Milwaukee Bucks Blog – Page 62 – NBA Blog

Michael Redd working on comeback

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports: Michael Redd is back on the court, and that is good news for the Milwaukee Bucks. The 30-year-old shooting guard is encouraged with his progress six months after undergoing surgery in early March, to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Redd worked out with teammates at the Cousins Center on Wednesday and said he “could see the light.”

The Journal-Sentinel continues: Bucks strength and conditioning coach Jeff Macy has worked with Redd this week and been impressed. “He’s pretty much at an advanced stage of returning to play,” Macy said. “Physically, he’s very strong right now. He’s making the transition from machine-based conditioning. He’s more on his feet now.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: Redd faces an uphill battle in returning to All-Star form. His injuries were major. And with the trade of Richard Jefferson there will be even more pressure on him to step up and lead. The Bucks are rebuilding and have very few offensive weapons. They should struggle in 2009-10.

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Timberwolves sign Ramon Sessions to offer sheet

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed restricted free-agent guard Ramon Sessions to an offer sheet. Under the terms of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Milwaukee Bucks will have seven days upon receiving the offer sheet to match Minnesota’s offer.

SEPT. 11 UPDATE: The Bucks did not match the offer.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the deal was for four years and $16 million.

“We are excited about the opportunity to have Ramon Sessions on our team,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “Ramon has the ability to play both guard positions, and thus will be able to complement the members of our current backcourt. At only 23, Ramon also has the potential to improve and fits our plan of building a young, up-tempo team with championship contending potential.”

Sessions, a 6-3 guard from Nevada-Reno, had a break-out season in 2008-09, averaging 12.4 points (.445 FG%) and 5.7 assists in 27.5 minutes per game in 79 contests (39 starts). His 5.7 assists per game led the Bucks and ranked 18th in the NBA. Sessions scored in double figures 53 times (12 times 20+ points), dished out 10+ assists on 10 occasions and posted nine double-doubles during the season. Additionally, he finished the year with a 2.97:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, the ninth-best ratio in the NBA. He scored a career-high 44 points, along with 12 assists, against Detroit on Feb. 7.

In 2007-08 as a rookie, Sessions averaged 8.1 points, 7.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 17 games. He set a Bucks franchise record with 24 assists against Chicago on April 14, while also tallying 20 points. He became the first Bucks player to notch 20 points and 20 assists in the same game. Selected by Milwaukee in the second round (56th pick) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Sessions has averaged 11.6 points, 6.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game in 96 contests (46 starts).

Roko Ukic shines for Croatia

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports: Roko Ukic, the 6-foot-5 point guard acquired by the Bucks in a trade with Toronto earlier this month, was named most valuable player of the Efes Pilsen World Cup after leading Croatia to the tournament title. Ukic had 21 points to pace Croatia to a 90-83 victory over Macedonia in the title game. Earlier, he had 16 points against Turkey and 15 points against Germany as Croatia went 3-0 in a tune-up for the European Championship to be held in Poland. Andrew Bogut, whose parents are from Croatia, said he first met Ukic in 2003 when Bogut’s Australian team defeated Ukic’s Croatian team in the semifinals of the junior world championships. When the Bucks played in Toronto last season, Bogut and Ukic went out to dinner the night before the game.

Bucks trade Amir Johnson, Sonny Weems to Raptors for Carlos Delfino, Roko Ukic

The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired guard/forward Carlos Delfino and guard Roko Ukic (pronounced ROE-co OO-kitch) from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for forward Amir Johnson and guard/forward Sonny Weems, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

“After drafting DeMar DeRozan and trading for Marco Belinelli, Hedo Turkoglu and Antoine Wright, Carlos made it clear he would prefer to play elsewhere if he were to return to the NBA,” said Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo. “There were limited sign and trade scenarios available, but acquiring Amir Johnson in this deal gives us another long, talented young big man whose best basketball is ahead of him.”

