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The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired guard/forward Bruce Bowen, forward/center Kurt Thomas and forward Amir Johnson in a three-team trade with San Antonio and Detroit, General Manager John Hammond announced today. As part of the deal, the Bucks send forward Richard Jefferson to San Antonio, while the Spurs trade Fabricio Oberto to Detroit.
“The trade we made today provides us with much needed options in both the short and long-term planning for our franchise,” said Hammond. “We acquired a young, long, athletic forward in Amir Johnson, along with two proven, tough-minded veterans in Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas. The trade also provides us with additional opportunities, both now and in the future, to consider adding more pieces to our roster.”
Bowen (6-7, 200) spent the past eight seasons with the Spurs. He appeared in 80 games for San Antonio last season, averaging 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 19.0 minutes per game. It was his seventh consecutive season of playing in at least 80 games and the eighth of his career. The 38-year-old has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team eight times. He went undrafted out of Cal State Fullerton and spent time in France and the CBA before signing with the Miami Heat during the 1996-97 season. He has also spent time with Boston and Philadelphia and owns NBA career averages of 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists over 873 total games.
Thomas (6-9, 240) comes to Milwaukee having played for six teams over 14 NBA seasons. Last season, he appeared in 79 games (10 starts) for San Antonio and averaged 4.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.8 minutes. Thomas, 36, was originally drafted by the Miami Heat with the 10th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. He has played in 896 career NBA games with Miami, Dallas, New York, Phoenix, Seattle and San Antonio, and owns career averages of 9.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He has appeared in 77 playoff games, including 20 during New York’s run to the NBA Finals in 1999.
Johnson (6-9, 210) was selected by Detroit in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft (56th overall) out of Westchester High School (CA). Last season, the 22-year old, four-year pro appeared in 62 games with a career-best 24 starts. He averaged 3.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in a career-high 14.7 minutes per game, while leading the Pistons in field goal percentage (.595). In 135 career games, Johnson has averaged 3.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots in 13.6 minutes per game.
“Richard was a true professional during his time in Milwaukee,” Hammond remarked. “He came ready to practice and play every day and always gave it his best effort. We wish him well in San Antonio.”
Jefferson (6-7, 225) started in all 82 games during his lone season in Milwaukee. He averaged 19.6 points (T-22nd in the NBA), 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting .439 from the field and .397 from three-point range. He led the Bucks in scoring a team-best 35 times, including seven games of 30 or more. He also scored the 10,000th point of his NBA career on April 4 against Memphis. The 29-year-old Jefferson came to Milwaukee following seven seasons with the New Jersey Nets. The Arizona product was originally drafted after his junior season by the Houston Rockets (13th overall) in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft.
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