On what has been a joyous day for the Milwaukee Bucks, the latest news seems determined to add just a little bit of sadness into the mix. Veteran fan favorite Jared Dudley has been traded to the Washington Wizards, according to reports.

Yeah, that’s right, the Grindfather is gone. The 29-year-old forward, a native of San Diego, played the role of Swiss Army knife for Milwaukee last year spending some time at every position bar point guard it seemed, and in his own personable and exuberant manner he became one of the most popular players on the roster.

ESPN’s Marc Stein (who seems to have the inside track on the Bucks more often than not) was first to break the news, before it would then go on to be fleshed out with the help of many others.

ESPN sources say that the Washington Wizards are closing in on a trade for Milwaukee’s Jared Dudley. On course to be completed July 9 — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 2, 2015

Wizards are expected to take Dudley’s contract into a trade exception so it only costs them a future second-round pick to bring Dudley in — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 2, 2015

Pick changing hands in the Dudley trade will be highly protected first — so protected it’ll never be a first. So future second, in effect. — Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 2, 2015

Pick Wizards are sending Milwaukee extremely protected. Eventually likely a second rounder. Basically a free look at Dudley for the Wizards. — Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) July 2, 2015

So, in reality the Bucks have given up a highly serviceable role player, and maybe even more importantly, their locker room’s veteran leader for…next to nothing?

That doesn’t quite add up, and that has led to plenty of speculation straight off the bat.

Are the front office so high on Damien Inglis that they’re clearing roster space for him to earn more minutes?

Have the Bucks got more trades up their sleeves?

Does Milwaukee even have their eye on another free agent?

One thing I will say is that I’d hope the team can answer one of those three options in the affirmative, and with great conviction, to justify making this move.

The Bucks definitely got better today, and possibly even last week too, but that doesn’t mean they’d have no use for Dudley any more. In fact, it could have meant the complete opposite.

But … I mean … you see, there’s no limit to useful players. You can have as many as you’d like. https://t.co/40SYaRC0X8 — Steven von Horn (@StevevonHorn) July 2, 2015

It’ll be interesting to see how things unfold for the Bucks over the next couple of weeks.

As of now their roster still officially has five point guards on it, and now has four centers. In between that Milwaukee could potentially do with another quality backup wing option, and with the loss of Ersan Ilyasova and now Dudley, a productive backup power forward would likely not go amiss either.

Is this all part of the plan though? After the team’s biggest move of the day, for now I feel we should probably give the front office the benefit of the doubt.

As for Dudley, it seems like he’s being his usual, cheery, optimistic and jovial self in all of this.

I spoke to @JaredDudley619 about the rumor that he's being dealt to Wizards. It seems it'll happen. Here's his quote: pic.twitter.com/0vK1sGsRoI — Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 2, 2015

If this is goodbye, all the best, Duds. It was fun getting to know you.