Saturday, February 6, 2010

Bucks assign Alexander to D-League


(photo courtesy of NBA.com)

The Bucks recently announced that they have assigned forward Joe Alexander to the Fort Wayne franchise of the NBA Development League.

Alexander, who had his contract option declined by the Bucks in November, was working out with the team on its western road trip to prepare for a return to action. He has not played in a game this season due to a right hamstring strain he suffered in late September, just before training camp opened.

"This is nothing more than providing an opportunity for Joe to get on the floor in extended, live minutes," Bucks general manager John Hammond said Wednesday. "It's a chance for him to get his timing, feel and flow back to a real-game rhythm." He looks healthy and Joe would say he feels healthy," Hammond said. "But he's to the point where he does need to be on the floor."

Alexander played limited minutes as a rookie, appearing in 59 games with the Bucks after being selected eighth overall in the 2008 draft. After he was injured in September and aggravated the hamstring strain in October, the Bucks decided not to pick up the first option year on his rookie-scale contract.

That will make the former West Virginia player an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current season.

"There's not a predetermined time as to how little or how long he'll be there," Hammond said. "There's no way an experience like this could ever hurt Joe. The primary purpose is not for experience. It's just an opportunity to get on the floor and play in live game action."

(story courtesy of JSOnline)

My Take

Na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye! Tally up another Milwaukee Bucks draft lottery bust. Alexander has made it clear that he would like to be traded and have an opportunity to earn playing time on a different team. This move could spark some trade talk prior to the February 19th NBA trade deadline so don’t be surprised to see the Bucks making a move in the coming weeks.

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