Beno

Udrih

Udrih averaged 6.6 points per game — tops among all West rookies — and 3.0 assists in 14.5 minutes. He also shot 53.4 percent, including 50 percent from the 3-point line. He’s the No. 2 3-point shooter in the NBA at 47.8 percent. It will take a Tony Parker injury for Udrih to have fantasy value.

With Nick Van Exel retiring, the Spurs will need a backup for starter Tony Parker and Udrih seems like the logical choice. However, that doesn’t mean that the Spurs aren’t going to look at bringing in a veteran to challenge him for the job. Gregg Popovich is certainly not just handing the keys to Udrih. “Are we going to give the ball to Beno and say, ‘Go ahead, young man. It’s yours?’ or are we going to look around? What are we going to do?” We’ll find out this summer.

The Sixers are one team said to be interested. Udrih is currently slated to be Tony Parker’s backup in San Antonio, but the Sixers are said to be making a serious play for him.

Gooden is a semi-surprise here because he was expected to play, but given the opponent we shouldn’t be all that surprised, really. Owners will want to key in on Gooden’s ability to play during the upcoming four-game week as a real indicator of his value, noting that the Bucks have a three-game week after that. Ekpe Upoh will start and becomes a guy to watch very close and is a speculative stash. Mike Dunleavy is a lock to play big minutes, and one of Beno Udrih, Shaun Livingston, and Larry Sanders will likely surprise us tonight.

The Nets were the opposition tonight, so owners need to downgrade this performance a little bit, but there’s also a little bit to like about Beno. Brandon Jennings is available “for the right price,” which could mean anything this time of the year, and the Bucks appear to be trending toward unloading players rather than bringing them on. Surely the Bucks know they’re redundant at PG, too, and owners will want to watch Beno closely as we approach the deadline.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute played just 10 minutes, but Scott Skiles went with a small lineup, utilizing Mike Dunleavy for 22 minutes tonight, along with Beno Udrih who played 19 minutes and put up 15 points, four assists, four steals and a 3-pointer. Carlos Delfino was also hot and had a big night, as Skiles gave 10 Bucks solid run tonight, and Ilyasova felt the pinch. Don’t drop him just yet, but look for his stats to take a nose dive now that the Bucks are at full strength. It’s hard to argue with what Skiles is doing right now, as the Bucks have won six straight games.

Scott Skiles used him in tonight’s blowout, but you have to think once the Bucks cool off (winners of six straight), Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings will play heavy minutes and leave Udrih glued to the bench.

There’s been no word on his status for Thursday’s finale, but we’d be shocked if he played in such a meaningless game. Shaun Livingston will start at SG, with Mike Dunleavy and Beno Udrih gaining from the absence of both Ellis and Carlos Delfino.

He also had a steal and a three on the night, and should see nice minutes again in Thursday’s finale, as the Bucks are down to eight healthy players.

This is a rather obvious decision for Udrih and shouldn’t come as a surprise. There was no way Udrih was going to sniff anywhere near $7 million on the open market this season, so he’s ensuring a solid pay day for himself next year.