The Bucks traded 2 of their top-3 players in 1984 (Marques Johnson and Junior Bridgeman), right after playing in their second straight ECF, to the Clippers for young star Terry Cummings, plus two other players who became important later. According to this LA Times article, the move was made because a) Johnson was a star whose contract was rapidly escalating and Milwaukee couldn't afford to keep him as a small-market club, and b) they had wanted a PF for years, and they really needed a strong rebounder with starting center Bob Lanier retiring that summer.
The other thing that stands out in the article is the sentiment that Cummings was strong and talented, but he was just learning how to play the game, having more or less "coasted on talent" his first few years with the Clippers. I'm curious how he may have evolved as a player while in Milwaukee. Nothing really changed in his stats that one might associate with him learning how to play the game with more nuance and hoops IQ (assists, turnovers, and shooting %'s all stayed about the same, plus he wasn't fouling less or getting to the FT line more), but obviously those are just stats.
Any thoughts on Terry Cummings' importance to the Bucks during his 5 seasons with the team, particularly in relation to any improvements he may have made or not while in Milwaukee?
by WinesburgOhio
