Well, it looks like the Bucks could not find a taker for Bruce Bowen.  He was released Friday along with Salim Stoudamire.  Bowen arrived as part of the Richard Jefferson deal that brought on Amir Johnson and Stoudamire signed late last year as a prospective trade throw-in or summer league surprise.  He filled neither role as his salary never came into play and he never made it onto the court in Las Vegas.

The moves save the Bucks a combined amount of roughly $3 million.  Bowen had only half of his $4 million contract guaranteed while none of Stoudamire’s $884,881 was guaranteed.

Young, athletic and cheap is not only the title of this post, but apparently John Hammond’s mantra for this off-season.

Charles F. Gardner is reporting the Bucks have finalized a deal with Hakim Warrick.  Marc Stein reported much earlier in the day that the Bucks were one of three teams with interest in the fifth year man out of Syracuse and it appears they were more interested than the other two teams.

If all goes through and Warrick (27…so not quite THAT young) does become a Buck in the next few days that will leave them with some options at the power forward spot.  Warrick, Ersan Ilyasova and Amir Johnson were all acquired this summer and all come with equal parts intrigue and danger.  Any time a player has his rights renounced by his former team, you’ve always got to be a little weary of that.  I said earlier today that it was likely a matter of flexibility and not so much that the Grizzilies didn’t think Warrick could play, but it still raises an eyebrow or two.  Much like how the Bucks didn’t feel Charlie Villanueva warranted a qualifying offer.  It wasn’t that the Bucks thought Villanueva wasn’t good, they just didn’t think he’d work in their salary structure given what he brought to the table as a player.  (more…)