ST. FRANCIS, Wisc. -- When the Milwaukee Bucks sent former No. 1 pick and face of the franchise, Andrew Bogut, to the west coast, they knew the team's identity would dramatically change.
Even with Bogut limited by injuries throughout his career, sending away the former No. 1 pick is still a team-altering move. And with the Bucks' main return, a scoring guard of the highest order in Monta Ellis, Milwaukee put two guards who want the ball in their own hands frequently in the same backcourt.
On one hand, the move could clearly pay serious dividends — no guard pair in the NBA had more scoring potential last season. Ellis and point guard Brandon Jennings put up a combined 39.2 points per game, the most of any backcourt in the league.
On the other hand, adding Ellis meant adding one of the highest usage rates in the NBA — he needed the ball in his hands a lot. With two similar scoring guards in the same backcourt, the risk was as high as the reward.
It was a new, riskier look for the Bucks. But through just 21 games with Ellis and Jennings on the same court, a 12-9 record left some questions unanswered. Are Ellis and Jennings good enough to carry a stagnant franchise? Will the Bucks re-sign Jennings when his rookie contract is up?
For the first time in a year, Milwaukee will actually have time to answer that question.
"Considering the circumstances (in the shortened season), they played really well together," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said at the end of April. "I'm pleased with that. … Some more time together, a real training camp, eight exhibition games, different lineups, they can't help but get better together, I think."
In the 21 games they spent together, the Bucks scoring improved—they finished fifth in the league — as well as their assist numbers — they finished third in the league. It was enough to think, at least, that maybe this pair might actually be able to coexist.
"The last couple of weeks we really got a feel for one another where we can really get each other shots and make each other better," Ellis said. "So next year, coming into training camp, it'll be much easier because we'll pretty much know each other and can get gelling."
Coexisting means, first and foremost, that Jennings will have to become stronger without the ball in his hands. He'll have to improve his shot selection and his mid-range shot. And he'll have to mentally prepare himself to not necessarily be the biggest act in town.
Jennings also mentioned the importance of taking on a leadership role, something that the point guard has been waiting on since his rookie season, when Kurt Thomas had prophesized the day he needed to take the reins of the offense.
"I think I have to (step up)," Jennings said. "There's no choice. … As far as being the point guard, it's going to be important for me to take on that leadership role."
And for Ellis, he'll need to learn how to be the efficient scorer he was in Golden State. He's a 20-point-per-game kind of guy, but he'll still have to sometimes defer to Jennings.
But Jennings doesn't think that'll be too much of an adjustment.
"We'll be able to work out great," Jennings said. "He's a scorer. I'm a scorer. But we just feed off of each other. … Everybody said Monta isn't a willing passer, but he is. He passes better than any other guard in the league."
There will be plenty of adjustments in Milwaukee before next season begins. A big-time center in June's draft would give the guard combo an option in the post it didn't have last year, ceding some of the pressure. Re-signing forward Ersan Ilyasova would certainly help Ellis and Jennings when it comes to driving and kicking the ball out to the perimeter.
But for now, the core of Milwaukee's offense rests on the shoulders of Ellis and Jennings. And although that identity might be tweaked in the coming months, this summer will be all about the Bucks' two stars and their coexistence.
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