Bucks will pick up team option on Delfino

Bucks general manager John Hammond confirmed Tuesday that forward Carlos Delfino will be returning for a third season with the team.

The Bucks have a $3.5 million team option on Delfino for the 2011-'12 season. The Argentine forward averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 49 games with the Bucks last season and made 40 starts.

"Carlos, from Day One that he arrived with the Milwaukee Bucks has played heavy minutes for us as a starter," Hammond said after a season briefing for reporters at the Bradley Center. "He was a starter on a team that won 46 games last year and was a starter again this year.

"He had the unfortunate injury but came back and I thought he played well when he was on the floor."

"Carlos has to continue to shoot the ball well and shoot even more consistently," Hammond said. "Most of all, and we've talked to Carlos about this, we need him to get to the free throw line more effectively than he is."

"He's a quality defender and a quality rebounder at the small forward position," Hammond said.