MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Center Andrew Bogut took a significant step toward justifying the Bucks making him the No. 1 overall selection in the 2005 NBA draft. After registering 12 double-doubles as a rookie and then 19 double-doubles last year, the 23-year-old Bogut finished with 38 double-doubles this season.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: After he signed a lucrative six-year, $51 million contract last summer, big things were expected from Mo Williams. But while the point guard averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists, he was a sieve on defense and did a poor job of getting his teammates involved in the offense. What's more, Williams had issues with some teammates and coaches, including a heated exchange with assistant coach Tony Brown. BIGGEST NEEDS: The Bucks got little production from their small forward combination of Desmond Mason and Bobby Simmons and they will, ideally, be looking for someone who can defend like Mason and shoot from the perimeter like Simmons. The Bucks will also be in the market for a physical big man, somebody they are currently lacking on their roster.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: Every one of the Bucks' regular starters -- Mo Williams, Michael Redd, Desmond Mason, Yi Jianlian and Andrew Bogut -- along with their top reserves -- Charlie Villanueva, Desmond Mason and Charlie Bell -- is under contract for next season. The only players who will become free agents -- all unrestricted -- on July 1 are Jake Voskuhl, Michael Ruffin and Royal Ivey. The Bucks have a team option on Awvee Storey.
It's unlikely the Bucks will make any concerted effort to retain any of those players as they are expected to make sweeping changes.
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Mo Williams and F Charlie Villanueva recently returned from South Korea, where they worked an NBA-sponsored basketball clinic.
--The Bucks are seriously exploring the possibility of re-signing F Ersan Ilyasova, who was the team's second-round draft pick two years ago. Ilyasova spent this season playing for FC Barcelona in Spain.
--G Michael Redd continues to be subject to trade rumors. Redd's contract could be a major stumbling block to any deal. Redd is guaranteed $33 million over the next two seasons and then has a player option for $18.3 million.
