1 for 1: Ruben Patterson for Joe Smith
The Milwaukee Bucks have traded Joe Smith to the Denver Nuggets for Ruben Patterson. The two players find themsleves in similar situations as they are into the final years of their contracts and are now 31 years old but Smith is an 11 year vet while Patterson has 8 years experience.
Joe Smith probably felt unwanted since the Bucks made a move to acquire Charlie Villanueva from the Raptors for T.J. Ford a day after the draft. Denver's frontcourt suddenly got increasingly deep with Camby, Nene, K-Mart, Sampson and now newcomer Joe Smith and can afford to let Reggie Evans walk away but are probably looking for some backcourt help.
Joe Smith probably felt unwanted since the Bucks made a move to acquire Charlie Villanueva from the Raptors for T.J. Ford a day after the draft. Denver's frontcourt suddenly got increasingly deep with Camby, Nene, K-Mart, Sampson and now newcomer Joe Smith and can afford to let Reggie Evans walk away but are probably looking for some backcourt help.
Milwaukee on the other hand acquires a capable defender in Patterson (self-proclaimed Kobe-stopper) that will presumably be backing up both Redd and Simmons, although it may be in the Bucks interest to finally work teen Euro-sensation Ilyasova and rookie David Noel into some minutes.
An interesting situation and a decent trade for both teams who now have at least some guarantees if and when the injury prone starters go down.
An interesting situation and a decent trade for both teams who now have at least some guarantees if and when the injury prone starters go down.
