04-13-2008, 06:49 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,786
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Hammond meets the press
Quote:
New Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond stepped into a challenging job Saturday, and he mixed optimism with realism in assessing his duties.
"One goal only is to get this thing to where it needs to be," Hammond said in a news conference at the Bradley Center before the Bucks met the New Jersey Nets. "If we can put a good quality product on the floor, we'll get that next step, we'll become great. But we have to become competitive again first."
Hammond agreed to a five-year contract to lead the Bucks after intense discussions in Washington on Tuesday and Thursday with team owner Herb Kohl and other Bucks officials. The 53-year-old Hammond was introduced Saturday along with his wife, Marsha, and 17-year-old daughter, Lauryn.
Kohl said his new general manager would be given "responsibility and credit" for the daily operations of the Bucks franchise, and the owner pledged his full support and cooperation.
"Guys, I had a great job," Hammond told reporters in referring to his position as vice president of basketball operations with the Detroit Pistons. "I was with a great team, and I was working for a great guy (Pistons President Joe Dumars). I'm here because I think I'm going to have the freedom to do this; otherwise I wouldn't be sitting here, mark my words."
Hammond said he was ready to "roll up his sleeves" to tackle the job of rebuilding the Bucks.
Known for his organizational skills, the native of Zion, Ill., said he would establish a strong front-office structure while also making an evaluation of the coaching staff and roster.
"I don't want to play stupid and act like I'm going to start evaluating today," Hammond said. "I know this team; this is a team that is in my division.
"We're going to come up with more definitive answers (in the) post-season. At a certain point we'll make that decision (on a coach) and we'll live with it."
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New Bucks GM frank about job awaiting him
There's a lso a link to the audio of the whole press conference on the page of the story. And it's fitting that the Bucks lost last night.
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Hammond meets the press
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