June 27, 2003 — Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Kevin McHale announced today that the team has acquired guard Sam Cassell and center Ervin Johnson from the Milwaukee Bucks for forward Joe Smith and guard Anthony Peeler. The trade is contingent on all four players passing their respective physicals.

Cassell has averaged 15.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.18 steals and 30.4 minutes per game in 662 regular-season games over his 10-year NBA career in Houston, Phoenix, Dallas, New Jersey and Milwaukee. In 2002-03, the 6-3, 185-pound Cassell averaged 19.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 34.6 minutes per game in 78 contests. He tallied his first career triple-double at Cleveland on Dec. 9 with a season-high 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Cassell won NBA championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995, his first two NBA seasons.

Johnson has averaged 4.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.44 blocks and 21.7 minutes per game in 715 regular-season contests over his 10-year NBA career in Seattle, Denver and Milwaukee. He started all 18 playoff games with Seattle in 1996, when the Sonics fell to the Bulls in six games in the NBA Finals.

Smith has averaged 13.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 29.8 minutes per game in 557 regular-season games over his eight-year NBA career in Golden State, Philadelphia, Detroit and Minnesota. Last season, the 6-10, 225-pound Smith averaged 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 20.7 minutes per game in 54 contests. Smith missed a total of 26 games in 2002-03 with three separate ailments.

Peeler has averaged 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 26.0 minutes per game in 712 regular-season contests over his 11-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Vancouver and Minnesota. In 2002-03, the 6-4, 208-pound Peeler averaged 7.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 27.4 minutes per game while playing in all 82 contests. Peeler is Minnesota's all-time three-point field goal leader, with 465.