Bucks trade Tyronn Lue to Magic for Keith Bogans

The Orlando Magic have acquired guard Tyronn Lue from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard-forward Keith Bogans and cash considerations, General Manager Otis Smith announced today.

“Tyronn is a veteran point guard who fits in well with our style of play,” said Smith.  “He shoots well from three-point range and adds needed depth at that position.  We thank Keith for everything he gave to us and wish him all the best.”

Lue (6’0”, 175, 5/3/77) has played in 30 games this season for Milwaukee, averaging 4.7 ppg., 1.5 apg. and 1.2 rpg. in 13.1 minpg.  He is shooting .467 (21-of-45) from three-point range and has scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 14 points on Nov. 24 @ Orlando.  Lue led (or tied) the Bucks in assists three times.

Lue returns for a second stint with Orlando.  He played in 76 games (69 starts) for the Magic in 2003-04, averaging 10.5 ppg., 4.2 apg. and 2.5 rpg. in 30.7 minpg.  Lue was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers when they won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

Lue was originally selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft by Denver.  He has appeared in 540 career NBA regular season games with eight different teams (the L.A. Lakers, Washington, Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, Sacramento, Dallas and Milwaukee), averaging 8.6 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 1.7 rpg. in 23.0 minpg.  Lue has also shot .392 (454-of-1,158) from beyond the three-point arc during his career.

Bogans, 28, has appeared in 35 games this season for the Orlando Magic and averaged 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per game.  Last season, Bogans played in all 82 games for the Magic and tallied 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26.8 minutes.  He shot a career-high 41.1 percent from the field, including 36.2 percent from the three-point arc, connecting on a career-high 148-of-409 attempts.  Bogans appeared in all 10 of Orlando’s post-season contests in 2008 and averaged 7.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 29.3 minutes.

Originally drafted by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft (43rd overall), Bogans was traded to Orlando on draft night for cash considerations.  His resume spans five-plus NBA seasons and includes time spent with Orlando, Charlotte and Houston.  In 395 career games, he has averaged 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

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Celtics assign JR Giddens to D-League

Boston Celtics guard J.R. Giddens was re-assigned to the Utah Flash, the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today.  The assignment is the 20th this season, and Giddens’ second.  Giddens, who was originally assigned to the Flash on Nov. 15, 2008 and was recalled to Boston on Jan. 8, has yet to appear in a regular season game for Boston this season.

In 13 games, all starts, for the Flash Giddens averaged 17.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 54 percent (86-of-158) from the field.  Giddens’ best game for the Flash came on Dec. 1 when he scored 34 points against the Bakersfield Jam at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah.

Giddens, a 6-5 guard, was selected in the first round, 30th overall, by the Celtics in the 2008 NBA draft from the University of New Mexico.  During his two-year career as a Lobo, Giddens averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds.  As a senior, Giddens started all 33 of New Mexico’s games, and averaged career highs of 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists.  Giddens shared Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors during his senior year.

Giddens, the season’s fourth player to be assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, is expected to join the Flash in Orem, Utah today and will be available for tomorrow night’s Flash game against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Lisa Leslie to retire after upcoming WNBA season

The AP reports: Three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie will call it quits after her upcoming 12th season with the Los Angeles Sparks. The 36-year-old center announced her decision Wednesday, accompanied by her 19-month-old daughter and husband. Leslie, a cornerstone of the league since its start in 1997, guided the Sparks to WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002. “I’m not going to pull a (Michael) Jordan and come back in a year or two,” she said. “For me, I feel good about where I am. … I just know this is a good time. I can still help (the team). I don’t want to be out there when I can’t do it.”

