Milwaukee Bucks Blog – Page 55 – NBA Blog

Bucks sign rookie Larry Sanders

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed first round draft pick Larry Sanders to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Sanders, a 6-11, 235-pound forward, was the 15th overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Sanders played three seasons for Virginia Commonwealth University, and averaged 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per game while shooting 52.0 percent from the field over his college career. He was named the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore and a junior and helped the Rams compile a 75-27 record during his three years at VCU, including two regular season CAA titles and one postseason CAA crown.

As a junior, Sanders averaged career highs in points (14.4), rebounds (9.1) and field goal percentage (52.0) as he ranked among the top five in the CAA in those three categories, along with blocks (2.6 per game).

Sanders will play for the Bucks in the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The Bucks have a five-game schedule, which begins Monday, July 12, at 7 p.m. (CT) against Dallas.

Knicks acquire rights to Jerome Jordan from Bucks

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that the team has acquired the draft rights to center Jerome Jordan from Milwaukee in exchange for cash considerations. Jordan was selected by Milwaukee in the second round (44th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. He is expected to play for the team’s entry in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV. Per team policy, the financial terms were not disclosed.

Jordan, 7-0, 253-pounds, played four seasons at the University of Tulsa, averaging 11.3 points on .567 shooting from the field, and 7.4 rebounds and 2.50 blocks in 133 games (119 starts). He was selected to the Conference USA All-Defensive Team each of the last three seasons and earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors as a senior after averaging 15.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.34 blocks in 35 games (all starts). He is the only player in Conference USA history to record at least 800 rebounds and 300 blocks, and is the all-time Conference USA and Tulsa leader in blocked shots. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to the United States as a high school junior.

Bucks sign John Salmons and Drew Gooden

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard John Salmons (6-7, 210) and forward Drew Gooden (6-10, 250) to multi-year free agent contracts, General Manager John Hammond announced today. We’ll add contract details for both later today.

Last season, Salmons played in 30 games for the Bucks after a trade with Chicago on February 18. Salmons helped Milwaukee to a 22-8 record after the trade and averaged 19.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists over that span. In the seven-game first round Playoff series with Atlanta, Salmons averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and team-highs of 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

An eight-year NBA veteran, Salmons, 31, has played in 610 career games (247 starts) and owns career averages of 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He was drafted by San Antonio in the first round (26th overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft and traded to Philadelphia on draft night. Salmons spent four seasons (2002-06) with the 76ers before signing with Sacramento prior to the 2006-07 season. He appeared in 213 games for the Kings in two-plus seasons (2006-09) and was traded to Chicago mid-season where he helped lead the Bulls to the Playoffs.

Gooden, 29, averaged 10.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 70 games last season for Dallas (46 games) and the Los Angeles Clippers (24 games). In 33 starts (11 – Dallas, 22 – LAC) between the two clubs, he tallied 13.7 points and 10.1 rebounds in 30.3 minutes while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 91.8 percent from the free throw line.

The fourth overall pick by Memphis in the 2002 NBA Draft, Gooden has appeared in 580 games with 429 starts for eight NBA teams. He has averaged double figures in scoring in each of his eight NBA seasons and holds career averages of 11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Gooden has played in 44 postseason contests, including 20 in the 2007 Playoffs when the Cavaliers went to the NBA Finals.

Brandon Jennings discusses Corey Maggette

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

It didn’t escape Brandon Jennings’ notice that the Bucks also obtained veteran small forward Corey Maggette in a trade with Golden State, with center Dan Gadzuric and guard Charlie Bell going to the Warriors.

“He’s a guy who can get to the line,” Jennings said of the 30-year-old Maggette, who will be entering his 12th pro season. “That’s what we missed last year. He can get you 20 or more (points per game), so I’m excited.”

Maggette was part of a high-octane Warriors offense that featured shooting guard Monta Ellis and rookie point guard Stephen Curry.

“He runs the floor,” Jennings said of the 6-6 Maggette. “Even though he demands the ball a lot, that’s all right, though. We’re going to need somebody who can take over at the end of the game.”

Free-agent negotiations begin Thursday, and Jennings said he hopes guard John Salmons will choose to return to the Bucks.

Nets trade Chris Douglas-Roberts to Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired guard Chris Douglas-Roberts (6-7, 210) from the New Jersey Nets for a future second round draft pick, General Manager John Hammond announced today. The Nets receive the 2012 second round draft pick that the Bucks acquired from Chicago in the John Salmons trade on February 18, 2010.

