Earlier this week, Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond indicated that it was unlikely the Bucks would trade out of
John Hammond
the 12th spot in Thursday nights NBA Draft. That all changed today when the Bucks pulled off a trade with the Houston Rockets.
The Bucks sent their 12th pick in the first round, along with Shaun Livingston, Jon Brockman and Jon Leuer to the Rockets for their 14th pick in the first round and 6’11 big man Samuel Dalembert.
Dalembert averaged 7.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 65 games for the Rockets last season, including 45 starts. He gives the Bucks a defensive and shot-blocking presence in the middle. He averaged 1.7 blocks a game last season to rank 10th in the NBA. Dalembert averaged 1.9 blocks per game over his career.
Dalembert played college ball at Seton Hall and was the 26th pick in the 2001 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Bucks latching onto a big man 1-day before the draft might indicate that they’re looking elsewhere in tomorrow nights draft, possibly for a shooting guard.
The 6’10 Leuer was the Bucks second round pick out of Wisconsin last season. He appeared in 46 games for the Bucks as a rookie and averaged 4.7 points and 2.6 rebounds a game last season.