some good dough to go to Florida and he turned Hill down.

I think I was more pissed at Hill for that move than dissing JoeD.

And yet Orlando still blames the Pistons organization for ruining Hill.

And yet Grant still blames the Pistons fans for ruining Hill.
fixed.

i hate to see him go. especially to a situation like THAT. lol

oh well. anybody else think that lindsey will be groomed to be joe's new right hand man.....? don't know if lindsey has it in him but they keep talking about how he wants to get into a front office position when he retires, not coaching.

hammond was one bright, valuable guy. hopefuly we can find someone to replace him. i'm drawing up my resume ASAP. :o

I doubt Hammond will try and "poach" a guy like Kander. Hammond's still one of Dumar's BFF's and I doubt he'd want to light a match under those bridges...

I don't know if Hammond is walking into a good situation Glenn, I think that rosters a mess, alot of bad contracts (Mo Williams, Michael Redd, Dan Gadzuric) and a couple guys who you have to make some big decisions on about giving them bad contracts (Bogut, Villanueva)

Highwarrior, maybe somone gets promoted to Hammond's role and Hunter moves into their old position.

Does anyone wonder if this gives insight into what he thinks of the future of the Pistons organization? Maybe he doesn't want to be around for a big rebuild.

This is a great hire for the Bucks, IMO.

I think he's got a lot of pieces in place already, he'll just Pistonize them and they'll be much improved.

Speaking of that, will he try to pillage the Pistons?

Since Kohl wants an experienced head coach, I suppose you won't see Michael Curry or Lindsey heading there, but what if he throws a bunch of $ at Arnie Kander?

Ok, Kander has been discussed, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if one of these other guys you mentioned are ex employees after the season ends.

Hammond will hire Rick Carlisle. It's too good a fit not to happen.

I think that may actually be a good hire for him. He's great at taking mediocre teams and working them up. He just wears out his welcome after a while.

Kander will get paid what he's worth. It's not as if he can get a better position with another NBA team.

Money being equal, he'll stay here. There's no reason for him to leave an organization he's clearly happy and familiar with.

Hammond will hire Rick Carlisle. It's too good a fit not to happen.


97.1 already confirmed it

Does anyone wonder if this gives insight into what he thinks of the future of the Pistons organization? Maybe he doesn't want to be around for a big rebuild.

Nah, that wouldn't bother him. If anything that kind of thing would give him purpose. A coach or player may bail, but those processes are what GMs live for.

Does anyone wonder if this gives insight into what he thinks of the future of the Pistons organization? Maybe he doesn't want to be around for a big rebuild.

No...he'd rather go to a team that's ALREADY in for a big rebuild....

God forbid the guy just might be wanting to run his own franchise. Nope, it must be a sign of impending doom.

Because when your assistants get big promotions with other teams, it's always a sign that your organization doesn't have its shit together.

Does anyone wonder if this gives insight into what he thinks of the future of the Pistons organization? Maybe he doesn't want to be around for a big rebuild.


I doubt thats the case. My guess is he's just been waiting for the right opportunity.

Maybe Hammond going to Milwaukee will help us unload our #29 pick for their 2nd rounder or something...

Thus we won't have to guarantee Draft Pick #29 a paycheck...

Or maybe a Michael Redd for Rip Hamilton swap...you have to think we'll have some trade connections with him (a la Randy Smith and the Astros/Rangers/Padres pipeline)

(a la Randy Smith and the Astros/Rangers/Padres pipe

That would be the equivalent of us dealing Alex Acker for Ramone Sessions and calling it a pipeline.

That would be the equivalent of us dealing Alex Acker for Ramone Sessions and calling it a pipeline.


Ramon Sessions is a pretty damn good defender.

Do we still own Alex Acker's rights btw???

