9 Milwaukee Bucks

When point guard Mo Williams learned this summer that the Bucks had traded T.J. Ford to the Raptors, he wasn't as excited about inheriting Ford's starting job as you might think. "It was definitely a case of mixed emotions," says Williams. "T.J. and I are best friends. But after a while we realized it was for the best. T.J.'s happy in Toronto, and I love Milwaukee."

Last season Williams, a 6'1" fourth-year pro out of Alabama, dazzled off the bench as a shoot-first point guard, scoring more than 20 points seven times and winning two games with buzzer-beaters. At the All-Star break he was a leading candidate for the Sixth Man Award, and he might have won had he not been hobbled by a foot injury in the second half of the season.

Milwaukee had enough confidence in Williams to trade Ford for a young power forward, 6'10" Charlie Villanueva. "Mo is a dynamic player," Bucks shooting guard Michael Redd says. "I know everybody talks about T.J. and how fast he is, but Mo likes to push it too. He's underrated in that regard."

Williams might be one of the NBA's most underrated players, period. Two years ago, with Ford sidelined, he averaged 10.2 points and 6.1 assists in 80 games. He has a quick first step and a reliable shot, but he needs to improve as a floor general. Williams spent the summer watching film of Chauncey Billups and Steve Nash, among others, to get a feel for how they control the game.

"I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason," says Williams. "I guess you could say this is my time. Now I just have to go out and prove it."

Projected Starting Lineup with 2005--06 statistics

Record: 40--42 (8th in East)
Points scored: 97.8 (T13 in NBA)
Points allowed: 98.8 (19th)
Coach: Terry Stotts
(second season with the Bucks)

Andrew Bogut

POS. C
PPG 9.4
RPG 7.0
APG 2.3
BPG 0.83
SPG 0.60
FG% 53.3
FT% 62.9

Charlie Villanueva