Warriors wild from outside, beat Suns 124-112

The AP reports: Stephen Jackson had 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, and the Warriors never trailed in a 124-112 victory over the Suns on Wednesday night. Jamal Crawford scored 27 points, and 6-foot-5 power forward Kelenna Azubuike had 19 of his 25 in the first quarter for the Warriors, who started the game on a 17-2 run and never let the Suns get close… Shaquille O’Neal had 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and 12 rebounds in the Suns’ fourth straight loss at Oracle Arena, while Leandro Barbosa added several of his 20 points in garbage time. Steve Nash had 16 points and nine assists, and former Warriors forward Matt Barnes scored 10 points in his own homecoming.

Mavs looking better, beat Blazers 104-99

The AP reports: Josh Howard got Dallas going early and Jason Terry pulled them through late, but it was a team effort. Brandon Bass made nine of 11 shots for 19 points, Dirk Nowitzki had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Antoine Wright had 11 points and some solid defense on Portland’s Brandon Roy. Kidd did, too, along with scoring seven points and grabbing seven rebounds… Roy still scored 26 points, but that included a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute, which made things a bit more interesting but didn’t change the outcome. Portland lost its 11th straight in Dallas.

Derrick Rose rocks, Bulls beat Hornets 107-93

The AP reports: With Chris Paul sidelined for his first full game with a strained right groin, Derrick Rose scored 21 points and the Chicago Bulls handed the struggling Hornets their fourth straight loss, 107-93 on Wednesday night… Ben Gordon added 19 points for the Bulls, who won for the fourth time in five games—all on the road. David West led New Orleans with 24 points and 14 rebounds, Peja Stojakovic scored 24 points, and Devin Brown had 17. New Orleans showed some fight in the fourth quarter, getting its deficit down to 10 with 4:01 to go, but simply could not catch the Bulls, who had six players reach double digits in points and shot 56 percent, the highest field-goal percentage by a Hornets opponent this season.

Mayo scores 32, Grizzlies beat Rockets 104-93

The AP reports: O.J. Mayo scored 32 points and the Grizzlies held off the Houston Rockets 104-93 on Wednesday night for their second straight victory. The Rockets closed to 97-93 with just over 4 minutes remaining, but Mayo scored on a drive and hit a 3-pointer, and Memphis held on… Rudy Gay had 18 points and nine rebounds for Memphis, and Hakim Warrick finished with 17 points on 6-of-9 from the floor and had eight rebounds. Marc Gasol and Conley had 10 points apiece, and Conley also had nine rebounds and seven assists. Gasol recorded five blocks… Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 21 points. Rafer Alston added 15 points and six assists.

Marvin Williams steps up, Hawks beat Wolves 94-86

The AP reports: With All-Star Joe Johnson at home with an illness, Marvin Williams filled in beautifully with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Hawks to a 94-86 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night… Josh Smith added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Mike Bibby had 24 points and seven assists, including a 3-pointer with 44.2 seconds to play that put the game out of reach. Al Jefferson had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and rookie Kevin Love had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, but it was the revival of two missing shooters that allowed the Wolves to trim a 17-point third-quarter deficit to two with 1:04 remaining.

Melo scores 32, Nuggets beat Thunder 114-113

The AP reports: For the second time in two trips to Oklahoma City, Carmelo Anthony made the winning shot, this time a driving runner in the lane with 5.3 seconds left that gave the Nuggets a 114-113 victory Wednesday night… Anthony finished with 32 points and also had 11 assists… Kevin Durant finished with 31 points and eight rebounds. J.R. Smith had 22 points, Nene had 20 and Chris Andersen finished with 12 to help the Nuggets improve to 32-16. The Thunder got 24 points from Jeff Green and 20 from Russell Westbrook, but dropped their third game in a row.

Big Stuckey game, Pistons beat Heat 93-90

The AP reports: The Pistons missed four free throws in the final 20 seconds and only picked up a 93-90 victory over Miami on Wednesday night when Heat star Dwyane Wade’s 3-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired… Rodney Stuckey and Wallace had 18 points each for Detroit, while Antonio McDyess added a season-high 17 rebounds. Wade led Miami with 29 points and 13 assists… Miami’s Shawn Marion left late in the first quarter after a collision with Allen Iverson, but returned before halftime.