Yes we do.

my guess was hammond just went from making ~100k to making 1 M. thats incentive for anyone.

i also cant see anyone rebuild on its way. we should have a pretty easy transition from the old guard to new. i think that was what this year really was about, anyway.

kind of makes that last report about hte pistons cockblocking hammond confusing. maybe jh simply changed his mind. anyway, ill be watching the bucks team with interest, for once. i dont think theyre as far away from being decent as some do. they have some good pieces. not a ton, but i think its more a bad fit than a bad talent deal there.

ill also be interested to see if carlisle is the man. would SEEM to make sense. but then again, carlisle probably never viewed hammond as a boss or an equal. dont want to hire anyone that questions your athority. hammond wouldnt want to hire "prick" (not my words) carlisle just to be undermined. if wooden gets axed, that would make some sense.

This obviously makes the Bucks the 08-09 preseason favorite to win the East and face the Blazers in the Finals.

This obviously makes the Bucks the 08-09 preseason favorite to win the East and face the Blazers in the Finals.


How boring would that Finals matchup be??

At least Buckeyes fans would enjoy it (Redd Vs. Oden)

Extremely.

I'd rather watch Cleveland-SA again...ugh.

Extremely.

I'd rather watch Cleveland-SA again...ugh.


I'm not gonna lie, even though I love watching NBA more than anyother sport, I didn't watch a full quarter of the SA/CLE Finals series.

BRUTAL!

I don't even think the Cavs had a lead in the 2nd half of any of the 4 games.

I believe they had the lead in the 4th quarter of game 4, but I'm not sure (couldn't really care less either).

I believe they had the lead in the 4th quarter of game 4, but I'm not sure (couldn't really care less either).


http://www.cortlandstandard.net/images/photo/06122007_002.jpg

^^I remember they put that up after Game 2 of the Finals, only to have to take it down 3 days later after they were eliminated....

So much for getting your hometown fans in the spirit...

Cleveland = city of losers

Great, now I want us to be the ones to knock them out...

No...he'd rather go to a team that's ALREADY in for a big rebuild....

God forbid the guy just might be wanting to run his own franchise. Nope, it must be a sign of impending doom.
My post had more to do with memories of the dismantling of the Bad Boys in the early 90s. We turned an elite franchise into shit for a decade because everyone in the front office let their assholes hang out. People were set up to be the "fall guy", and things were toxic. A few years down, we'll be cycling old for new, both player-wise and owner-wise. Some random Davidson family member or Tom Wilson will be in overall charge.

Hammond could've been GM anytime that he wanted to, so I think about the timing, that's all.

Milwaukee with a real GM and coach could be scary.

We turned an elite franchise into shit for a decade because everyone in the front office let their assholes hang out.

A lesson they clearly have learned from.


A few years down, we'll be cycling old for new, both player-wise and owner-wise. Some random Davidson family member or Tom Wilson will be in overall charge.

Except that's your personal bias talking without reason.

Smart business people do not become smart by making stupid decisions.

Ownership may change hands, but the person at the top will not bite the hand that feeds. They know what makes them money, and what keeps the wheels turning.


Hammond could've been GM anytime that he wanted to, so I think about the timing, that's all.

Milwaukee gave Hammond total control, that's all. There's nothing wrong with Hammond looking for a promotion right for him.


(insert struggling franchise here) with a real GM and coach could be scary.

It's not clear they've learned anything until we're at the same crossroads again. We're not there yet. Tom Wilson's still around more than I'd care for. No one seems to know who Davidson's successor is, and new owners can do fucked up things (e.g. Atlanta, New Jersey in the beginning, Seattle, etc.)

Whoever ends up being his successor, I hope they let us go over the luxury tax a bit...

No reason we can't be a top 15 payroll team, especially since we fill the NBA's largest arena each game...

no?

Whoever ends up being his successor, I hope they let us go over the luxury tax a bit...

No reason we can't be a top 15 payroll team, especially since we fill the NBA's largest arena each game...

no?


BILL DAVIDSON DOESN'T OWE YOU ANYTHING

HE BOUGHT A TEAM PLANE!!

Also, don't worry about losing Hammond, guys.

I'm sure that Zeke will do a fine job here working with his old backcourt mate again.

