Redd chooses Milwaukee

[ducks]

Coveted free agent Michael Redd agreed Thursday to re-sign with the Milwaukee Bucks, choosing to stay with the only NBA team he's played for over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"He's going to get a max deal in Milwaukee for $90 to $96 million, depending on what the cap is, over six years," Redd's agent, Kevin Poston, told The Associated Press early Thursday afternoon. "Michael started his career in Milwaukee and hopes to end it there, too.

"It was a tough decision between the Bucks and the Cavaliers, but Michael's heart is in Milwaukee and he's excited about his future there," Poston added.

Redd, who was the top remaining free agent available, met with James and Cavs officials in Cleveland on Wednesday, one day after meeting with the Bucks.

The 6-foot-6 shooting guard averaged a career-high 23 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season. He has averaged 17.7 points while making 39.4 percent of his 3-point shots since Milwaukee drafted him in second round, with the 43rd overall pick, in the 2000 NBA draft.

Poston said Redd, who turns 26 in August, is excited about playing with former Utah center Andrew Bogut, the No. 1 pick overall in last month's draft, and for the Bucks' next coach.

"Michael had Andrew have spoken at great length and are really looking forward to starting something special in Milwaukee," said Poston, an agent based in suburban Detroit. "We also know who the Bucks are focused in on to be their next coach, and Michael is very comfortable with him."

The Bucks signed Bogut to a multiyear contract last week and have been searching for a new coach since firing Terry Porter last month. ESPN.com's Andy Katz reported Thursday that the Bucks are expected to hire Warriors assistant Terry Stotts.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2102454

[Duff McCartney]

DAMN I guess everbody has to win a ring there second year in the league or there doomed to have a Garnett career.... c'mon it MJ what 5-6 years before he got a ring

Considering how much hype Lebron had coming into the league, he should have won his first and second year. Lebron can win 15 straight les and he'll still be overrated because of the hype he got coming into the league.

I think it's too easy said about Lebron, everybody gives him free passes on everything he s up on.

Lebron does something amazing...everybody says "WOW!! AMAZING AND HE'S ONLY 20 YEARS OLD!!."

His team misses the playoffs or goes on a losing streak..everybody says " Well you can't criticize him, he's ONLY 20 years old."

Yeah right...give me a ing break.

[King]

So, Cuttino to Cleveland?

Devin?

S&T Ilgauskas for one of Atlanta's kids?

Good luck Danny.

Yeah, I wonder if they'll look into Devin. Danny knows him very well, and vice versa.

[TheAdmiral#50]

Damn, I hoped his visit with the Cavs would change his mind....

[Marcus Bryant]

I think the Spurs match even a MLE offer for Devin unless its too long. Ferry would have to come with an above MLE offer for a couple of seasons in order to woo him away. I don't see it.

[ducks]

maybe jame's lack of trust in his teamates at the end of last season has hurt him
trying to get help

[ducks]

I think the Spurs match even a MLE offer for Devin unless its too long. Ferry would have to come with an above MLE offer for a couple of seasons in order to woo him away. I don't see it.

ferry has to get james someone

[Guru of Nothing]

I think Milwaukee can put together a nice team over the next year or two, if Bogut pans out to be equal to Brad Miller, and, if TJ Ford returns healthy.

Ford, Redd, Mason, Joe Smith and Bogut is not a bad starting lineup by eastern conference standards, along with Maurice Williams, Welsch and Gadzuric off the bench.

If they can land an all-star caliber PF in the draft over these next couple of years, they could be a force.

I think Redd's a little overpaid (of course he was underpaid for a few years too), but excepting that, I don't see any bad contracts weighing them down as they move forward.

[SenorSpur]

First off, I don't blame Michael Redd at all for taking the money and running. If someone ups an existing offer by 20 million, you'd be a fool to pass that up. Quite honestly, Redd was never going anywhere anyway. He and his agent simply used Cleveland to drive the price up. It happens all the time in free agency. That's simply good business strategy.

Having said that, the Bucks overpaid for Redd. He's a fantastic shooter, but certainly NOT a #1 option for their team. He's not a superstar player who you can expect to take over a game and force his will onto an opponent down the stretch. He's more of a complimentary player who should be the beneficiary of open looks resulting from the constant "double teams" drawn by a Lebron, Tim, KG, Shaq or another superstar of that caliber.

Now I realize the Bucks were in a tight situation and couldn't afford to lose him, but I wonder when these overzealous owners and GMs will ever cease throwing out superstar contracts to average and above average players, only to regret those decision years later (see the contracts of Michael Finley, Antoine Walker, Allan Houston, Keith Van Horn, Latrell Sprewell and others). Should either of these guys be paid as much or more that a Tim Duncan - I think not!

Now the owners have given themselves an "out" clause to escape the luxury tax penalties assoicated with those "bad" contracts. It's simply out of control.

[ducks]

should ferry offer joe johnson the max and call the suns bluff?

[SenorSpur]

if I were Ferry, I would go after Johnson.

[Guru of Nothing]

if I were Ferry, I would go after Johnson.

Nice pun.

[Jimcs50]

nobody wants to play with lebron?

poor guy, he is NEVER going to get a ring...

I'll play with him....Tell Cleveland to call my agent, we can work something out.

[SenorSpur]

Hadn't heard any complaints about Lebron? Anything to substantiate those claims?

[ducks]

boozer, allen and redd not wanting to play with him

[ducks]

Ilgauskas might be next on the list

[Sense]

He made the best decision....

[Kori Ellis]

It will be very interesting what Danny Ferry does now. He better not strike out this free agency period.

[midgetonadonkey]

I think he will find a way to land either Hughes or JJ. He's got the cap room and a person that many players would like to run with in Lebron. If not, he can save the cap for next season but many people in Cleveland will be very disappointed.

[CalsonicKansei]

I kind of had a feeling that he was going to stay with Milwaukee since the free agent talk started. Thats really too bad for LeBron now because he is going to have to average like 30 points a game to get into the playoffs.