Chad Ford lists Richard Jefferson among the wing players that could be dealt before the deadline, giving him a 50/50 chance of being gone when the trade deadline comes a week from Friday. By now you probably know the luxury tax reasoning behind a Jefferson deal, but to recap:
With Michael Redd out for the season, Andrew Bogut out for a couple of months and Luke Ridnour out for a month, the Bucks' chances of making the playoffs have dramatically decreased. With Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions hitting free agency in the summer, the team must clear some space to sign them.
That need has led the Bucks to explore deals for Jefferson that would allow them to reduce payroll and add an asset in return. The Blazers have had a lot of interest in Jefferson in the past and have the right combo of assets, plus Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract, to make it happen.
Sam Amico of Pro Basketball News invites readers of the world to meet the Bucks.
So I decided to check out the Bucks' situation, and I'll tell you what: It ain't bad. For all the talk about how Charlotte, Chicago, New Jersey and New York are fighting for the No. 8 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference ... well, it's the Bucks that they are chasing. Kind of amazing, isn't it? I mean, is there a more ignored team in the NBA than Milwaukee?
This year, the trade deadline is being influenced like never before because owners who've lost millions in the plunging U.S./global economy are determined not only not to be luxury tax payers, but to cut costs as much as possible as quickly as possible, with no intention of allowing their team's salaries to ever rise near the tax threshold in the foreseeable future.
Jim Paschke is starving for more of the hungry young Bucks we've seen the last couple games.
United they stand: Team USA players including Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard called Michael Redd following his season-injury injury to wish the shooting guard good luck in recovery, reports Yahoo.
Canis Hoopus (this is a great blog name, and blog) hosts round seven of the Blogger MVP/ROY Rankings. And you again are encouraged to check out Rob Peterson's R2MVP updates on NBA.com.
