Brian Skinner is happy to be back with the Bucks for two reasons. For starters, the 30-year-old power forward enjoyed his first stay in Milwaukee. "I love it. I played here before (and) like the city, love the fans. I'm comfortable here. I'm looking forward to it," Skinner told reporters Monday afternoon at the Bucks Training Center in St. Francis. He was acquired by the Bucks from Portland a week ago in the Jamaal Magloire trade.

In addition, Skinner is pleased to be leaving behind a messy situation in Portland. "When you have players that just don't care, that's contagious. Just like wildfire. It's time to move on," Skinner said.

Skinner averaged a career-high 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game with the Bucks in the 2003-'04 season. This time around, he will be counted on to provide depth on the front line behind Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva. "I've seen them play. (They are) very talented. (They are) young, but very talented. I'm looking forward to having them as teammates. Hopefully, I'll help them get better and they'll make me better. I'm hoping to be able to teach other players, not always verbally, but by example."

Skinner isn't worried about his role. He'll likely see minutes off the bench at both power forward and center. "I can play both positions and I'm comfortable playing both. You gotta go out and earn it. Nothing is free. If you want it, you gotta take it. Expectations lead to failure and disappointment. I just want to help this team win. I can give them what they need."

Skinner returns to a vastly different Bucks team than he left. Terry Porter was Skinner's coach in 2003-'04 and Terry Stotts is now in charge. Only Michael Redd, Joe Smith and Dan Gadzuric remain from that Bucks' team.

Having spent eight seasons in the NBA with the Clippers, Cavaliers, Sixers (twice), Kings, Blazers and Bucks (twice), you can understand why Skinner lives in the present. "This league is built on politics," he said. "You're not promised next week or the next game."

I guess that means he may be renting and not buying.

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