Bucks to send Jefferson to Spurs

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A Bucks official with knowledge of the deal said Tuesday that Milwaukee plans to trade scoring forward Richard Jefferson(notes) to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen(notes), Kurt Thomas(notes) and Fabricio Oberto(notes), giving them a veteran cast and financial flexibility.

The person confirmed the pending trade to The Associated Press and requested anonymity because the deal is not official until a call later Tuesday. ESPN.com first reported details of the deal.

The Bucks are sending Jefferson away less than a year after acquiring the scoring forward in a draft day trade last season with New Jersey for Yi Jianlian(notes) and Bobby Simmons(notes). Jefferson?s contract has two years and $29.2 million remaining on it.

Jefferson was a steady offensive force for Milwaukee last season after spending his first seven years in New Jersey. He averaged 19.6 points and shot a career-high 39.7 percent from 3-point range while starting all 82 games.

Spurs guard Tony Parker(notes) said he would welcome a big, athletic player like Jefferson.

?He?s a great wing,? Parker said. ?It?s something we don?t have on our team.?

Parker and Tim Duncan(notes) had little offensive help in April when the Spurs lost in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Jefferson gives San Antonio a scoring threat it sorely lacked last season, especially when Manu Ginobili(notes) was out with injuries.

Jefferson became the Bucks? biggest offensive threat after Michael Redd(notes) and Andrew Bogut(notes) suffered season-ending injuries, but the Bucks? tight financial situation made a move necessary. Milwaukee does not want to pay the NBA?s luxury tax, which last year hit teams dollar-for-dollar once they reach $71.15 million in total payroll.

Redd, Bogut and Jefferson are scheduled to make more than $41 million combined this season.

The trade was a shock to at least one Bucks player: Charlie Villanueva(notes) posted ?RJ traded to Spurs. Wow? on his Twitter account before the trade was official.

The deal actually might allow the Bucks to keep Ramon Sessions(notes) or Villanueva himself, since both are restricted free agents.

Bowen, Thomas and Oberto give the Bucks a veteran group. None is signed beyond the upcoming season.

Bowen, 38, is a 13-year veteran known for his defensive efforts against the Western Conference?s top guards. Thomas, 36, has played 14 years in the NBA, primarily at forward and center, and has been a bench player each of the last three seasons, averaging 4.3 points last year.

Oberto, 34, has played four years in San Antonio, averaging 3.6 points per game in his NBA career. Last season he underwent a procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat.

 

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Wizards send T-Wolves No. 5 pick

Wizards send T-Wolves No. 5 pick

The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to trade guards Randy Foye(notes) and Mike Miller(notes) to the Washington Wizards for the fifth overall draft pick and three players, according to Yahoo! Sports.

The deal would give Minnesota the fifth and sixth overall selections in Thursday?s NBA draft, as well as forwards Etan Thomas(notes), Darius Songaila(notes) and Oleksiy Pecherov(notes).

The Web site cited anonymous sources. New Timberwolves president David Kahn did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.

The Timberwolves also have the 18th and 28th selections in the first round, which gives them plenty of ammunition to potentially create a package to move up even higher in the draft to go after either Spanish guard Ricky Rubio or Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet.The Wizards, unlike most lottery teams, feel they can afford to deal a high first-round draft pick because they?re already adding a major impact player next season. Gilbert Arenas(notes) is expected to return at full strength after missing most of the last two seasons due to multiple knee surgeries, putting Washington in contention to return to the playoffs immediately despite coming off a 19-63 season that matched the worst 82-game record in franchise history.

The Wizards also have a plentiful supply of youngsters who are supposedly up-and-coming?Nick Young(notes), JaVale McGee(notes), Andray Blatche(notes), Dominic McGuire(notes)?and are in need of more veteran poise in the locker room rather than another developing rookie.

Kahn is off to an aggressive start heading into his first draft at the helm of the Timberwolves.

Last week he chose not to bring back Kevin McHale, the longtime Timberwolves executive, as coach and now he has cut the chord with what was viewed as one of McHale?s biggest draft-day gaffes.

In 2006, McHale drafted Brandon Roy(notes) before trading him to Portland for Foye and cash. Roy developed into an All-Star and one of the best young players in the game. Foye has been solid, but not spectacular, while struggling with a knee injury.

He picked up some of the scoring load when Al Jefferson(notes) went down with a knee injury in February. Foye averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 assists, but the Wolves had difficulty deciding whether to play him at point guard or shooting guard.

Miller came to Minnesota from Memphis nearly one year ago in a package that included Kevin Love(notes) in exchange for O.J. Mayo(notes) and a handful of retreads.

Viewed as one of the best perimeter shooters in the game, Miller played a far more passive game in his only season with the Wolves. He averaged a career-low 9.9 points per game and frustrated fans with his seemingly stubborn refusal to shoot the ball.

Thomas has an opt-out clause in his contract that would allow him to become a free agent on July 1. He averaged 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in just 26 games last season for the Wizards.

Songaila averaged 7.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 77 games last season.