SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs acquired scoring swingman Richard Jefferson from Milwaukee in a four-player deal Tuesday.
The Spurs sent veterans Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto to the Bucks in exchange for the 29-year-old Jefferson, who averaged 19.6 points in his one season with the Bucks.
Milwaukee then dealt Oberto to the Pistons for forward Amir Johnson. The trades give the Bucks more financial flexibility, the Spurs a proven scorer and the Pistons a veteran big man at a lower cost than Johnson.
Spurs guard Tony Parker welcomed Jefferson into the fold, alongside Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. San Antonio is coming off its shortest playoff run since 2000 and faded down the stretch with Duncan hobbled and Ginobili sidelined by injury.
“He’s a great wing,” Parker said. “It’s something we don’t have on our team.”
Milwaukee unloaded Jefferson’s contract, which has two years and $29.2 million remaining. Jefferson became the Bucks’ best offensive threat after Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut went down with season-ending injuries, but the Bucks’ tight financial situation made a move necessary.
Redd, Bogut and Jefferson are scheduled to make more than $41 million combined this season.
“Sad to see RJ go. He was a fun guy to be around and could play. We are building for the future, slow and steady. Patience grasshopper,” Bogut posted on Twitter.
Foye, Miller sent packing
MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves agreed to trade guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller to the Wizards for the fifth overall draft pick and three players.
The deal would give Minnesota the fifth and sixth overall selections in Thursday’s NBA draft, as well as forwards Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov.
The Timberwolves also have the 18th and 28th selections in the first round.
Footnotes.
The Bobcats decided not to make a one-year qualifying offer of $3.7 million to forward Sean May, who has appeared in only 82 of a possible 328 games since being the 13th pick in the 2005 draft.
• The Philadelphia 76ers have changed their logo and colors to revive the traditional “76ers basketball” logo and the red, white and blue color scheme.
The Associated Press
