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Raptors ship Villanueva to Bucks
TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto Raptors finally filled their gap at point guard, but it came at a high price.
The Raptors sent forward Charlie Villanueva to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday for point guard T.J. Ford and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Villanueva was coming off an excellent rookie season for the Raptors. He averaged 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 81 games, including 36 starts, and was named to the NBA all-rookie first team.
He set club rookie records for points with 48 and rebounds with 18.
The Raptors were widely mocked for taking Villanueva seventh overall in the 2005 draft, but his solid rookie campaign made him an attractive player to other teams. With the Raptors deep up front after drafting Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick Thursday, trading Villanueva to fill the gaping hole at point guard seemed like a sensible move for Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo.
''Charlie proved to be one of our more marketable players,'' said Colangelo. ''Obviously there was some disappointment in his voice (when told of the trade), but he understood where things are with this team and where we're trying to go.''
In Ford, the Raptors get a quick playmaking guard who had a solid season with the Bucks. Ford averaged 12.2 points, a team-best 6.6 assists and 35.5 minutes last season. He rebounded from a spinal-cord injury that sidelined him for a season and a half.
Ford was the eighth overall pick in the 2003 draft.
''We really like what we've seen from T.J. in the past year,'' said Colangelo. ''He's a lightning quick guard, he's got great playmaking ability and we feel he is the perfect fit for the type of team that we would like to become.''
Colangelo said he has not had a chance to talk to Ford, but Bucks GM Larry Harris said the guard was favourable about coming to Toronto.
Colangelo also said that the Raptors looked into Ford's past medical problems before making the deal.
''Obviously you do your due diligence, and suffice it to say we were comfortable moving forward on the basis of the information that we had,'' said Colangelo.
Harris hopes Villanueva will fill the team's need for a power forward to complement seven-foot centre Andrew Bogut, the top pick in the 2005 draft.
''Acquiring Charlie takes care of a primary need we had going into the summer,'' Harris said. ''He's a gifted power forward who knows how to score both inside and outside. ... The outstanding rookie season he had last year is only the beginning of what he's capable of achieving.''
The Bucks, with a revamped roster and Ford as floor leader, reached the playoffs with a 40-42 record last season. It was a 10-game improvement from the previous season when they didn't make the playoffs.
In the playoffs, they lost 4-1 to Detroit in the first round.
''He was an inspiration to all of us when he found the will and strength to fight back from the neck injury he suffered during his rookie season,'' Harris said. ''We wish him much success in Toronto.''
According to Harris, the discussions with the Raptors started about Milwaukee's veteran centre and Toronto native Jamaal Magloire, and they evolved into the deal that was announced Friday night.
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Last edited by DigDeep on Jul-11-2006 at 14:47
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