Bucks make big deal in NBA trade period

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MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Bucks made the biggest deal in what many pundits called a quiet trading period leading up to yesterday’s NBA trade deadline.

Bucks’ general manager John Hammond says the team now has a solid three-guard rotation, after he acquired shooting guard J.J. Redick from Orlando. The Bucks traded backup guard Beno Udrih, rookie guard Doron Lamb, and second-year forward Tobias Harris to the Magic. Besides Redick, Milwaukee obtained forward Gustavo Aron and guard Ish Smith from Orlando. The Bucks were also in the running to get Atlanta forward Josh Smith almost all the way up to the 2 p.m. trade deadline. But it didn’t work out, as Atlanta reportedly wanted Bucks’ guard Monta Ellis in return. Milwaukee is keeping Ellis and point guard Brandon Jennings for now – although both have options to leave after the season ends. Smith stays in Atlanta.

Redick is in his seventh NBA season out of Duke – and he’ll try to help the Bucks improve their long-range shooting. Milwaukee is 21st in the league in three-point shooting percentage, at just under 35-percent. Redick is 11th in the number of treys made this season. He’s averaging 39-percent from downtown and a career-high 45-percent overall. The Bucks hold the eighth-and-final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 29 games left. Redick says he hopes he can help Milwaukee get a higher playoff spot. He’s a free agent after the season, and he’s not sure if he’ll stay around. The Magic said Udrih, Lamb, and Harris will fill some needs. Udrih was a backup in Milwaukee – and Harris and Lamb were not in coach Jim Boylan’s rotation.

The Bucks don’t play again until tomorrow night, when they host Atlanta.

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