Bucks acquire Earl Boykins...

[Hellwig]

DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Nuggets traded fan favorite Earl Boykins, along with Julius Hodge and cash, to the Milwaukee Bucks for Steve Blake on Thursday.

Blake averaged 3.6 points and 2.5 assists in 33 games for the Bucks this season.

"We're getting a classic point guard," Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said. "He's an outstanding shooter and solid floor leader."

Nuggets deal Boykins, Hodge to Milwaukee - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

This seems like a great deal for us. Most of the time Steve Blake has looked dreadful this season. Why would Denver do this? Is Boykins contract up at the end of the season or something?

[645]

Sweet, The Bucks robed the nuggets.

[Hellwig]

Here's some insight to why the trade was done

Denver, trading the 5-5 dynamo was understandable. With J.R. Smith having returned to the lineup on Wednesday night and Carmelo Anthony set to rejoin the team on January 22nd, Boykins' minutes were about to decline. Also, by dealing for Iverson, the Nuggets took on some additional salary that affected their status concerning the luxury tax. This deal now puts them under the luxury tax threshold.

For Milwaukee, Boykins' arrival couldn't have come at a better time with all the injuries they have to their backcourt, notably Michael Redd and Mo Williams, and the fact that they are fighting for a playoff spot in the East. Also, due to the injury to Bobby Simmons, Milwaukee was granted an injury exception, which was due to expire on Friday. That is why they had to do the deal today. But in my opinion, Milwaukee is getting so much more than someone who can fill a gap brought about by injuries.

Under the Radar with Mike Breen

[645]

Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris contends that the team's players were somewhat shocked last week when they learned about the trade that brought Earl Boykins and Julius Hodge to Milwaukee from Denver.

And for good reason.

"Trades during the season don't happen that much," Harris said. "And when that takes place it certainly . . . it can cause your team to look at things a little differently."

So just how did this trade come about?

It all started with Harris recognizing the obvious. The Bucks had four players out with injuries and he was able to bring in only one player - initially, at least - to patch all those holes.

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[Hellwig]

Possible future of Boykins and Hodge in Milwaukee...

LOOKING AHEAD:Earl Boykins and Julius Hodge, the players the Bucks obtained in the recent trade with Denver, could both leave the team as free agents after this season. But Bucks general manager Larry Harris doesn't seem overly concerned that they will do so.

Hodge will be an unrestricted free agent after this season and Boykins has a player option that he can exercise through June 30 that would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.

"Whether he does it or not is up to him," Harris said. "But as I told his agent our intentions in the trade were to keep him through the trade deadline and to be with us for the rest of the year. And then we'll see how it all plays itself out. I'm not really worried too much about the summer with that particular situation."

Link

[Rudy]

Why would the Bucks want to keep Hodge?