MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Veteran small forward Richard Jefferson wasn't exactly overjoyed when he learned that he had been traded by the Nets to the Bucks last summer. Yet, Jefferson was the consummate professional throughout the season and became the Bucks' undisputed leader on and off the court.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: When the Bucks selected Joe Alexander with the eighth overall pick in last summer's NBA draft, they didn't necessarily expect him to come in and start. But they did envision Alexander being a key contributor. But the 6-foot-8 forward from West Virginia didn't play the defense demanded from him by coach Scott Skiles and played infrequently until the final weeks of the season. FREE AGENT FOCUS: Starting point guard Ramon Sessions and part-time starting power forward Charlie Villanueva will both become restricted free agents this summer. Both players said they would like to remain with the Bucks and Bucks' general manager John Hammond has said he would like to keep them. However, because of luxury tax implications, it's highly doubtful the Bucks can retain both young, promising players.
PLAYER NEWS:
--C Andrew Bogut will head back to his native Australia this summer and begin a strength and conditioning program in the middle of May for the incomplete stress fracture in his lower back. Bogut said he'll probably start doing basketball drills in July and fully expects to be ready for training camp on Oct. 1.
--F Joe Alexander said he hasn't determined whether he'll play in the summer league. Alexander didn't play much this season and his teammate, F Richard Jefferson, has encouraged him to play as many competitive games as possible this summer.
--G Damon Jones, whom the Bucks acquired last summer in a trade that also involved Mo Williams going to the Cavaliers, played in only 17 games for the Bucks this season. Jones also knows the Bucks don't have any intentions of re-signing him. Yet the 32-year-old Jones is confident he'll be playing in the NBA next season.
--F Richard Jefferson, who acknowledges he could be traded during this summer, finished his first season with the Bucks in style Wednesday night. Jefferson made 13-of-20 shots from the field en route to a 31-point outing in the Bucks' 115-108 loss to the Pacers at Indianapolis.
