Parker scores 31 as the Bucks rout the Pistons 119-94

It was one of those nights for Jabari Parker and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The former No. 2 overall pick shot 72 percent from the field on his way to 31 points, as Milwaukee routed Detroit 119-94 on Wednesday night.

“His confidence is high,” coach Jason Kidd said of Parker, who has now scored at least 20 points in six of the Bucks’ last eight games. “He’s playing extremely well for us and we need him to play like he did tonight.”

It wasn’t just Parker’s scoring, though, he also dished out a season-high seven assists to go along with nine rebounds.

“Everybody is going to look at his points, but I thought his total game (was good),” Kidd said. “Being able to find guys, get guys open, and then on the defensive end, I thought he did a really good job.”

Milwaukee led by 15 entering the fourth quarter, and the Pistons never really threatened to make a game of it.

Guard Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 23 points and had eight assists, while center Greg Monroe scored 14 off the bench for the Bucks.

Milwaukee’s former first-round pick Tobias Harris led the way for the Pistons, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

The win got the Bucks back to .500 on the season at 15-15. They’ll continue their four-game road trip tomorrow night when they visit Minnesota.

    Sheboygan Armory would be used for more than Bucks basketball

    SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Joe Wolf is spearheading an effort to bring a Milwaukee Bucks NBA Development League team to Sheboygan, but his proposal to refurbish the Armory would mean a venue for community events and youth programs as well.

    “We’d like to provide a safe zone for kids,” Wolf told the Wisconsin Sports Zone Network on Sunday. “There are a lot of troubling things in the Sheboygan community that we’d like to take out of the kids’ lives and we’d like to set the right foundation.”

    Wolf is the leader of Lakefront Jewel Group, which hopes to raise enough funds to renovate the Armory, which hasn’t seen much action since the 1990’s. The Armory was once home to the Sheboygan Red Skins, a National Basketball League team operating from the years of 1938 to 1949.

    One of the community issues Wolf hopes his plan will protect children from is rampant drug use. According to a WHBL interview in 2015 with Samaritans Hand director Kent Kollath, one of the most common drugs used in Sheboygan County is heroin.

    “Actually, the impact in Sheboygan County is bigger than anybody would even be aware of. People aren’t really aware of all the overdoses that they don’t hear about. The problem is huge and all of the problems related to the heroin problem; homelessness, crime, it could be prostitution, neglect of their children — it’s just flooding our city.”

     
    A Sheboygan County data report from 2014 shows heroin as one of the most prevalent drugs used in eastern Wisconsin.

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    The Bucks have set the goal to have an affiliate team up and running by the 2017 season. It’s a lofty goal, but one Wolf says they can realistically meet.

     

    Milwaukee has narrowed down its choices for their affiliate team to three and hopes to make a decision by mid-September before gaining NBA approval.

      Feigin: D-League affiliate will have “serious” nickname

      MILWAUKEE — While the Milwaukee Bucks have yet to finalize a host city for their future NBA Development League franchise, team president Peter Feigin believes the team will not have a cutesy nickname.

      “[The D-League team] is a direct brand extension,” Feigin said Sunday on “The Neighborhood.” “…We’re going to be awfully serious about what the connection is. This will not be the [American Hockey League’s] Albany River Rats; this will not be interesting — [International League’s] [Toledo] Mud Hens. This will be…something that’s true and authentic.”

      The Bucks have set a soft deadline of mid-September for when they’d like to name a finalist for the affiliate’s host city. It would then go to the NBA for league approval, which is a streamlined process based on the number of times they’ve gone through the process before. By the 2017 season, the Bucks hope to have that team fully functioning as their D-League franchise.

      Feigin said there are no team names currently in discussion for whichever city ends up hosting the Bucks’ affiliate, but joked that they’re running out of time to think of one.

      There are now three finalists in the running for Milwaukee’s D-League affiliate, and although Feigin didn’t specify, the likely candidates are Oshkosh, Racine, and Sheboygan.

        Jason Terry to sign with Bucks on Monday

        MILWAUKEE — In search of a veteran presence in the locker room and some production from the guard position, the Milwaukee Bucks will reportedly sign Jason Terry on Monday.

        Terry will enter his 18th NBA season at 28 years of age, averaging a career 44.4 percent on field goals and 37.9 percent from distance.

        Terry tells Fox 26 that the Bucks are “a young team on the cusp of doing great things and the Bucks have a great coach in Jason Kidd.” Most of his career was spent in Atlanta and Dallas, where he averaged over 16 points per game over 13 seasons. Terry’s playing time has dropped considerably, however, averaging 19.5 minutes per game in his last two NBA seasons (2014-16) with the Houston Rockets.

        The Bucks had previously been in the very early stages of talks with 41-year-old Ray Allen, but it’s unclear if those talks will continue after Terry officially signs.

          Sheboygan a strong contender for Bucks affiliate site

          MILWAUKEE — The city of Sheboygan should be considered a strong contender to host a future Milwaukee Bucks NBA Development League team, given its proximity to Milwaukee and ownership group.

          As the Bucks aim to announce a host city for their D-League affiliate by September, team president Peter Feigin praised the efforts being made by Lakefront Jewel Group to potentially host a team. In a Sunday interview on “The Neighborhood,” Feigin specifically mentioned former Bucks player and assistant coach Joe Wolf, who leads the charge for LJG in reconstructing the Armory.

           

          While each city hoping to make a bid for the Bucks affiliate was required to fill out a privacy agreement, it’s no surprise Sheboygan is in the running, considering the connection with Wolf. He has experience coaching in the Continental Basketball Association (2004-2006) and the D League (2006-2008), as well as the NBA as an assistant coach (2008-present).

