The CSL

The Milwaukee Bucks just announced today the hiring of new General Manager, Manu Martinez. Just minutes after that, his phone started ringing with calls from all over the CSL. Do not get too excited, though. No moves seem to be on the horizon for the Bucks, at least in the short term.

With three lottery trips in three seasons, the Bucks have started the 2017-18 season with a promising 14-13 record. However, Bucks fans are expecting more. Can this Milwaukee team make the playoffs and advance far? That was the first question asked to the new General Manager:

mgtr81 wrote:I do not have an answer ... yet. We will need a month of games to properly evaluate this roster. Where we are and what we can actually do, that is something we do not know at this moment in time. We still have to meet with all players, but we have told head coach Randy Wittman that we are here to win. Not sure if we can do it right away or will have to wait until the offseason, since the time we need to accurately assess our needs may coincide with the trade deadline.

While the Bucks are considered to be a two-player team, coach Witmann will need to make the most out of the roster. However, according to sources close to the Front Office one thing is for certain: this is not a situation where a new General Manager comes and changes everything. The plan is to evaluate what the team has, what it lacks and how it can be improved. So at first glance it seems both LeBron James and Greg Monroe are the building blocks of the team, and every decision is made will orbit around them.


Wittman may actually be the key for this team.

The first decision coming from the Front Office was claiming free agents Jordan Bachinsky and Josh Richardson. That could hint at the new direction the Bucks may go on the court. As someone reportedly said in the Front Office first meeting with the coaching staff, the lack of a shotblocker needed to be addressed immeadiately. The other issue to be solved is Monroe's potential contract extension, but the Front Office is still looking at all the details of the CSL CBA.

The Bucks will play their first game of this new era at home vs the Philadelphia 76ers, on December 26th. We may then see the first look of the new Bucks.

The Central and the East just got a whole lot tougher.

First and foremost, welcome, Manu! Hate to see another great GM joining an already more-than-tough Central Division but great for CSL that another team found a stable GM.

Second, we do not have extensions here in CSL, so you'll have to re-sign Monroe via FA, which is done in-game (no Player Agents as well).

As for the Bucks.. Your past track at NLL shows you are not a rebuilding guy and you have one of the most talented players in the game in LeBron, along Monroe. I love Buddy Hield as a cheap option at the two and would start him because of his good handles / passing / defense. Love Jackson as well and tried to go after him when he was at Indy but he decided to join the Bucks instead of a S&T to Chicago.
You have solid pieces but not so many assets to improve so I'm interested to see how you are going to build this team and add the needed talent. First on the way out seems to be Harris who's not a fit with Monroe / James.

Marcos_Beck wrote:Second, we do not have extensions here in CSL, so you'll have to re-sign Monroe via FA, which is done in-game (no Player Agents as well).

Thanks for the clarification.

nice article. James and Monroe are nasty 1-2 punch if they can be kept together. I can see Monroe wanting a lot of Ching next year.
Good luck with my beloved Bucks.

You've been GM for a few hours and already took my top free agent target (Bachyniski). lol

BizGilwalker wrote:You've been GM for a few hours and already took my top free agent target (Bachyniski). lol

That's what happens when you are at 89.999.999 bucks in salaries.

Marcos_Beck wrote:

BizGilwalker wrote:You've been GM for a few hours and already took my top free agent target (Bachyniski). lol

That's what happens when you are at 89.999.999 bucks in salaries.

90% of the reason I've been trying to trade Lalanne too

Great to have you aboard but it means life in the Central Division gets that much more difficult. Very interested to see how you utilize the pieces already on the roster.

Manu!!!!!!

A GM and Commish that I have quite alot of respect for, great seeing you in this League and I know for a fact you will force the competitiveness of the East and League even higher than it already is!

Very nice read and good luck!

Welcome and good luck.
Gallinari shouldn't stay long in this starting 5 though - he basically failed every team he was on (Den, LAL, Tor, Cle)

Good luck! The bucks have been my achilles heel this year.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you will do with the Bucks, especially since you're in my division. I liked the Richardson pickup personally as I think he can be a pretty defender in the league who could score at a decent rate.

Bucks got a lot more scarier

I am not discounting your GM ability as I've known you already (GMing perspective) for a while now but you're really lucky to have LeBron James in your team. I expect Milwaukee to be much more competitive now with you on the helm. Good luck.

rh0xxy wrote:I am not discounting your GM ability as I've known you already (GMing perspective) for a while now but you're really lucky to have LeBron James in your team. I expect Milwaukee to be much more competitive now with you on the helm. Good luck.

You're right. Having a player able to play all five positions is something unique.