Spurs to trade for Richard Jefferson

Will the Spurs win the NBA championship next season?


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JayJ44

Starter
MILWAUKEE (AP)?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.

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.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-bucks-spurstrade&prov=ap&type=lgns

Wow, great trade for the Spurs. I think this puts them right up there with the Lakers for favorites to win the championship. They needed an athletic wing scorer, and they got a good one in Jefferson.
 

New New York

Quiet Storm
You know what this says to me? That the trades that do get done are the trades that are least reported on. Think about it, even the four trades we made this past season were not even talked about until the day they happen.

Point is...Don't, Don't, Don't, Beleive the Hype!
 
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