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September 18, 2008

MILWAUKEE -- In the coming weeks, Bucks.com's Truman Reed will present a series of articles leading up to the 2008-09 National Basketball Association season. The series begins with a two-part segment by conference on those veterans who have changed addresses and will have the most impact on their new teams and the face of the NBA.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

A strong case can be made that Brand is the best National Basketball Association veteran who changed teams since last season. The qualifier is that he has indeed recovered from the ruptured left Achilles' tendon that limited him to eight games last season.

The two-time NBA All-Star gave up over $16 million on the last year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers to test the free agent waters and on July 9 signed a five-year deal with Sixers.

The 6-foot-8-inch, 254-pound nine-year pro has averaged 20.3 points and 10.2 rebounds over the course of his NBA career.

He will be sorely missed in Los Angeles, where in 2006 he led the Clippers to their first playoff series victory since 1976. In 2002, he became the first Clipper in eight seasons to be selected to the NBA All-Star Team.

With Brand at the "4" spot, the Sixers are being pegged as one of the most-improved teams in the league.

O'Neal's designation here as the second most influential veteran to join an Eastern Conference team also comes with a qualifier.

The 6-11, 260 forward/center saw action in just 42 games a year ago with the Indiana Pacers due to a left knee injury.

Still, the Raptors rolled the dice and acquired the six-time NBA All-Star, along with the draft rights to forward-centre Nathan Jawai, the 41st overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, from the Pacers in exchange for guard T.J. Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic, forward Maceo Baston and the draft rights to center Roy Hibbert.

The 29-year-old O’Neal averaged 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 519 games over eight seasons with Indiana. He finished in the top 10 in the NBA in blocks seven times and in rebounding on three occasions.

When the Bucks acquired the 6-7, 225 forward from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for forwards Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian back on June 26, they expressed more excitement over his winning background than his substantial statistics.

“Richard Jefferson is a hard-working, proven, dynamic performer at the forward position,” Bucks General Manager John Hammond said at the time “He’s an aggressive player with terrific credentials over his career. He’s been a winner, having gone to the playoffs in six of his seven seasons, and we’re excited to bring him to Milwaukee. "

Jefferson, 28, ranked ninth among NBA scorers with a career-best 22.6 points per game last season for the Nets. He started all 82 games and contributed 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per outing.

In 489 regular-season games with the Nets, he averaged 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists, along with 15.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 78 playoff games.

Everyone in NBA circles is aware that the Cavaliers need scoring threats who will force opponents to take some heat off LeBron James. Williams should fill one of those roles.

On Aug. 13, the Cavaliers landed Williams from the Milwaukee Bucks, sending guard Damon Jones to the Bucks and forward/center Joe Smith to Oklahoma City. The other elements of the three-team trade included Milwaukee acquiring guard/forward Adrian Griffin and guard Luke Ridnour from Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City acquiring forward Desmond Mason from Milwaukee.

The 6-1, 185 Williams averaged 17.2 points in 36.5 minutes per game last season and posted career highs in assists per game (6.3), field-goal percentage (.480), 3-point shooting (89-231, .385) and free-throw percentage (.856) in 66 games.

The, 25-year-old, five-year pro was one of just six players in the NBA to post averages of at least 17 points, 6 assists and 3.5 rebounds last season.

Ford was the highest-profile player obtained by the Pacers in the Jermaine O'Neal trade mentioned above.

Pacers president Larry Bird and coach Jim O'Brien seem convinced that Ford can take the reins of a team that has been seeking a floor leader since its last deep playoff drive.

The 6-foot, 165-pound former Bucks lottery pick comes to Indy with a risk factor, having missed one entire season and 75 games over the span of three others with injuries.

Ford averaged 12.1 points, 2 rebounds and 6.1 assists over 51 games last season. Barring impending deals, his competition at the point will include Jamaal Tinsley, Jarrett Jack and former Marquette University star Travis Diener.

When the Bucks acquired Ridnour -- along with guard Damon Jones and guard/forward Adrian Griffin -- in the Aug. 13 three-team deal with Cleveland and Oklahoma City, their prime objective was to find a playmaker.

First-year Bucks General Manager John Hammond and Head Coach Scott Skiles believe that the 27-year-old Ridnour fits that job description.

The 6-2, 175 point guard, whose five-year NBA averages are 9.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 5 assists, may not put up the gaudy statistics of players above or even below him on this list, so measuring his impact by his numbers won't do him justice.

But if the Bucks raise their chemistry grade and their win total as much as they're aiming to, Ridnour could be one of the league's biggest difference-makers.

The Nets obtained the 7-0, 238 forward, along with Bobby Simmons, from the Bucks in the deal that sent Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee.

Fresh off his Olympic stint in his homeland with the Chinese National Team, Yi averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in his first NBA campaign.

The Nets, who have bid farewell to longtime starters Jefferson, Jason Kidd and center Nenad Krstic within the past year, are obviously rebuilding, and they consider Yi one of their cornerstones.

After Yi played his final game in Milwaukee, he vowed to return for his second pro season with a stronger body. He missed 16 games de to injuries in his first year.

The Nets are hoping Yi can fulfill the promise he flashed with a career-high 29 points versus Charlotte and a career-high 13 rebounds versus Memphis as a rookie. He should receive ample opportunity.

The Knicks are intent on making a turnaround, and new President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh and Head Coach Mike D'Antoni are counting on Duhon to be a big part of it.

Duhon was signed to a free-agent contract after averaging 5.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 4 assists for the Chicago Bulls last season, his fourth in the NBA.

The 6-1, 185 point guard made 159 starts during his years in Chicago, and last season ranked sixth in the league with a 3.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Knicks not only expect to see Duhon run their new, up-tempo offense, but bolster their backcourt defense considerably.

The Heat announced the signing of the eight-year NBA veteran on Sept. 2.

An NBA All-Star in 2004, Magloire has averaged 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.03 blocks and 24.2 minutes during a career that has included stints with the Hornets (Charlotte: 2000-02 and New Orleans: 2002-05), the Milwaukee Bucks (2005-06), the Portland Trail Blazers (2006-07), the New Jersey Nets (2007-08) and the Dallas Mavericks (2007-08).

In 537 NBA regular-season appearances, he has connected on 47.9 percent of his field-goal attempts, and he owns 36 games of playoff experience.

The Heat are hoping Magloire can provide them with toughness and durability in the post. Four times in his career, the 6-11, 265 center has appeared in all 82 games.

The Hawks, who impressed many around the league with their playoff performance last season, hope Evans can fill the void created by the departure of emerging swingman Josh Childress for Europe.

The 6-5, 220 Evans, who was signed as a free agent, enters his sixth season in the NBA carrying career averages of 7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

In 75 games with the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic last season, Evans finished with averages of 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 23 minutes of action.

Visit Bucks.com again soon for Truman Reed's Western Conference Veteran Newcomers of Impact!