Whoever ends up being his successor, I hope they let us go over the luxury tax a bit...

No reason we can't be a top 15 payroll team, especially since we fill the NBA's largest arena each game...

no?

Going over the cap is great... if you're doing it to obtain/keep that star player or key piece. Looking back over the last few years though, who is that guy... the one detroit could've gotten or the one that left town because the pistons wouldn't go over the cap?

To qualify as that guy though it has to be someone so good and such a sure thing that he's worth giving up most of your financial flexibility.

So you're saying Rodney Stuckey?

Also, don't worry about losing Hammond, guys.

I'm sure that Zeke will do a fine job here working with his old backcourt mate again.

FUCK, I was just joking, and then I read this...


Thomas, who said Monday during Detroit's 50th anniversary celebration he's a "Piston for life," could land on his feet there, with yesterday's report that John Hammond, assistant to GM Joe Dumars, is headed to Milwaukee.

Thomas, who had a rift with owner Bill Davidson, looked chummy during the ceremony. Hammond may hire Knick candidate Rick Carlisle to coach. Asked if he hopes Walsh makes a decision quickly after Wednesday's finale, Thomas said, "I think whatever Donnie decides to do ... I'm fine with it."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04122008/sports/knicks/ciao__italia__106204.htm?page=2

DISCLAIMER: NY POST

Well, that article is from the NYPost. Dolan probably paid the writer to say that so they can further justify booting Isiah. Not like they need an further reasoning to do it, but it looks a lot better of Isiah "has a job waiting" in Detroit. I really hope that's not true; however, I strongly doubt there's any possibility of that happening. Maybe Larry Brown would to come aboard? :)

So Carlisle is the coach of the Bucks now? Or is that still unconfirmed.

Hammond has been on his way out for a while, his name was always on the list of possible new GMs whenever a spot was open. It was clear Joe favored him, we'll see just how important he was to the team in the years to come.

Prick's still a rumor.

Something tells me Donnie Walsh may want him, too.

i might be wrong, but carlisle doesnt fit the new york 'pizzaz' mold. hes much more milwaukee than manhattan.

perhaps if he added more flair to his suits.

Well, he and Walsh are apparently still boys from the Indy days.

He's in NYC frequently already doing his ESPN Times Square thing.

I'm sure that the mandatory "oppo theory of hiring coaches" is in play in both NY and Mil.

Is Zeke still considered a player's coach?

the best move i've ever seen a gm make was larry bird keeping zeke on board until jermaine oneal signed, and then immideatly fired him.

larry bird isnt a good gm, but that was very michael corleone of bird. i loved that one.

Zeke wouldn't be coming here to coach or GM, so I support him coming back.

He can't do much damage under Joe's supervision.

the best move i've ever seen a gm make was larry bird keeping zeke on board until jermaine oneal signed, and then immideatly fired him.

larry bird isnt a good gm, but that was very michael corleone of bird. i loved that one.

Except Bird wasn't even with the Pacers then. You have your stories mixed up.

Donnie Walsh promised JO he wouldn't fire Zeke if he re-signed, and then Walsh gave his job to Bird a month later, and Bird fired Zeke.

I think Bird took that job when he did specifically so he could fire Zeke as his very first action.

I think Bird took that job when he did specifically so he could fire Zeke as his very first action.

Exactly. That was the underhanded part.

Walsh couldn't do it, so he hired Bird to be the hatchet man.

Thers karma for Bird screwing Zeke and Oneal over the way he did. It comes in the form of Ron Artest and no rings.

Zeke wouldn't be coming here to coach or GM, so I support him coming back.

He can't do much damage under Joe's supervision.

Saved.

^ good job.

I loved Zeke as a player. Pound for pound prolly one of the toughest to ever play in NBA. But I do NOT want him in our front office. I did at one point, but not no mo.

Bill Davidson is alive. Zeke will never be on the Pistons payroll. It's that simple.

