You can add former North Carolina starJohn Hensonto the list of NBA players getting paid. According to reports fromMarc Stein of ESPN, the Milwaukee Bucks have signed their power forward to a four year forty-four million dollar extension. That means that Henson is due to almost make as much money as Hornets guardKemba Walkerin the near term. Henson is due to make just under three million this year on the last year of his rookie deal.
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The Milwaukee Bucks were a surprise playoff team last year and they spent some big money to keep the team together and add to it in the off season. They re-signedKhris Middletonfor just under $15 million a year. They went and signed max free agentGreg Monroeto almost $17 million a season as well. Remember that they are essentially adding last year’s first rounderJabari Parkertoo, and you have a team that is trying to keep a winning formula and be better in the future.
Henson is part of that long term plan, so they locked him down. Henson’s extension does not kick in until next season when the League’s salary cap rises, so it should not be a big financial hit to the Bucks as they also look at extendingMichael Carter-Williamsor Giannis Antetokoumpo in the near future as well.
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The acquisition of Greg Monroe has made Henson more valuable. While Monroe is a scorer, he is not known as a real defender. Henson can serve as the rim protector and security blanket for Monroe on defense, and let Monroe provide the offense on the other end.
While the Bucks may experiment with lineups that put Jabari Parker at the four, they will have to realize the defensive liability of pairing Parker and Monroe. Antetokoumpo cannot be everywhere to save the defensive bacon. Even if the Bucks do try this, Henson can fit neatly as the third post. His game can fit both Monroe and the more perimeter oriented Parker.
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