Hooped Up

You know the NBA is a players league when a 10-year journeyman guard like Damon Jones, can refuse to join a NBA team that actually wants him.  Damon Jones already has 10 jersey in his closet  and is not afraid to try for an eleventh, refusing to join the Milwaukee Bucks according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

Then again, Rafael Araújo is in training camp with the Minnesota Timberwolves and his major skill is the ability to chew gum and get bad tattoos.

Jones was acquired in the deal that had Milwaukee also received guard-forward Adrian Griffin and guard Luke Ridnour from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Cavaliers got guard Mo Williams from the Bucks, and Oklahoma City acquired forwards Joe Smith and Desmond Mason from Milwaukee.

Andrew Bogut, limping heavily toward Australia’s locker room, said he feared the worst. “I think it’s a ligament,” Bogut said. Halfway around the world, the Milwaukee Bucks were holding their collective breath. Bogut was to undergo an MRI today to determine the severity of an ankle injury he suffered during Australia’s 116-85 loss to the United States in the men’s basketball quarterfinals at the Olympic Games on Wednesday night.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

The Cleveland Cavaliers landed some offensive help for LeBron James in the backcourt on Wednesday, as they picked up point guard Mo Williams in a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City.

The Cavs acquired Williams while parting ways with guard Damon Jones and forward Joe Smith.

Jones will land in Milwaukee, along with former Oklahoma City point guard Luke Ridnour and swingman Adrian Griffin. Oklahoma City will receive Smith and Bucks forward Desmond Mason.

A five-year veteran, Williams averaged 17.2 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game for the Bucks last season. A second-round pick by the Utah Jazz out of Alabama in 2003, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Williams has five years and $43 million left on a contract he signed last summer with Milwaukee after posting similar numbers in the 2006-07 season — 17.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Seattle Post Intelligencer

Unless Brett Farve decided he wants to stay in Wisconsin and play center for the Bucks. Francisco Elson could be on his way to the Milwaukee according to reports.

Francisco Elson could move into the backup center role behind Andrew Bogut, if a deal can be struck between the Bucks and the 7-foot native of the Netherlands. Sources said the Bucks are considering a potential two-year deal with Elson, who split time last season with the San Antonio Spurs and Seattle SuperSonics.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

The Bucks are making a serious commitment to center Andrew Bogut, who will sign a five-year extension with salary and bonuses worth up to $72.5 million, according to agent David Bauman. Today is the first day for NBA free agents and players seeking extensions to sign contracts. The extension does not affect the $6.9 million he is owed for the coming season, the final year of his rookie contract. Sources indicated the guaranteed money in the extension is $60 million.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 

Derrick Rose is going home, and a record crowd of freshmen are following him to the NBA. The Chicago Bulls selected Rose, who grew up on the city’s South Side, with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft Thursday night, choosing the Memphis guard over Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.  Below are the rest of the NBA draft results.

Round 1 NBA Draft Results

Second round results after the jump Read the rest of this entry »

The New Jersey Nets decided to part ways with the second-leading scorer in franchise history, dealing Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee hours before last night’s draft for forwards Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.

“We certainly gave up a good player, but to get a good player you have to give up a good player. With Yi, we feel his upside is very up,” Nets president Rod Thorn said. “We feel strongly he’s going to be a real good player for us.”

No draft picks were swapped in the trade.

Boston Herald

Kelvin Sampson has many lives indeed!

Kelvin Sampson wants to restore his reputation and continue his career, and hopes he took a step in that direction by accepting a job as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.

But Sampson will pass on the chance to explain his version of a messy divorce with Indiana University until after an NCAA hearing in mid-June.

“More will come out, and I’ll be more than happy to talk after that,” Sampson said.

SI

If the Bucks trade Redd, that would be pretty stupid.  Buy hey, that’s why the Bucks haven’t won anything in forever!

In the last week, several officials from both the Eastern and Western Conferences acknowledged the Bucks have been gauging the interest other teams may have in some of their players. The most notable one is All-Star shooting guard Michael Redd. Redd is unquestionably the Bucks’ best player, the one who would bring back the most in a trade. However, while Redd is one of the most prolific scorers in the league, some teams are reluctant to take on his sizable contract. Redd will make $15.78 million and $17.04M over the next two years, respectively.

What’s more, Redd has a player option for $18.30M for the 2010-2011 season. Besides Redd, Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva is drawing more than a passing interest from other teams. Several teams are intrigued with Villanueva’s potential, especially considering he is only 23.

Racine Journal Times