Is Davidson's wife really that good looking? I'm assuming Zeke had a lil fling with her or something to get Davidson to hold a grudge like this.

Seriously, wasn't it something about Zeke TOLD Davidson that he (Zeke) was going to run the organization or something.

Q&A with Bucks' GM John Hammond

By GERY WOELFEL
Journal Times
Sunday, May 11, 2008 12:12 AM CDT

ST. FRANCIS *— While growing up in Zion, Ill., John Hammond periodically would make a trek to Milwaukee to watch the Bucks play in the Arena.

Today, Milwaukee is Hammond’s home.

Four weeks ago, Hammond left his job as the Detroit Pistons’ vice president of basketball operations to sign a five-year contract, $8 million contract to become the Bucks’ general manager.

In an interview with Journal Times sports reporter Gery Woelfel, the 53-year-old Hammond talked about a myriad of topics, including his decision to hire Scott Skiles as the Bucks’ new head coach, what needs to be done to transform the Bucks from a lottery participant into a playoff team and what prompted him to accept Bucks owner Herb Kohl’s offer to be GM.

You’ve been the Bucks general manager for several weeks now. What are your initial impressions of the organization?

“My initial impressions have been the same as when I accepted the job. I think this is a place where we have an owner that is committed to winning. He wants to win. I think we can put ourselves in a position to do so with some of the assets we have.”

You’ve already hired a new coach in Scott Skiles and you’ve hired an assistant general manager in Jeff Weltman. What is your next major undertaking?

“We have to hire a new trainer and I may add another person yet, maybe a director of scouting type position. We got the draft looming, and roster issues looming.

“I’ve coached in the NBA and been in the front office in the NBA and there’s no doubt that the offseason in the NBA is as busy or busier than the season if you’re in the front office.

“Ideally, you want to get into a position where you’re fortunate to be playing in June, or at least into May. Then you flow right into the draft. The month of June is all encompassing with the draft and then you have a very short window after that, a few days beyond that, and you jump right into free agency. And then we have the summer league (in Las Vegas) in July.

“This summer there are also the Olympics. Scott and I are going to the Olympics to see Yi (Jianlian) and Andrew (Bogut) and maybe Michael.

“We are going essentially for support purposes, especially for Yi and the Olympics being in China. But it’s also important for us to be there for Andrew and maybe for Michael.”

The Bucks had one of their worst seasons in franchise history. From your perspective, what was the biggest reason for their failures?

“I try to look forward as much as possible. What happened is done and over with and our concentration is about right now. We can’t change what has happened. We’re going to move forward and try to improve what we can.

“Now, that being said, there is a little bit of an evaluation process. I think what I would say about this team is probably what any coach here last year or any player that was here last year would say and that is they underachieved.

“Why they underachieved? I don’t think it was because of a lack of ability or a lack of talent. Maybe it was a lack of overall structure. And you know what? That isn’t pointing a finger at (ex-coach) Larry Krystkowiak. Something like this happens.

“(Pistons president of basketball operations) Joe (Dumars) always says, ‘John, if we win, everybody is going to reap the benefits.’ And it’s true. And it should be.

“All of a sudden, if you have the best record in the NBA, you have the best coach, you have the best general manager, you have the best players, you have the best scouts, you have the best of everything.

“And when you have what happened here, then all of a sudden you don’t just blame the coach and I don’t think the players do. It’s on them, too. It’s on everybody.”

Considering how this team foundered so miserably this season, are there any Bucks who are considered “untouchables?”

Hammond: “I don’t think it would be fair to say that, that there are untouchables on this team. You look at the obvious: we have two, very good young pieces in Bogut and Yi that you can build around. Bigs are so hard to find. The Boguts and the Yis ... it would be awfully hard to move guys like that.

“Does that mean Michael Redd can be moved? Or anybody else on this roster? No. But I don’t think it’s fair to use the term untouchables when you are a team that won 26 games this year.”

I think it’s fair to assume that this summer you’ll be making some trades. What areas would you like to shore up on this team?

