In this section we'll take a closer look at all 30 NBA teams heading into the start of the season in October.   First up...the beleaguered Bucks:

Formula for Success 2005-2007:

1) Overpaid very good players (Michael Redd)
2) Overpaid good players (Mo Williams)
3) Overpaid role players (Charlie Bell, Desmond Mason, and Bobby Simmons)
4) Overpaid below average players (Dan Gadzuric & Jake Voskuhl)

Able to detect a pattern? The formula didn't quite pan out for Larry Harris and he was finally shown the door by my former boss.  Yes, back in the day Herb Kohl signed my checks...sort of.  It was nearly two decades ago and I was a young and impressionable sporting goods associate at one of his department stores in Milwaukee for a few months.  Needless to say, selling bowling balls to pudgy kids and their even pudgier parents didn't really do it for me.   If it had, who knows, I may have caught Herb's eye, started working my way up through the ranks for the Bucks, and eventually become the GM.  Well, that didn't happen, Bucks fans were forced to endure Larry Harris, and now the John Hammond era has officially begun...with a thud.  Okay, maybe it's not a thud, but it's certainly not off to a scintillating start.  Scott Skiles? Really? Um, what about his performance (as well as the performance of recently named lead assistant Jim Boylan) in Chicago last year was inspiring?   Not to mention Sourpuss Scott's less than stellar stint in Phoenix?  I'm dubious...but if he's going to succeed there will need to be wholesale changes to the roster.  Who to keep:  A much improved Andrew Bogut, March sensation Ramon Sessions, and Yi Jianlian.  Who to dump:  Everybody else, including Redd, if the Bucks can find any takers. 

Surprisingly, there were rumblings out of Sacramento throughout this past season that Reggie Theus and Kevin Martin weren't seeing eye to eye.  If there is still some friction there, I'd go all out to bring Mr. Martin to Milwaukee.  There aren't enough minutes to go around for Artest, Martin, Salmons, and Garcia so one of them is likely to be shipped out before the start of next season.  Why not offer Mo Williams, Vilanueva, and a future 1st round pick?  The salaries match up and maybe the Kings bite.

I’d also recommend making a strong pitch for Josh Howard (A few of my old high school buddies who live in the vicinity could hook him up with weed), capable veteran Jason Terry, and the next Boozer, Brandon Bass.  Wouldn't the Mavs have to strongly consider a package of Redd, Bell, and the Bucks high 2008 1st round draft pick (overall selection #8)?  If Sacramento isn't willing to dicker and part with Martin, then I'd give Cuban & Company whatever they want within reason.  Redd, Villanueva and the 08’ 1st rounder also works under the cap as does a bigger deal of Redd, Villanueva, Mo Williams and the 2008 1st rounder for Howard, Bass, Terry, Stackhouse and Barea. 

Then...I'd sign DeSagana Diop to a 3 year $9 million deal (and not a dollar more) to be a 15 minute per game back up center.  Diop’s still young and perfectly capable of protecting the rim, blocking a couple shots and collecting a half dozen rebounds per game.   You’re telling me a lineup of Bogut, Bass, Howard, Sessions, and Martin with Terry, Diop, and Yi isn’t a 45 win team in the East?   Will they challenge for a title during the next two years?  No, but in three years I wouldn’t bet against it.  Plenty of shooters to spread the floor and some muscle inside with Bass, Diop at a reasonable price, and a suddenly stout Bogut.

Or...they could make a couple minor cosmetic moves, struggle to win 36 games, and miss the playoffs once again.  We'll see what happens during the next few months...