<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Milwaukee Bucks, having already scored the No. 1 pick in next week's draft, decided Wednesday to thrust themselves into the NBA coaching sweepstakes by firing Terry Porter. The Bucks, according to NBA front-office sources, made the unexpected move in hopes of attracting Flip Saunders or Nate McMillan -- or a similarly experienced coach -- to Milwaukee. Another motivation, sources said, was giving Porter the chance to make a run at the Portland job. The Trail Blazers, who drafted Porter out of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1985, still have an opening. Porter was entering the final season of a three-year contract with the Bucks but with no extension offer on the table. Although they're not alone in chasing Saunders and McMillan -- Detroit has interest in both should Larry Brown leave the Pistons' bench as expected -- Milwaukee's situation could tempt a veteran. Besides the No. 1 pick it surprisingly won in last month's lottery, setting up a choice between Utah's Andrew Bogut and North Carolina's Marvin Williams, Milwaukee is expected to re-sign shooting guard Michael Redd this summer and still have considerable leftover salary-cap room for roster upgrades. The Bucks are also cautiously optimistic that point guard T.J. Ford will be back next season after sitting out the 2004-05 season with a back injury.</div> Source