Hammond: “If you look at our team, in your backcourt, it is Mo Williams and Michael Redd. Up front, we have Bogut and Yi. Desmond (Mason) is at the small forward position and that might be something you maybe address. You appreciate Desmond for the player he is and the man he is. And you got Bobby (Simmons), so it’s not like the cupboard is bare at that position.

“But if you say there’s maybe one spot that maybe could be addressed, that would be the small forward position.”

You and Donnie Walsh of the New York Knicks both became general managers at about the same time. While you moved swiftly and decisively in hiring Skiles, Walsh has taken a more deliberate approach and has yet to hire a head coach. What went into your decision-making process?

Hammond: “During my time with Joe Dumars, we always said we’re going to be decisive with our decisions and react quickly. We have always done that. We did that with coaches. We did that with roster issues. So coming here, I had that same sort of mentality.

“I identified Scott as the person to coach this team and moved forward with him and came to an agreement. We are very pleased to be able to get him. If you wait and wait, the market changes.

“Could we have hired Scott Skiles today? Maybe we could. Maybe we couldn’t. But I feel the way we approached it (the coaching search) was the right approach for us as an organization.”

When you hired Skiles, did you hire him because he was the best coach available? Or because he would be the best fit for this team?

Hammond: “I hope both. I do think he’s the right coach. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. And I do think he was the best coach available in the market at that time and, if as you go through this summer and whatever happens with this coaching carousel the next couple of weeks, I still think Scott Skiles is one of the best coaches in the league today.”

You’ve seen Skiles coach over the years when he was in Phoenix and in Chicago. What do you consider his strongest asset as a coach?

Hammond: “In observing him, I always thought his teams were solid defensively, I thought they played with discipline on the offensive end of the floor. Yet, I still felt that with the guards he had, he’d let them shoot.

“I always felt that even though his teams played with discipline, I thought he gave the guards the freedom to shoot the basketball. He wasn’t one of those guys who said, ‘Hey, don’t shoot this 3 or don’t shoot that shot.

“And I really admired how he handled himself on the sidelines. I thought he was always under control on the sidelines. I liked how he handled the officials on the sidelines. He wasn’t in their ear all the time and I think referees respect that. So when you have something to say to them, they are more willing to listen. I just liked his overall demeanor on the sidelines.”

Whether the perception is accurate or not, Skiles has a reputation of being a highly-demanding coach, someone who has rubbed some players the wrong way. Is that perception a concern to you?

Hammond: “No. It doesn’t concern me because, where we sit today as an organization, I think we need a demanding coach. There’s perception and there’s reality. I think the perception out there about how Scott is and how he handles himself on the sidelines or how he handles the team isn’t reality. I think it’s just perception.

“Scott is an extremely bright guy. The most successful people I’ve been around, the Larry Browns of the world, the Doug Collins of the worlds, the Joe Dumars of the worlds, the Charlie Spoonhours of the world, are extremely bright people.

“And Scott is an extremely bright guy. I think a bright person like him can evaluate himself and learn from his mistakes, if he feels like he made mistakes along the way. I believe he’ll make himself a better coach this time around.”

Besides hiring a new head coach and assistant general manager, you have fired several other people in the organization, including the trainers Andre Daniel and John Anderson. Was this done as an attempt to create a different culture throughout the entire organization?

Hammond: “This is no fun to make the decisions we’re making. You are talking about affecting people’s lives, people who have families and responsibilities. ... I don’t get emotional about it, but when I go home by myself and start thinking about what’s been done with people, that’s no fun.

“It’s not an easy thing. It’s not just like, ‘All right, yeah, we got to change the culture and change these positions.’ It’s not like it’s a whimsical decision.

“These are things you have to live with after you make them. But that’s the process we’re going through and the process is change. And change is happening.”

How much of a difference is it being an assistant general manager than a general manager?

Hammond: “I was involved in absolutely every decision with Joe. Every single decision. But, at the end of the day, he had to live with those decisions. I lived with them through him.