          Wolf posted a number of renderings on Twitter of what the Armory could look like once the renovation project is completed.

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          Other cities reported to be in the hunt for a new Bucks D League team include Racine and Oshkosh, while La Crosse was ruled out last weekend.

            LISTEN: Bucks delay D-League decision by two weeks

            MILWAUKEE — The process of naming a host city for a Milwaukee Bucks NBA Development League team is taking longer than expected, pushing the decision date into September.

            In an interview with the Wisconsin Sports Zone Network, team president Peter Feigin says he expects that decision to come down in the next four to six weeks, with the longer end of that time frame bumping up against Milwaukee’s start of training camp.

             

            While Feigin said the team is now considering “about three cities” as the affiliate’s host, the decision comes down to more than just location. Location was a factor, however, in ruling out La Crosse, despite being the only reported city with an arena already in place.

            Among the cities believed to be in the running, Sheboygan has launched a site with renderings of a proposed arena. Oshkosh and Racine are also considered strong contenders.

            According to Feigin, the city which wins the bidding war will have “attendance, a [built-in] fan base, and then actually have the financial support to do it.” The partnership group and excitement level will also come into play.

            Sheboygan’s ownership group, Lakefront Jewel Group, is headed by former Milwaukee Bucks player and assistant coach Joe Wolf. Wolf was also an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets for the 2014-15 season and has experience coaching NBA Development League teams. The Group’s Web site lists 2017 as the year in which the proposed arena will be completed, which falls in line with Milwaukee’s plan to have a team established by that time frame.

            At this time, no team names have been generated and no sponsorship opportunities have publicly been announced.

              LISTEN: Bucks to name D-League site by end of August

              MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks plan to finalize a site for their future NBA Development League affiliate by the end of August, according to team president Peter Feigin.

               

              Feigin noted that roughly 12 cities in Wisconsin were in consideration to host an affiliate team, but they have yet to finalize a team name or location.

              It was reported Tuesday night that La Crosse has been ruled out as a potential city to host a future team, mainly due to distance.

              During a discussion on “The Neighborhood” back in June, Feigin revealed that the future site for a D-League affiliate had to be within two hours of Milwaukee for the team to consider it. That city would also be required to already have a facility to play in or one with plans already in place to build one.

              General manager John Hammond told WTMJ radio in Milwaukee that  they plan on having a team within one year, but Feigin says that’s a bit optimistic.

              “We’re at the initial stages,” Feigin said back in June. “…What we’ll do in probably four weeks’ time is narrow down that list to about two or three prospective towns and then really get into the nitty gritty of…really starting development with the hope of getting a team up and running within two years.”

                Bucks complete sign-and-trade for Matthew Dellavedova

                MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin | Now it’s official. A member of a world champion is becoming a Milwaukee Buck.  On Thursday, the Bucks completed a sign-and-trade deal to bring Matthew Dellavedova from Cleveland. Milwaukee sends the Cavs the draft rights for Albert Miralles. The Bucks acquired the draft rights to Miralles from Boston on Dec. 9, 2011, in exchange for Keyon Dooling and a conditional 2012 second round pick. Miralles currently plays for FIATC Joventut in the Spanish League.

                Terms of the Dellavedova contract were not disclosed in accordance with team policy, although NBA.com’s David Aldridge reported the deal is four years for $38.4 million.

                 

                Dellavedova was part of the Cavaliers’ 2015-16 NBA championship team. In 2015-16 his three-point shooting percentage (41%) ranked 11th in the NBA, while his 2.9 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked 10th. In 62 games off the bench, Dellavedova averaged 4.1 assists per game which was the fourth-most in the NBA among reserve players. He had one or less turnovers in 40 games last season.

                Dellavedova appeared in all 40 of the Cavaliers playoff games over the last two seasons. In 2015, Dellavedova made seven starts during the playoffs and averaged 7.2 points, 2.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds over the course of 20 games. He once again appeared in all 20 playoff games for the Cavs in 2016, averaging 3.9 points in 12.1 minutes per game en route to an NBA Championship.

                Originally from Australia, Dellavedova played for Saint Marys (CA) College before going undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft.

                 

                  Wade to sign with Chicago Bulls

                  MIAMI — Dwyane Wade’s decision has reportedly been made, as the Associated Press revealed the former Marquette star and Chicago native will commit to sign with his hometown Chicago Bulls. This news came the same day he reportedly met with Milwaukee Bucks management.

                  According to the AP, Wade will sign a two-year deal with the Bulls for $47 million.

                  “This was not an easy decision, but I feel I have made the right choice for myself and my family,” Wade wrote in a letter to the Heat, released to The Associated Press.

                  The three-time NBA champion will be tasked with helping to bring a title back to the Chicago, where the Bulls have yet to reach an NBA Finals since Michael Jordan’s second retirement in 1998.

                    Report: Bucks Extend Matthew Dellavedova 4-year, $38.4M Offer Sheet

                    MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin | The Milwaukee Bucks continue to light up the NBA free agency wire!  The Bucks have reportedly prepared a 4-year, $38.4 million offer sheet for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova. The 25-year old Australian averaged 7.5 points and 4.4 assists in 24.6 minutes per game last season. He won an NBA title with the Cavs, who are unlikely to match the Bucks offer.

                    ESPN’s Zach Lowe was first to report the Bucks offer for Dellavedova.

                    Dellavedova became popular with Cavs fans for his toughness and hustle but saw his minutes diminish in the NBA Finals.