The unforeseen regression of the Milwaukee Bucks following a 26-game jump in the win column last season has been a tough pill to swallow for supporters of the franchise.
Currently 11 games under .500 at 20-31 (28-23 at this point last season), and 6.5 games back of the Detroit Pistons for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee's chances of making a return to the postseason for a second year in a row are looking awfully bleak. The team has also lost its last four games and six of its last seven.
In an effort to right the ship, the Bucks are willing to move point guard Michael Carter-Williams and Greg Monroe prior to the Feb. 18 trade deadline, according to the Journal Times' Gery Woelfel.
"From what I'm hearing, (the Bucks) are willing to trade anybody not named (Jabari) Parker, (Giannis) Antetokounmpo or (Khris) Middleton,’" an unnamed NBA executive told Woelfel. "I even heard they'd listen (to offers) for Parker and Middleton, but it would have to be some crazy offer."
Carter-Williams was dealt to Milwaukee in February of last year after capturing 2014 Rookie of the Year honors as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. In his first full season with the team, the 24-year-old's numbers have been largely hit or miss as he struggles to maintain a level of consistency under head coach Jason Kidd, a former floor general in his own right.
In 46 appearances, Carter-Williams is averaging 11.5 points (career low) on 45.3 percent shooting, along with five rebounds and 5.6 assists in 30.7 minutes per game. He does possess a real plus-minus of zero, though, which ranks 22nd at his position. This means he makes no impact on the net change in score, whether good or bad, when he sees the floor.
Monroe was signed to a three-year, $60-million contract over the offseason after spending the last five years suiting up for the Detroit Pistons. He's second on the Bucks in scoring (16.6) and first in rebounds (9.7), having compiled 26 double-doubles (tied for sixth in NBA) through 49 games.
Milwaukee's defense has gotten significantly worse since he came on board, with the team's defensive rating of 106.5 (27th) plummeting 7.2 points per 100 possessions from 99.3 (2nd) during the 2014-15 campaign. Monroe also isn't much for defending the rim, averaging less than a block a game (0.9).
He's set to make $16.4 million this season and $17.1 million in 2016-17, with a player option of $17.8 million in 2017-18.