Delfino (6-6, 230) played for BC Khimky Moscow last season in the Russian-A Superleague and averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 26 games. In 10 Eurocup contests, the 26-year-old registered 13.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals, while shooting 41.7 percent from three-point distance for the Eurocup finalists. Delfino started his professional career in Argentina in 1998 and in 2000 began a four-year stint in the Italian League. Selected by Detroit in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft, Delfino played three seasons for the Pistons (2004-2007) and was traded to Toronto prior to the 2007-08 season. He enjoyed his best statistical season in the NBA in 2007-08 when he averaged 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the Raptors while connecting on 38.2 percent (120-314) from the three-point arc.

A native of Sante Fe, Argentina, Delfino earned a Gold Medal for Argentina’s Men’s Olympic Basketball Team in 2004 and a Bronze Medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Last season, Ukic (6-5, 190) appeared in 72 games for the Raptors and totaled 4.2 points and 2.1 assists (7th among rookies) per game. Ukic began his professional career with KK Split in the Croatian League in 2000 where he played through 2005. He joined Tau Ceramica of the Spanish League in 2005 and played the following season with FC Barcelona. In 2007-08, Ukic competed in the Italian League for Lottomatica Virtus Roma and in 43 games averaged 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 59.9 percent from the field and 74.8 percent from the free throw line. In 19 Euroleague games, he averaged 11.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The 24-year-old Croatian was originally drafted by Toronto with the 41st pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

Johnson (6-9, 210) was acquired from Detroit in a three-team deal that included San Antonio on June 23. He participated in the Bucks NBA Summer League entry and in five games averaged 9.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. In 135 career NBA games, Johnson averaged 3.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots in 13.6 minutes per game.

Weems (6-6, 203) was acquired from Denver along with Walter Sharpe and cash considerations for Malik Allen on July 31. He appeared in 12 games for the Nuggets as a rookie and averaged 1.6 points in 4.6 minutes per game. He also saw action in 21 contests for the Colorado 14ers of the D-League where he posted 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Weems was the 39th overall pick by Chicago in the 2008 NBA Draft and traded to Denver for a second round pick in the most recent 2009 Draft.

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Milwaukee Bucks sign Hakim Warrick

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Hakim Warrick (pronounced ha-KEEM) to a contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Warrick, 27, was the 19th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by Memphis and spent all four of his NBA seasons with the Grizzlies.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that the contract was expected to be a one-year deal in the $3 million to $3.5 million range.

Warrick (6-9, 219) owns career averages of 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game over 307 NBA contests. He is a career 50 percent shooter from the field while connecting on 72.5 percent from the free throw line.

Last season, Warrick, averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game. He appeared in all 82 games (7 starts) for the second time in his career (2006-07) and recorded career-highs in both steals (48) and blocked shots (39).

Warrick played four seasons at Syracuse University (2001-05), and as a sophomore started in all 35 games for the NCAA Champion Orange. As a senior, he was named First Team All-America by the Associated Press, awarded Big East Conference Player of the Year and named First Team All-Big East after averaging 21.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in 34 games. He finished his degree in three-and-one-half years and left Syracuse ranked second in free throws made (529) and attempted (803), and fourth in scoring (2,073 points) and rebounds (1,025).

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Milwaukee Bucks waive Bruce Bowen

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on guard/forward Bruce Bowen, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Bowen was acquired from San Antonio on June 23 as part of the three-team trade that also brought the Bucks Kurt Thomas from San Antonio and Amir Johnson from Detroit. Richard Jefferson was sent to San Antonio while Fabricio Oberto went to Detroit to complete the trade.

Bowen, 38, is a 13-year NBA veteran who spent the previous eight seasons with San Antonio.

