The Bucks have acquired 30-year old SG/SF Corey Maggette and the 44th overall pick (2nd round) in the NBA Draft Thursday Night from the Golden State Warriors for 31-year old SG Charlie Bell and 32-year old C Dan Gadzuric. Maggette played in 70 games (49 starts) for the Warriors last season and he averaged 29.7 minutes, 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He has now played in 710 games (432 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 29.3 minutes, 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Maggette will give the Bucks another weapon on offense which they so sorely need. Charlie Bell played in 71 games (39 starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 22.7 minutes, 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Dan Gadzuric played in 32 games (6 starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 9.8 minutes, 2.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. The Bucks’ GM probably had a ski mask on when he made this trade as he stole Maggette from the Warriors.

The Bucks figure that 30-year old shooting guard Michael Redd is not going to opt out of his contract as he is still recovering. They really would get a huge boost from him if he can just stay healthy in 2010-11. Redd played in only 18 games (12 starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 27.3 minutes, 11.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He only shot 35.2% from the floor which was pretty darn awful but they know that he’s much better than that. Redd has now played in 568 games (427 starts) in his 10 years with the Bucks and he has averaged 33.8 minutes, 20.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Redd is 7th in Bucks’ history in games played (568), he’s #2 in three pointers made (999) and he is #4 in points scored (11,510). If Redd can stay healthy there is no reason he can’t help the Bucks in 2010-11.

The Bucks have 7 unrestricted free agents and they probably would like to bring back at least a couple of them. John Salmons has a early termination option on his contract and I’m positive that he is going to opt out and chase the big bucks. The Bucks probably have a limit they are willing to spend on him and he can likely get more money than they are willing to offer. Michael Redd also has a early termination option but he’s not going anywhere as he will make way more money with the Bucks than he could get from someone else. Point guard Luke Ridnour was outstanding for the Bucks last season but he is one of the best point guards on the open market which means he will likely leave. Jerry Stackhouse and Kurt Thomas might be offered a contract by the Bucks as they both played decent for them last season but only at the teams’ price. Primoz Brezec and Royal Ivey are likely goners for the Bucks.

30-year old shooting guard John Salmons was really outstanding for the Bucks after coming over at the trade deadline in a deal with the Bulls. He played in 30 games (28 starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 37.6 minutes, 19.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Salmons played in 81 games (56 starts) overall last season for the Bulls & Bucks in which he averaged 34.9 minutes, 15.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Bucks should be careful not to get in a bidding war for Salmons who is rumored to be a target of the Hawks should they lose Joe Johnson to free agency. Salmons has played in 601 games (247 starts) in his 8 years in the NBA and he has averaged 25.9 minutes, 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Committing to Salmons would be a bit of a risk for the Bucks seeing how he hasn’t been a starting player that long in his career plus he struggled with the Bulls earlier last season.

UPDATE: (6/29/2010) - John Salmons has opted out of his contract becoming a unrestricted free agent.

UPDATE II: (7/3/2010) - The Bucks have re-signed John Salmons to a 5-year, $39 million dollar deal. This was a outstanding move for the Bucks.

The Bucks proved not quite ready for prime time yesterday. They only shot 32.6% from the floor and they were outrebounded 55-34 as they never had a chance in Atlanta yesterday. Brandon Jennings was heaving up bricks again at a alarming rate as he was 6 of 18 shooting as he finished up with 15 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had a solid game and the Bucks should have gave him the ball more as he finished up with 13 points and 6 rebounds in only 22 minutes on the floor. Ersan Ilyasova was only 4 of 11 shooting in this game but he still had 13 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes. John Salmons had another awful game in this series as he was 5 of 18 shooting from the floor finishing with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. The Bucks get eliminated 4-3 by the Hawks but they still have a very good season.