Bucks to sign center Gadzuric to long-term contract

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks are spending the big bucks this summer.

Dan Gadzuric's agent said the 6-foot-11 center will sign a six-year, $36 million contract to stay with the Bucks once the league-wide moratorium on player movement ends later this month.

That means the Bucks have committed some $200 million in player contracts since July 2.

"We think Milwaukee's putting forth a winning team as evidenced by the spending," Gadzuric's agent, Bob Myers, told the Associated Press on Tuesday. "A lot of teams talk about going in that direction, but Milwaukee's putting their money where their mouth is."

The Bucks confirmed that they plan to sign Gadzuric.

After signing No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Bogut to a $26 million deal on July 2, the Bucks' spending spree began in earnest when they agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent Michael Redd for between $90 million and $96 million, pending final wording in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Then, they lured Los Angeles Clippers swingman Bobby Simmons, the league's reigning Most Improved Player, for $47 million over five years.

General manager Larry Harris, who also traded for Cleveland forward Jiri Welsch on draft day, isn't done. He has said he intends to re-sign restricted free agent Zaza Pachulia, as well.

New coach Terry Stotts will have a vastly improved roster than the one that went 30-52 last season and resulted in Terry Porter's dismissal.

Gadzuric averaged 7.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 22 minutes for the Bucks last season. He was selected by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2002 draft, with the 34th overall pick out of UCLA.

As a restricted free agent, he could have signed an offer sheet from another team, but it never got that far.

"He was happy staying in Milwaukee. We tried to make it happen and we were able to reach an agreement that works for both sides," Myers said. "The Bucks definitely have shown they're serious about winning right away."