Overall, this column wasn't completely and totally worthless.
Especially for the average fan, I suppose.
There is one part that I really took issue with, though.
Again, prove it, but already the new general manager has given the Bucks what they haven’t had in years — near-future cap flexibility — by somehow making Simmons and Williams go away.
Naturally, seeing the above is something that would bug me.
What the hell is Hunt talking about?
Does he mean that we can easily have space below the salary cap next off season?
No, that can't be it, because it isn't true. Then again, that could very well be what he meant. Whether or not something is true or accurate seems of little concern over at the MJS.
What's stranger is to add in the "what they haven't had in years" part. Again, an odd thing to say. Especially when mentioning Simmons. The reason Simmons was even here was because the Bucks DID have cap space in the 2005 offseason. Hunt makes it sound like he's talking about 5+ years ago with his "in years" comment, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and not count the 2005 offseason.
How about the 2007 offseason? Another season where we once again DID have cap space. Considering he also mentioned Williams, who we signed to his current contract during that offseason, you would think he would have mentioned that.
Did making the Mo Williams trade give us more payroll flexibility? Regardless of any attempts at having cap space, absolutely. The Simmons trade didn't really do the same thing at all though. Kind of the opposite, in a way. Part of the reason the Nets were willing to do that trade was because of the financial savings from THEIR end and the payroll flexibility it provided THEM in their quest to have cap space in the 2010 offseason.
In that Jefferson trade, the Bucks took on $42.6 mil in salary over 3 years for ONE player (3 years of Jefferson if he decides not to be a free agent after that 2nd year) and sent out $30.7 mil over that same period for TWO players (3 years of Yi and 2 years of Simmons).
Basically the opposite of what Hunt said.
Either way, saying "what they haven't had in years" makes no sense. I'm a fan of current Bucks GM John Hammond, but that assigns way too much credit to current Bucks GM John Hammond by setting up a fictitious comparison.