Bulls acquire Thomas, James, Roberson and 2009 first-round pick

Audio: GM John Paxson on the three trades (24:44 | 11.3 MB) Audio: Brad Miller talks about his return to Chicago (3:22 | 1.54 MB) Sam Smith: Trade wrap; Bulls lead league in ThomasesAlso: Bulls acquire Miller and Salmons from Kings

February 19, 2009 – The Chicago Bulls acquired forward Tim Thomas, center Jerome James and guard Anthony Roberson from the New York Knicks in exchange for guard Larry Hughes. In another move, Chicago also traded guard Thabo Sefolosha to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2009 first-round draft pick. With these deals, Chicago’s roster now stands at 13.

Thomas (6-10, 240) has averaged 9.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 21.6 mpg, and shot .440 from the floor and .404 from behind the arc, in 46 games this season. He played his first 10 games of the season with the Los Angeles Clippers, before being acquired by the Knicks along with Cuttino Mobley on Nov. 21, 2008, for Mardy Collins and Zach Randolph. This trade marks Thomas’ second stint with the Bulls, as he appeared in three games with Chicago during the 2005-06 season. In his 12th season in the NBA, Thomas has appeared in 788 regular-season games (407 starts) and holds career averages of 11.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 26.4 mpg and has shot .437 from the field, .367 from behind the arc and .757 from the line. He also has played in 53 playoff games (23 starts) over his career and has posted postseason averages of 13.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 1.4 apg in 28.9 mpg. Thomas was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the first round (seventh overall) of NBA Draft 1997 after spending one season at Villanova. The 31-year old Thomas has also played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers.

James (7-1, 285), has appeared in two games this year, and has averaged 3.0 ppg and 1.5 rpg in 5.0 mpg. He has missed 52 games this year, and will miss the remainder of the season, with a ruptured right Achillies. In his 10th season in the NBA, the 33-year old James has played in 358 regular-season games (180 starts), and averaged 4.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.07 bpg, 13.3 mpg, .485 from the field, and .617 from the stripe. He has also played in 11 career playoff games (11 starts), posting averages of 9.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 1.47 bpg in 21.7 mpg. James was selected by the Sacramento Kings out of Florida A&M in the second round (36th overall) of NBA Draft 1998. During his 10 year career, he has enjoyed stints with the Sacramento Kings and Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder).

Roberson (6-2, 195), is in his third season as a pro, and has averaged 4.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.8 apg, 11.0 mpg and shot .379 from the field and .338 from three-point range. Roberson signed with the Knicks as a free agent prior to this season and has set career highs in 3FGM (five), steals (three) and assists (tied with four) this season with New York. The 26-year old Michigan native has appeared in 59 regular season games (one start), and has compiled career averages of 4.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg and 0.6 apg in 9.6 mpg. He has also shot .408 from the field and .900 from the charity stripe for his career. Undrafted following his junior season at Florida, Roberson has also played for the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors.

Hughes (6-5, 185) has averaged 12.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.0 apg and 26.4 mpg in 30 games (six starts) this year. In his 11th season out of St. Louis, he has appeared in 648 contests (479 starts), and owns career averages of 14.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 31.6 mpg and has shot .410 from the field, .305 from behind the arc and .753 from the line. He has also appeared in 45 career playoff games (38 starts) and has posted playoff averages of 13.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 3.0 apg in 35.0 mpg. Selected in the first round (eighth overall) of NBA Draft 1998 by the Philadelphia 76ers, the 30-year old Hughes has also played for the Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers. Hughes joined the Bulls on Feb. 21, 2008, in Chicago’s three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder).

Sefolosha (6-7, 215), in his third season in the NBA, has played in 43 games (14 starts) this season, and averaged 4.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.5 apg, 17.1 mpg, .434 from the field, .300 from behind the arc and .840 from the line. Originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round (13th overall) of NBA Draft 2006, his draft rights were traded by Philadelphia to Chicago for the draft rights to Rodney Carney (16th overall) and cash considerations (June 28, 2006). Sefolosha has played in 183 regular-season contests (40 starts) with Chicago, and tallied averages of 5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.4 apg and 16.6 mpg. During his time in a Bulls uniform, he shot .428 from the field, .328 from behind the arc and .684 from the free-throw line. Sefolosha, 24, also appeared in nine playoff games with the Bulls, and averaged 3.3 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 11.0 mpg.