Thon Maker, D.J. Wilson healthy scratches for opener
CHARLOTTE - Every NBA coach hopes to enter the season with all of his players healthy. That's what Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer got, as all 15 guys on full-season, NBA contracts were medically cleared for action coming out of training camp.
The challenge, then, is figuring out which two to leave off the active roster each night. While NBA rosters can feature up to 15 players – not counting players on two-way contracts – only 13 can be active for any given game.
Budenholzer decided Wednesday for the team's opener against the Charlotte Hornets that forward Thon Maker and D.J. Wilson – two of Milwaukee's last three first-round draft picks – would be the ones taking a seat. Each of them dealt with injuries during training camp, with Maker missing three preseason games due to left knee soreness and Wilson missing nearly all of camp with a right hamstring strain.
Even though both are healthy now, those injuries played a major role in Budenholzer's decision.
BOX SCORE:Bucks 113, Hornets 112
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"It’s tough for both those guys," Budenholzer said. "They’re both really good players. Figuring out who is going to be on the inactive (list) every night is not going to be easy. They’ve both had kind of nagging things that kept them out of quite a bit of practice time and preseason games and so I think it’s just the best place for them and the best place for our group.”
Jaylen Morris, one of the Bucks' two-way players, is with the team but is also inactive. The G League season has not started, which means Morris' days with the team do not count against the 45 days two-way players are allowed. Trevon Duval (left eye injury) is not with the Bucks in Charlotte.
Regifting, NBA style: The Bucks traded for Jodie Meeks on Monday, which involved sending a highly-protected second-round pick to the Washington Wizards and getting a future second-round pick in return.
Here's the kicker – the Bucks sent the Wizards their own pick.
Milwaukee already owned Washington's 2020 second-round pick, though it was top-55 protected, meaning the Bucks would only get it if the Wizards were slotted to pick 56th to 60th. As part of Monday's trade, the Bucks sent that pick back to the Wizards and instead got a better slot for 2020. Now, the Bucks will get the Wizards' second-round pick if it is between 31 and 45. If it's not in that range, Milwaukee will get Washington's 2022 second-round pick with no protections attached.
The details of the picks were first reported by Fred Katz of The Athletic and confirmed to the Journal Sentinel.
Old friends squaring off: Wednesday's game featured a pair of former San Antonio Spurs video coordinators patrolling the sidelines. Budenholzer, who had that role first, squared off against one of his best friends, Hornets coach James Borrego, who joined the Spurs later. The two worked together in San Antonio from 2003-'10.
“Hard to put into words, to be honest with you," Budenholzer said when asked about being on the opposing bench for Borrego's first regular-season game as a head coach. "So many hours with him in the film room, so much time. One of my favorite people. … He’s amazing. He’s just a great guy, a great coach."
For Borrego, the feeling is mutual.
"He’s someone that I admire, I love," Borrego said. "Great friendship. He’s a major reason why I’m standing here today as a head coach. He pushed me, he helped me grow, took me in, really set the tone for me when I got to the NBA. … We’re going to hug it out, smile tonight and then go at it. It should be fun.”
The film room in San Antonio has been a proving ground for many coaches under Gregg Popovich. For Budenholzer and Borrego, that's where their friendship started and where they became who they are today.
“I without a doubt don’t think I’d be standing here in a scrum as a head coach in the NBA if I hadn’t spent two years in the video room. It trains you in so many ways," Budenholzer said.
“You’re nervous the whole time. We all joke that’s the hottest seat in the building. Nobody understands how much pressure is on the video guy. If someone screws up, you catch it. You try and get good quick and then you’re still nervous until the day you’re not the video coordinator.”