The Milwaukee Bucks traded point guard T.J. Ford to the Toronto Raptors on Friday night for forward Charlie Villanueva and cash. Ford averaged 12.2 points and a team-high 6.6 assists in 72 games last season following a spinal-cord injury that sidelined him for a season and a half.
"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," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "We wish him much success in Toronto." The 6-foot Ford was the No. 8 pick in the 2003 draft.
"We are sorry to see Charlie leave, but getting better comes at a cost," Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said. "T.J. Ford's best attributes, quickness and playmaking, are a perfect fit for our team."
CAVS TO EXTEND JAMES: LeBron James surprised his coach, general manager and the Cleveland Cavaliers by showing up unannounced at a press conference on Friday to introduce the club's top two draft picks.
"It's good to see him — anytime," coach Mike Brown said. But especially now.
Because the Cavaliers can begin negotiations with James and his agent, Leon Rose, on a five-year contract extension worth about $80 million. James, who isn't eligible to become a free agent until after the 2006-07 season, has given every indication that he intends to sign the deal.
Trouble is, he can't officially sign until July 12 when the NBA's free-agent moratorium ends. So for now, Cleveland fans, burned in the past by promises made by the likes of Art Modell, Jim Thome and Carlos Boozer, are doing their best to keep the faith that the Akron-born James stays close to home.
HEAT PICK UP OPTION: The Miami Heat picked up reserve guard Jason Kapono's $1.1 million contract for next season Friday, one day before he would have become a free agent.
Kapono averaged 4.1 points in 51 games last season for the Heat, making two starts. He appeared in one postseason game during Miami's run to the NBA championship.
NETS, ROBINSON AGREE: Clifford Robinson and the Nets have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that will keep the troubled forward in New Jersey for another season, agent Brad Marshall said Friday. Earlier in the day, the Nets complied with an NBA deadline and announced that they had declined to exercise a $2.5 million option on Robinson's existing contract. That made Robinson a free agent and gave the two sides a chance to work out a new deal.
WOLVES MAKE OFFERS: The Minnesota Timberwolves exercised their contract option on guard Bracey Wright for next season and made a qualifying offer to restricted free-agent forward Justin Reed. The offer allows the Timberwolves to match any offer to Reed from another team. Acquired in a midseason trade that sent swingman Wally Szczerbiak to Boston, Reed averaged 6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 17.7 minutes for the Wolves in 40 games and provided energy and athleticism in the frontcourt. Wright, a second-round draft pick last year, spent most of his rookie season with Florida in the NBA's developmental league.