Obviously not a complete bust, we did get Tracy, now they are just going to have to hope injuries don't hit them, and those two are going to have to bust their butts even more than Yao/Francis did last season, because the West is even tougher.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/buck/aug04/248492.asp (also note Damon Jones note) Bucks very close to locking up James Former Pistons guard reminiscent of Porter By CHARLES F. GARDNER cgardner@journalsentinel.com Posted: Aug. 3, 2004 Unrestricted free agent guard Mike James will be introduced as the newest member of the Milwaukee Bucks later this week, once some procedural matters are concluded with the National Basketball Association. The 6-foot-2, 188-pound James might remind Bucks fans of a former NBA point guard with similar size and shooting ability: current Bucks coach Terry Porter. "He talked with Terry, and that was a big thing for Mike," said James' agent, Doug Neustadt. "Mike is very defensive-oriented and can shoot the three, much like Terry did in his career. I think he (James) sees some similarities there." James will share duties with second-year player T.J. Ford at point guard, although it's uncertain how much playing time Ford will be able to handle early in the season as he makes a comeback from spinal cord surgery. When James was with the Boston Celtics last season, he started all 55 games he played and averaged 30.6 minutes per game. The former Duquesne University player shot 42%, including 38% from three-point distance (86 for 226), and averaged 10.7 points and 4.4 assists while with Boston. In late February, James was included in a three-team deal that sent him to Detroit, and he played a key reserve role while picking up an NBA title ring with the Pistons. He averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 assists in 26 regular-season games with Detroit, then averaged 2.6 points in 22 playoff games. "When you look at his year, he went from being a 30-minute starter in Boston to being a backup in Detroit," Neustadt said. "He liked his experience in Detroit, and he got a ring. "But he knows Milwaukee is a team on the rise, and he is friends with Michael Redd. He sees that the Bucks were able to go into the playoffs and give Detroit a very tough time." Contract details have not been disclosed but James will sign a multi-year deal with Milwaukee. The deal is expected to account for at least $3 million of the team's $4.9 million mid-level exception for the 2004-'05 season, according to sources. Neustadt said he expected the contract to be finalized in the next two days. In mid-July, the Bucks made a six-year, $36 million offer to restricted free agent center Etan Thomas of the Washington Wizards. But the Wizards matched the offer sheet last week and retained Thomas' services. Under NBA regulations regarding such contracts, Thomas was required to undergo a physical and Washington was allowed a five-day period to report those results to the league office. Until the report is on file, the Bucks are not able to sign another free agent. "He's looking forward to being a Buck," Neustadt said of the 29-year-old James, a native of Amityville, N.Y. "I like the fact Milwaukee has been interested in Mike from Day 1. This is a guy they liked from the beginning." The addition of James means the Bucks will not re-sign point guard Damon Jones, who had his best NBA season last year in Milwaukee. Jones has sparked interest from Miami, Houston and Seattle but has not yet signed with a new club. He posted a 4.64-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio with the Bucks, second-best in the NBA. James went undrafted out of Duquesne and began his professional career in Austria in 1998-'99, and he finally got a break with an NBA team when he signed with Miami in 2001. He appeared in 15 games for the Heat in 2001-'02, all off the bench, and played in 78 games with Miami the next season, averaging 7.8 points and 3.2 assists. He signed with Boston as a free agent before last season. "His on-ball defense is good; he'll pick up a guy from 94 feet," Neustadt said. "His size is good, he's a strong, powerful guy and he can even defend a two-guard if necessary. I think it's a good fit."