After two years in the NBA, Douglas-Roberts has career averages of 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 44.9 percent from the field. During the 2009-10 season, Douglas-Roberts played 67 games, starting 38, with averages of 9.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 25.8 minutes per game. He shot 44.5 percent from the field and 84.7 percent from the free throw line last season. His 84.7 percent mark from the free throw line ranked 21st in the league last year.

Douglas-Roberts finished his second season in the league with the fourth highest scoring increase amongst sophomore players. He averaged 4.9 points per game as a rookie and improved to 9.8 points in his second season. Only George Hill (+6.7 points per game increase), Brook Lopez (+5.8) and Robin Lopez (+5.3) had higher scoring increases among second year players.

A native of Detroit, MI, Douglas-Roberts, 23, was drafted by the Nets in the second round (40th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. He played three seasons at the University of Memphis where he was a consensus First Team All-American and helped lead the Tigers to the national championship game his junior year.

InsideHoops.com quick-take: News of this upcoming trade leaked days ago, so it’s not a surprise. I wonder how CDR feels being given away for a mere future second rounder. He’s probably going to take it personally. He does that, sometimes.

Warriors trade Corey Maggette to Bucks

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.

Brandon Jennings vows to get stronger

Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports:

Brandon Jennings left his rookie year Sunday with a vow.

“This summer I’ll work out, get stronger and come back a totally different player,” he said after the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated, 95-74, by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

That has to be an encouraging thought for the Bucks and a sobering concept for the rest of the league about the electrifying point guard who finished third in rookie of the year voting.

Jennings also averaged 18.7 points in his first postseason experience after leading the Bucks with 15 points in Game 7. Throughout the series, he mostly performed with veteran poise. Though he struggled with his shot late in the series, he opened it by scoring 34 points on the Hawks.

Game 7: Hawks eliminate Bucks in blowout

The AP reports:

The Atlanta Hawks weren’t going to let another game slip away on their home court.

After keeping their season alive with a gutty win in Milwaukee, the Hawks made sure the Bucks were in no position to duplicate their improbable Game 5 upset. Jamal Crawford scored 22 points, Al Horford put up a double-double and Atlanta pulled away for a 95-74 win Sunday that gave the Hawks a 4-3 triumph in the tougher-than-expected series…

The Hawks led by as many 24 late in the game and got a chance to pull their starters so they could receive a proper ovation from the sellout crowd of 19,241…

Milwaukee was essentially undone with less than two weeks to go in the regular season when Bogut tumbled to the court and ripped apart his right arm.

InsideHoops.com notes:

The Bucks scored just 13 points in the first quarter and failed to pick it up from there. The Hawks tied or exceeded the Bucks point totals in all four quarters of the game.

Atlanta shot 47.4%, the Bucks just 32.9%. Atlanta hit a decent 6-of-16 three-pointers, Milwaukee just 4-of-18. Atlanta won the rebounding battle 55-34. Milwaukee did control the ball, with just five turnovers.

For the Hawks, guard Jamal Crawford came off the bench (as usual) for 22 points (16 shots) and six assists. Center Al Horford (6-of-8) had 15 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Mike Bibby had 15 points (12 shots) and six rebounds — though just two assists. Josh Smith (5-of-7) had 15 points and not too much else.

For Milwaukee, no one stepped up on offense. Brandon Jennings had 15 points (but on 18 shots) and five assists. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored 13, with six rebounds. Forward Ersan Ilyasova came off the bench for 13 points (on 11 shots) and 11 rebounds. John Salmons shot a miserable 5-of-18 for 11 points.

Bucks deactivate Charlie Bell

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports (via blog):

Bucks guard Charlie Bell is not on the active for Game 7 due to a disciplinary issue, coach Scott Skiles said in his pre-game remarks to reporters.

The Bucks placed injured center Andrew Bogut on the active roster to take Bell’s place, but Bogut is not able to play.

“We’ve got a couple issues with Charlie Bell I’d rather not comment on, so we’re deactivating him,” Skiles said.

Game 6: Hawks stay alive, beat Bucks 83-69

The AP reports:

Jamal Crawford saw the end to his series-long shooting slump coming, making a promise after the pregame shootaround: It’ll be back tonight.

Crawford then went out and finally played like the NBA’s sixth man of the year in the playoffs, scoring 24 points to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 83-69 on Friday night to force a seventh game in the first-round series…

Carlos Delfino scored 20 for the Bucks, who came into the game hoping to finish off their heavily favored opponent but instead went completely flat coming out of halftime and couldn’t pull off a late rally attempt…

Brandon Jennings scored 12 points on 4-for-15 shooting, including 1 of 9 from 3-point range…

John Salmons finished with eight points on 2-for-13 shooting.

Joe Johnson scored 22 points, and Al Horford had 15 points and 15 rebounds for Atlanta.