BallerBlogger.com » Points in the Paint

» June 23, 2009 4:57 PM | By Brandon Hoffman

ESPN’s Chad Ford is reporting the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to send Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto. I like the trade for both teams. Bowen, Thomas and Oberto are entering the final year of their contracts, with Oberto and Bowen’s deals non-guaranteed. Which will clear about $7 million from Milwaukee’s payroll this season, plus an additional $15 million in 2011. The cost-cutting move should give the Bucks enough cap space to retain Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva. I don’t think Jefferson is enough to push the Spurs over the Lakers, or the Rockets or Nuggets for that matter, but he’s an obvious upgrade over Bowen. Jefferson will make the Spurs stronger defensively, but he’s not the dynamic scorer some are making him out to be. He struggles to create shots off the dribble, and remains erratic from mid-range and beyond. For more on the trade, visit Brew Hoop, 48 Minutes of Hell, and Basketball Prospectus. Hollinger chimes in as well.

Danny Ainge says the Celtics will be stronger next year, and addresses the latest trade rumor involving Rajon Rondo.

Chip Crain of 3 Shades of Blue: “The Grizzlies are never going to seriously challenge in the Western Conference if they don’t start making a commitment to acquiring elite talent. Mayo was a great first step. This draft is the 2nd step. It may not be the fastest way to improve but we are talking about changing a culture of losing with this franchise. It will take big talents on the court to do that. Chris Paul did that in New Orleans. Dwight Howard did that in Orlando. LeBron James in Cleveland. These players took franchises famous for losing and turned them around single-handedly. After the mentality changed thanks to these leaders the attitude around the league changed about those teams. Suddenly those teams become destination locations for players. Just the other day Shaq said he would like to be traded to Cleveland! Who could have imagined that just a few short years ago??? Memphis could be in the same position a few years from now.”

Eddie Sefko reports that Mark Cuban is “following player Twitterings very closely and believes they can provide lots of insight into the way a guy thinks.” I think Cuban may be on to something. I follow a few NBA players, and I’ve been surprised — to say the least — by some of Brandon Jennings’ tweets.

Scoop Jackson concocts a plan to submarine the Bulls. Here’s a teaser: Scoop advises the Bulls to trade for Tracy McGrady AND Shaquille O’Neal.

Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman: “A 20-year-old star in Durant whose future literally has no limit. A 20-year-old in Westbrook whose athletic ability suggests lockdown defensive skills but who averaged 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists as a rookie point guard. And a 22-year-old glue guy in Green who plays both forward positions well, averaged 16.5 points in Year 2 and is loved by Durant. Every Batman needs a Robin. These guys would make for an interesting Thunder future if they were 23, 23 and 25. At 20, 20 and 22, this trio has no ceiling. Players this young improve exponentially. They will be much better in three years than they are today, and they’re already pretty darn good. And with this draft, the young Thunder is about to get even younger at the core, if Presti’s eye is as good on this draft as it was when he nabbed Green and Westbrook the past two Junes. Don’t be tempted to break them up. Not even for Blake Griffin.”

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