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Milwaukee Bucks waive Salim Stoudamire

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on guard Salim Stoudamire, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Stoudamire, 26, was signed as a free agent on April 3, but did not appear in a game with Milwaukee. He appeared in 157 games with Atlanta from 2005-08 with career averages of 8.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist. Stoudamire was selected by the Hawks with the 31st pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

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Milwaukee Bucks trade Malik Allen to Denver Nuggets for Walter Sharpe, Sonny Weems and cash

The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired forward Walter Sharpe, guard/forward Sonny Weems and cash considerations from the Denver Nuggets for forward Malik Allen, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Sharpe (6-9, 245) was originally drafted by Seattle (Oklahoma City Thunder) in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft (32nd overall) and traded to Detroit along with Trent Plaisted (46th overall) for the draft rights to D.J. White (29th overall). The 23-year-old appeared in eight games for the Pistons last season and averaged 1.0 point in 2.4 minutes per game. He also played in four games for the Ft. Wayne Mad Ants of the D-League and tallied 10.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Sharpe was traded to Denver with Arron Afflalo and cash considerations from Detroit for a future second round draft choice on July 13, 2009.

Weems (6-6, 203) appeared in 12 games for the Nuggets as a rookie and averaged 1.6 points in 4.6 minutes per game. He also saw action in 21 contests for the Colorado 14ers of the D-League where he posted 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Weems was the 39th overall pick by Chicago in the 2008 NBA Draft and traded to Denver for a second round pick in the most recent 2009 Draft.

An eight-year NBA veteran, Allen (6-10, 255) played in 49 games (3 starts) for Milwaukee last season and averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. In 409 career NBA games, Allen has averages of 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 77.4 percent from the free throw line.

Read basketball fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Milwaukee Bucks sign 2009 first round draft pick Brandon Jennings

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Brandon Jennings to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Jennings (6-1, 170) was the 10th overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft and participated in the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with the Bucks.

During the Las Vegas Summer League, Jennings led the entire league in assists (tied, 8.2) and steals (3.6), and was Milwaukee’s third-leading scorer (14.6 ppg). Jennings played a team-high 32.4 minutes per contest and shot 42.9 percent from three-point range (9-21) in helping the Bucks to a 4-1 record during Summer League play.

“I’m excited to sign my contract and make my NBA career official,” said Jennings. “I look forward to working with Coach Skiles and learning everything I can from him, as well as my teammates. I can’t wait to get the season started and contribute to the success of our team.”

Jennings comes to Milwaukee after spending a season with Lottomatica Virtus Roma in Italy. He averaged 5.5 points, 2.3 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 17.0 minutes per game in 27 Italian League games last season. In Euroleague play, he posted averages of 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 19.0 minutes over 16 games.

The 19-year-old went overseas upon graduating from Oak Hill Academy in 2008. He averaged 35.5 points, 6.8 assists and 3.2 steals as a high school senior and earned National Player of the Year honors from Naismith, Parade Magazine, EA Sports and Max Preps. He set an Oak Hill Academy record for single-season point total (1,312) and scoring average (35.5) during his senior season.

Richard Jefferson breaks off wedding

NBA small forward Richard Jefferson, formerly of the New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, recently traded to the San Antonio Spurs, is now a single man. The New York Post reports:

Former Net star Richard Jefferson admitted yesterday that he told his beautiful bride-to-be that their wedding was off in an e-mail — stunning her just days before their planned posh nuptials.

Kesha Ni’Cole Nichols got the heart-wrenching message after a tense Fourth of July weekend, Jefferson told The Post.

“There was a lot of stress and tension in the relationship. We’ve been through a lot — but we just couldn’t continue,” said Jefferson, sounding upset during a telephone interview.

But at least Nichols got a nice parting gift — Jefferson, who was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the San Antonio Spurs last month, said he’s giving her a “six-figure” settlement so she can start a new life.

In speaking with the Post, Jefferson also took a moment to clear something else up:

He insisted a rumor he’s gay had nothing to do with the breakup.

“I’m not gay,” Jefferson said. “That couldn’t be any further from the truth. I have nothing to hide.”