Mason to NO...for Magloire!

[Weez]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2204385

does this mean Bogut's a pf now? interesting..

Bucks get Magloire for MasonBy Marc Stein

ESPN.com

The Milwaukee Bucks continued to aggressively reshape their roster Wednesday by beating out several teams to acquire New Orleans/Oklahoma City center Jamaal Magloire, according to NBA front-office sources.

Magloire

In a trade that will be announced later Wednesday, Milwaukee has agreed to send swingman Desmond Mason, its 2006 first-round pick and cash considerations to the Hornets for Magloire, an East All-Star in 2004.

The Bucks, according to sources, felt they needed a more physical presence on their front line to aid the development of No. 1 overall pick Andrew Bogut and the recently re-signed Dan Gadzuric.

Mason

Given Milwaukee's logjam of swingmen after retaining Michael Redd, trading for Jiri Welsch and signing Bobby Simmons, a trade involving Mason between now and the February deadline was somewhat inevitable. This one gives the Bucks an opportunity to play Magloire and Bogut together, with Simmons starting at the other forward spot. The Bucks also have Gadzuric and Joe Smith in what suddenly looks like a well-rounded frontcourt rotation.

The Hornets have been shopping Magloire for months as part of their own makeover, which accelerated in February when Baron Davis, another former All-Star, was dealt to Golden State.

Coach Byron Scott denied earlier this week that Magloire was available, but the Hornets rebuilding around the embryonic backcourt of Chris Paul and J.R. Smith and displaced from its home base in New Orleans for at least a season - seized the chance to add another 2006 first-rounder to their own and an athletic swingman with ties to the team's new home state.

Mason, entering his sixth season out of Oklahoma State, carries a career scoring average of 12.9 points per game and averaged a career-best 17.2 points last season.

Magloire played only 23 games in 2004-05 because of a fractured ring finger but averaged 13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds in the previous season. The five-year veteran's 19 points in the 2004 All-Star Game led the East.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here.

[Diesel]

Magloire was consider going to either Milwaukee or Toronto...

Parts of those trade packages were Joey Graham or Desmond Mason.

Does anybody think that N.O. might have been trying to play up to Oklahoma's finest in order to get some fan appeal when they try to move the team to Oklahoma City?

Just like the Saints going to San Antonio, the Hornets may move to OK City! Having a former OSU star on the team can't hurt!

[Weez]

nice point...and given the owners, I can't argue with that. Seriously...they may have taken a 'lesser' deal with Mason simply to get him, to help boost ticket sales this year...

they better not try and pull a 'saints' and leave NO though...classless...but then again, that ownership's already done that once..

[Diesel]

Honestly,

The ownership wanted out of N.O. before the flood. It's fate that allowed this to happen... I wouldn't be surprised to see the Hornets become the OK City Hornets.

[Weez]

the owners don't realize that they're half the reason that the team is having trouble finding 'support'.

Really, I mean...that's about as bad as it can get though (using the hurricane as a means to move the team).

[capstone21]

I never heard anything about Joey Graham but I did read that TO was offering Mo Pete and a pick.