The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired forward Corey Maggette (6-6, 225) and a 2010 second round draft pick (44th overall) from the Golden State Warriors for guard Charlie Bell and center Dan Gadzuric, General Manager John Hammond announced today. The Bucks now have four draft choices in Thursday’s 2010 NBA Draft including one in the first round (15th overall – from Chicago) and three second round selections (37th overall – from Philadelphia, 44th overall from Golden State via Portland and Chicago, and 47th overall).
An 11-year NBA veteran, Maggette averaged 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 70 games for Golden State last season. He ranked 17th in the NBA in scoring average and 19th in field goal percentage (.516), while holding the distinction of owning the league’s highest scoring average for a player who logged fewer than 30.0 minutes per game (29.7 mpg). Maggette was one of seven NBA players to average at least 19.0 points and shoot at least 50 percent from the field, and one of five NBA players to average double figures in scoring, shoot 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line. His 7.9 free throw attempts per game ranked 7th in the NBA last season.
“Corey has been a consistent scorer throughout his career,” said Hammond. “He shoots a solid percentage from the field and has shown the ability to get to the free throw line. We’re looking forward to having him in a Bucks uniform.”
A native of Melrose Park, IL, Maggette, 30, was originally drafted by Seattle (Oklahoma City Thunder) in the first round (13th overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft and traded on draft night to Orlando along with Dale Ellis, Don MacLean and Billy Owens for Horace Grant and two future second round draft picks. Following his rookie campaign with the Magic, Maggette was sent to the L.A. Clippers with Derek Strong, the draft rights to Keyon Dooling and future considerations for a future first round draft pick. After eight seasons with the Clippers, Maggette signed as an unrestricted free agent with Golden State prior to the 2008-09 season. In 710 career NBA games, Maggette has averaged 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting .458 from the field and .821 from the free throw line.
Gadzuric (6-11, 245) appeared in 32 games for the Bucks last season and averaged 2.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. Selected by Milwaukee with the 34th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Gadzuric, 32, has played in 483 games for the Bucks over his eight-year NBA career with averages of 4.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He ranks 8th all-time in franchise history in blocked shots (418).
Bell (6-3, 200) played in 71 games for Milwaukee last season and averaged 6.5 points, 1.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game. In five seasons with the Bucks, Bell averaged 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 350 games. He ranks 4th in team history in three-point field goals made with 432. Bell, 31, began his NBA career with Phoenix and Dallas during the 2001-02 season. He played in the Italian League from 2001-04 and led the league in scoring (25.5 ppg) for Virtus Kinder Bologna in 2003-04. He played for Breogan in the Spanish League during the 2004-05 season and was named to the First Team with averages of 27.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:
The Bucks completed a trade late Tuesday afternoon to acquire forward Corey Maggette from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for guard Charlie Bell and center Dan Gadzuric, according to basketball sources.
Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times blog reports:
The Warriors get rid of one of their biggest contracts (3 years, $31 million), which aids in their bid to add a difference-maker this offseason.
The Warriors now have two expiring contracts worth more than $13 million in Gadzuric and Vladimir Radmanovic.