Like Us
Follow Us
In Sports
Bucks trade Williams to Cleveland in 3-team deal
When the Bucks' horrendous season came to an end this spring, it seemed pretty clear that either Michael Redd or Mo Williams would be traded before the team reconvened for training camp.
Redd is in Beijing with the U.S. Olympic team. As of today, Williams is with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Continuing his effort to reshape the roster, Bucks general manager John Hammond sent Williams to Cleveland as part of a six-player deal, that will ship Desmond Mason to Oklahoma City and bring guards Luke Ridnour and Damon Jones and forward Adrian Griffin to Milwaukee.
Williams, who averaged 17 points and six assists for the Bucks last season, will be paired with Cavs superstar LeBron James.
Oklahoma City sent Griffin to the Bucks for Mason, a popular player in Milwaukee who went to college at Oklahoma State, and former Bucks forward Joe Smith.
The Bucks, who traded Yi Jianlian to New Jersey for Richard Jefferson earlier this summer, got some salary cap flexibility in the deal. They are now off the hook for the $43 million remaining on Williams' contract. Jones and Griffin's contracts expire this year. Ridnour has two years and $13 million left on his deal.
Talkbacks
sandstorm | Aug. 15, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (report)
i happily volunteer to be the alcoholic coach.
| Rate this: |
themil | Aug. 14, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (report)
Ridnour, Bogut, Alexander. All that is missing is Jimmy Chitwood and we would have the cast of Hoosiers. Geesh!
| Rate this: |
Z_boy | Aug. 14, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (report)
sandstorm: I can see your thinking on this. Do I think Luke Ridnour is a Jason Kidd when it comes to dishing out assists? Of course not. But I do believe he is a true point guard, in a much greater sense of the word than I do Mo Williams. As Hammond said in today's paper: "Obviously, you don't trade a starting point guard and not acquire a piece capable of filling that position." Also, realistically, who could the Bucks have gotten for Williams, with his salary? He was overpaid for his worth. Not too many teams are going to want to take that on, so I don't think the Bucks had a lot of options open to them. And Williams had to go because it just wasn't working with him and Redd. At least on paper, I feel that Ridnour will be successful in getting the ball to two capable scorers: Redd and newly acquired Richard Jefferson. From what I understand about Ridnour, he's going to be just fine not worrying about scoring points. Here's what I'm not too keen on: Bogut as center and Villanueva as a power forward. I think Bogut makes for a better power forward and Villaneuva as a good guy to come off of the bench. My gut feeling is that the Bucks are going to get beat up on the boards again (as usual). I don't foresee any toughness in the rebounding and hustling department.
| Rate this: |
diesel1976 | Aug. 14, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (report)
Mo Williams was not an under achiever. He averaged 17 points per game and 6 assist. The guy they traded for doesnt even come close to that. We will see how this plays out. The Bucks organization has been known for making horrible trade decisions. The fact that Charlie V. is a starter is already a bad decision. If anyone they should have got rid of him.
| Rate this: |
sandstorm | Aug. 14, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (report)
zboy, you're happy with what the bucks got in return??? i could give a crap that they traded williams and mason, but it would seem they could have gotten plenty more than washed up, never was, and never will be, for those two guys. it's almost as if Hammond is just shuffling around pieces just to make it look like he's busy.
| Rate this: |
Show me the other 5 Talkbacks
|
10 comments about this article.
Post a comment / write a review. |
Facebook Comments
Disclaimer: Please note that Facebook comments are posted through Facebook and cannot be approved, edited or declined by OnMilwaukee.com. The opinions expressed in Facebook comments do not necessarily reflect those of OnMilwaukee.com or its staff.
