The Bucks start here

Amid swirling rumors and megabuck trades with the start of free agency, one team has made great strides and is slowly building a long-term contender. The Milwaukee Bucks, one of the NBA’s young and rising teams, recently snagged talented center Greg Monroe in a 3-year, $50 million deal.

Monroe reportedly spurned big market teams such as the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers to join the Bucks in a bid to reach his first playoffs in his five-year career. He has never reached the playoffs since he started playing for the Detroit Pistons back in 2010. Monroe is a prototypical big man and has averaged at least 15 points and 9 rebounds the past 4 seasons and averaged career bests in scoring and rebounding last season.