“I would say to Joe, ‘I know how you are feeling because I feel it through you.’ But I knew it was different. Now I am feeling it.”

It was pretty apparent the Bucks had some significant chemistry issues this season. Is it necessary to weed out some of the malcontents on this team or can Skiles come in and alter the attitude?

Hammond: “When you start talking about chemistry issues or evaluating what went wrong with this team ... we’re going to evaluate the situation and, if we can do something to improve our team, we’re going to do that.

“Does that mean we’re going to make wholesale changes? No. We will not do that. That’s not our thinking going in.

“Chemistry issues, weeding people out, that kind of terminology ... it’s going to come down to opportunities. We are going to explore the opportunities that are presented by other teams and go from there.”

The Bucks have two talented young power forwards — Charlie Villanueva and Yi Jianlian — and two good point guards — a veteran in Mo Williams and a rookie in Ramon Sessions — who have been starters in this league. Will you try to move one of these players at each position, or do you believe they can co-exist and be productive players for the Bucks next season?

Hammond: “In my mind, yes, they can co-exist on this team. But you know what? All of those guys you mentioned are assets, even Sessions. The way he finished the season ... as we continue to work the phones (in trade talks) I guarantee you his name will come up.

“So those guys are all assets. Anytime you have assets, you look at that as positives.”

Andrew Bogut has shown steady improvement during his three years with the Bucks after being the No. 1 overall selection in the 2005 NBA draft. Do you believe Bogut has the capability to become an elite player at his position?

Hammond: “You hope so. I’m sure Andrew hopes he can also. But I would assume Andrew believes that for him to get to that level he has a lot of work ahead of him. That’s my assumption.”

Are you confident the Bucks and Bogut can reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension in July?

Hammond: “That would be our goal to do so.”

There’s a good chance Michael Redd will be playing for the United States Olympic Team this summer. Yet, there are some basketball observers who contend Redd isn’t a franchise player. What’s your take on him?

Hammond: “I think Michael Redd is a great player. When you start using terminology like franchise player ... I think if we sat down and looked at the (NBA team) board together and said which team has a franchise player, we’d see there aren’t many of them in the league.

“Even if you said Michael Redd isn’t a franchise player, that’s not taking a shot at Michael Redd. Saying Michael Redd is a great NBA player is a great compliment to him.”

Some Bucks fans believe you should blow up this team, while others believe it just needs to be tweaked. What’s your view on this matter?

Hammond: “Maybe something in between. Maybe more than a tweak, but you sure as heck wouldn’t want to blow up a team with some of the assets that are here.”

Your old team, the Detroit Pistons, has been one of the most successful teams in the NBA for almost a decade. What has been the key to the Pistons’ success?

Hammond: “I think it was a lot of hard work, a lot of preparation and a lot of luck.”

Would you then say the Bucks have been unlucky to some extent?

Hammond: “I need my book of sports quotes. What is that saying? Luck is where preparation and opportunity meet. I wouldn’t say the Pistons are that good because of all good luck. Look at this season: They won 57 games because of good luck and we, the Bucks, lost 56 games because of bad luck? There’s a whole lot more than that that plays into it.”

Amazingly, the Pistons have been relatively injury free all of these years. They really haven’t had any major injury, unlike the Bucks, to their key players.

Hammond: “That’s where luck enters into it. We had a guy there Arnie Kander who does a tremendous job with our players. He is the strength and conditioning coach, but he’s also the guy who does all the rehab with them. He’s been tremendous.

“I don’t know what the number is: If it’s 50 percent Arnie or 50 percent luck? Or 80 percent Arnie and 20 percent luck? Or 80 percent good luck and 20 percent Arnie?

“There are certain things that happen in a game, where people come down and twist a knee the wrong way or another player rolls into another player’s knee. Things like that happen. That’s bad luck. Did the Pistons avoid those kinds of things? Yeah, I think they did. But once again, give the players credit for preparing themselves and give Arnie credit for the way he handled them.”

