Thursday, August 20, 2009

Milwaukee Bucks Continue Wheeling and Dealing

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond continued to reshape the Bucks’ roster by trading power forward Amir Johnson and guard Sonny Weems to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for small forward Carlos Delfino and guard Roko Ukic. Earlier in the off-season, the Bucks acquired Johnson from the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade. After the Bucks signed free agent power forward Hakim Warrick to a one-year contract at the end of July, Johnson became expendable (source: here). Delfino joins the Bucks in a “sign and trade;” he played in Russia last season, but the Raptors retained his rights (source: here).

This deal works out well for both sides because the Bucks have a glut of power forwards and the Raptors have a surplus of small forwards. Johnson was in the final year of a three-year contract, anyway. Preliminary indications are that Delfino will sign a three-year deal for $3 to $4 million a season (source: here).

Hammond acquiring Delfino is no shocker. Hammond was in the Detroit Pistons front office when the Pistons drafted Delfino in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft, and has kept an eye on Delfino ever since. With these moves, Hammond is reshuffling the Bucks roster without committing too much money long term. This allows the Bucks to have ongoing financial flexibility and some fresh blood, too. All in all, I think it was a good move.

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