Raptors / Bucks Trade
Posted on July 1st, 2006 by
The Toronto Raptors wasted little time clearing room in the starting lineup for Andrea Bargnani.
The Raptors announced late Friday night that they have traded promising forward Charlie Villanueva to the Milwaukee Bucks for oft-injured point guard T.J. Ford and cash.
The move comes two days after the Raptors selected Bargnani with the top overall pick in the NBA draft. The selection appeared to create a logjam at forward, where Toronto already had Villanueva and All-Star Chris Bosh.
However, the Raptors quickly solved that problem and simultaneously addressed their point guard position, which would have become a gaping hole if, as expected, Mike James departed via free agency.
Villanueva, 21, had a very strong rookie season in 2005-06, averaging 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 81 games to finish second to New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul in the Rookie of the Year voting.
The seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft, Villanueva enjoyed his coming-out party in Milwaukee on March 26, when he scored a career-high 48 points in a 125-116 defeat.
With the Bucks, Villanueva will play alongside center Andrew Bogut, the top overall selection in 2005 who also compiled an impressive rookie season with averages of 9.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists. #
I think it’s a move great for both teams. Charlie Villanueva is definitely a great player and really stepped it up for the Raptors this year, but with Bosh and Bargnani in the lineup, the minutes just wouldn’t work out very well for everyone. I think Charlie Villanueva will compliment Bogut well, and TJ Ford is a proven point guard who will be able to fill the hole in the Raptors’ lineup if Mike James doesn’t return.