You have had some other opportunities to leave the Pistons, but you stayed. What sold you on becoming the Bucks’ GM?

Hammond: “I looked at this job as being the right one in the right place at the right time for me. After I met with Senator Kohl (in Washington, D.C.), I called my wife (Marsha) and told her, ‘He’s a good man. And he wants to win.’ Those were two big factors for me.”

You have a sister, Barbara Edmonds, who lives in Genoa City. First of all, are you close, and secondly, what was her reaction to you getting the Bucks’ general manager’s job?

Hammond: “She was excited. I have two sisters: Barb and Sue, who lives in Seattle. Our parents are gone, and we just have each other. So we celebrate the good times and we share the bad times together, too.

“But her reaction when she found out I was the new Bucks general manager was a simple call. She said, ‘I can’t tell you how proud I am of you and how great it’ll be to have you this close to me.

“It’s kind of interesting when I think of some of the opportunities I’ve had the last couple of years and I end up here in Milwaukee, this close to her, to family. It makes this job a little more special.”

If he steals Arnie I'll steal his soul (not that Arnie would leave for Milwaukee)

I liked Hammond, but you rarely see a GM say that cetain players are your weakest spot (Mason and Simmons). Usually a GM will be more vague (ie: we need to get tougher in the middle, more perimeter shooting, a better on ball defender, etc).

Is Davidson's wife really that good looking? I'm assuming Zeke had a lil fling with her or something to get Davidson to hold a grudge like this.

Seriously, wasn't it something about Zeke TOLD Davidson that he (Zeke) was going to run the organization or something.
The scuttlebutt was that Davidson told Isiah (and only Isiah) that he was going to set him up as GM with some ownership stake in the team. It was leaked to the media the next day. Davidson was pissed, and excommunicated Isiah.

That's the story I always heard as well.

The scuttlebutt was that Davidson told Isiah (and only Isiah) that he was going to set him up as GM with some ownership stake in the team. It was leaked to the media the next day. Davidson was pissed, and excommunicated Isiah.

Sounds like Zeke.

Prolly went a lil more like...

Davi..."I'll hire you in the front office as an assistant something or other and we'll see where it goes from there"

Later to a reporter...

Zeke..."I'm going to be the Owner/President/GM/VP by the end of the week"


btw..thanx mxy

So I like Hammond and all, but if they are really prepared to let Sessions walk away and not match the MLE offer that he'll get from someone, then I'm just lost with what the plan is.

Trade Jefferson, I get that. Trade what you got for Jefferson, I get that. Let Charlie V AND Sessions walk, now you're starting to lose me.

They did sign Bogut to an extansion last summer, so there's something that they said yes to, but was he hired just to come in and tell everyone goodbye?

Must be nice being a Bucks fan.

It's the opposite of Isiah's plan. Isiah wants the highest payroll in history, Hammond wants his payroll to be under $6 million.

The way Sessions was handled last year was pretty confusing too. His numbers always looked solid but they did everything they could to avoid playing him for much of the year. There has to be something else going on here.

I have a feeling Skiles doesn't like him. You can get yourself in trouble if you start making decisions on talent based on the whims of a notably ornery coach.

Don't think this is Hammonds plan, MIL is losing cash and he's just there to make some for himself.

With Brandon Jennings and Luke Ridnour, there's not much space. Luke will be harder to trade, so I think they're just going to let him walk. Plus like someone mentioned, Skiles hated his ass

So Sessions ends up where?

Portland just Miller. Is New York gonna let KyptoNate walk?

Currently the #5 seed, lol.

Way to go John Hammond.

And it looks like Bogut has really improved too.

Everyone always says C and PG are the 2 hardest positions to fill.

Milwaukee has Bogut and Jennings, so they're doing alright.

Will be interesting how they move foward with this squad. Is this a weird one off playoff season or is it the start of something legit?

Just wait until Amir Johnson starts to reach his potential.

Now he's selling Amway

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19445760/john-hammond-milwaukee-bucks-hired-orlando-magic

No doubt a voucher guy.