So Long, Miles Plumlee

The Milwaukee Bucks made a move today, sending Miles Plumlee to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes. If you're a Bucks fan, nothing makes you happier than to see Plumlee gone from the team. Last season, he put up great numbers post-all star break and seemed to be fitting in with the young team well. GM John Hammond was so sure that they agreed on a 4 year, $50 million deal in the offseason. Miles had the starting job at the start of this season and to say the least - he's been nothing but disappointing. He was quickly removed from the starting lineup and is only averaging 8 minutes per game, while contributing 2.6 PPG and 1.7 RPG. Not the numbers you'd expect from a player making $12.5 million a year.

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Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

This trade is nothing but positive for the Bucks. Plumlee did not fit the chemistry of the team and to be honest, took up way too much of our cap space. First, let's talk about Roy Hibbert. Sure, he's not the player he once was but it's definitely a step up from Miles Plumlee. Hibbert brings a veteran presence to a team that needs more leadership, and who knows maybe a change of scenery is all a guy needs to get back to the form we all know he has. Now for Spencer Hawes, this is also a step up from Plumlee. Hawes has all the explosiveness and athleticism that Plumlee had around the basket but he brings a different dynamic with his ability to pop out and shoot the three. The Bucks will never hesitate to add more three point power to their lineup because that is a big thing they lack, especially without Khris Middleton.

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Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Obviously, bringing these two guys onto the team will not solve all of Milwaukee's problems. The Bucks are going through a very tough stretch right now, losing 9 of their last 10 games and dropping out of a playoff spot. The offense has lost a lot of its spark and the defense has just been horrendous, but Jason Kidd insists that this is just something you have to go through as a young team. As a Bucks fan, the past two years have been tough to watch but that "Own The Future" phrase gets us through the tough times because at the end of the day, you know the big three of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker and Khris Middleton will be a part of a contending team in the next couple years. The Bucks are just trying to find the right pieces to build around those three players. They have found two great young players in Thon Maker and Malcolm Brogdon, these two guys will be a part of this team for a long time.

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Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

There's a couple things to be concerned about after this trade. The Bucks now have five centers with Greg Monroe, John Henson, and Thon Maker. This leads me to believe that one of them will be traded at the deadline and personally I'm not ready to see any of those guys get traded. Greg Monroe has gotten back to his true self and is playing his best basketball as a member of the Bucks. John Henson has struggled as of late but is a talented kid with tremendous length, and there's no chance that the Bucks trade Maker. On the bright side, the Bucks will be able to give Jabari Parker a max contract like they did with Giannis in the past offseason, and he deserves it. You know they will take the first chance they get to lock up Jabari with a big contract. It's been another frustrating season for the Bucks to this point, but this trade brings new hope and energy to the team. Being a Bucks fan, there's a lot to be excited about for the second half of the season with these two new players getting comfortable and the return of Khris Middleton.

Second Half Projected Starting Lineup: PG - Dellavedova SG - Middleton SF - Antetokounmpo PF - Parker C - Hibbert