The Milwaukee Bucks may have seen something in reserve forward John Henson that they couldn't afford to lose, so the team decided to secure his services for at least the next four years.
For how much? $45 million.
Now, that seems to be a lot of money for someone who regularly comes off the bench. But then again, Jason Kidd could be on to something we don't know.
Henson has not been a familiar fixture in the offensive end but has proven his worth on the other side. Henson put up 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds last year to go with two blocks, hardly big numbers for someone to get that kind of money.
But the secret is that Henson has been a vital cog in the defensive end, which apparently needs due attention. Besides, the Bucks are not short of offensive options.
Jabari Parker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, or even O.J. Mayo are there to provide the scoring sock so why not fill up the other positions with players who can contribute somewhere else? Henson can, apparently, give the intangibles, something sorely overlooked by teams who want to succeed.
Lest we forget, there is the newest Buck on the block in Greg Monroe who boosts the frontline with his presence in the middle. Together both could account for a pretty mean defensive tandem, making life easier for the trigger-happy offensive guards and wingmen of the Bucks.
That plus the fact that the 14th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft does, of course, rev up the role playing duties any team would love to have could be a prime reason.
Some would say $45 million could be a wee bit too much but for someone who has been around and contributed quietly, the Bucks seem to have faith and believe in Henson that many are not actually seeing.
Maybe his value can be realized this coming season? You never know.
