For yet another season, Milwaukee general manager John Hammond is attempting to buck the trend, fight the system, and beat city hall, or in basketball terms, lead the Bucks to the playoffs with a roster full of draft picks, prospects from other clubs, and players acquired in trades.

Milwaukee is generally not on the list of many top free agents. It is not a destination location for a player in his prime looking to cash in on previous success and live a lavish lifestyle. The Bucks are a prime example of a smaller-market team, a place from which players look to depart for Miami, New York, or Los Angeles. They tend not to go there.