CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Bobcats agreed to send top scorer Stephen Jackson to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-way trade involving the Sacramento Kings that gave Charlotte two picks in the top nine of the NBA draft, a person familiar with the deal said Thursday.

In another sign of owner Michael Jordan’s rebuilding effort, the Bobcats were also to send the 19th pick and backup point guard Shaun Livingston to the Bucks. Milwaukee, in desperate need of added scoring, also was to receive guard Beno Udrih from the Kings.

Charlotte would get the No. 7 overall pick from Sacramento — it already owns the No. 9 pick — and forward Corey Maggette from Milwaukee.

Guard John Salmons would go from Milwaukee to Sacramento, which also would get the 10th pick from the Bucks.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had yet to be announced by the NBA.

In deal struck just hours before the draft, the Bobcats shed more payroll and got younger, a familiar theme of late for Jordan.

Last year, the Bobcats allowed guard Raymond Felton to leave in free agency and traded Tyson Chandler to Dallas to clear salary-cap space. In February, the Bobcats traded the franchise’s only All-Star, Gerald Wallace, to Portland for two first-round picks.

The 33-year-old Jackson, who averaged 18.5 points last season, is the latest to go following a disappointing 34-48 season that saw coach Larry Brown fired and replaced by Paul Silas.

The sometimes volatile Jackson, who is owed nearly $20 million over the next two seasons, has a similar deal to Maggette, who is to receive just over $21 million over the next two years. Livingston, who has worked his way back from a serious knee injury, is owed $3.5 million next season.

The Bucks understand that Jackson may be reluctant to move again — the third time in just over five seasons to the seventh team in his career — but are hopeful that he’ll become a floor leader who excels in the fourth quarter, something Milwaukee missed last season.

The moves also give the Bobcats two high picks in what is considered a weak draft while also shedding future payroll. The Bobcats are hoping to make a splash in free agency in the summer of 2012.

The Bucks were the worst-shooting, lowest-scoring team in the NBA last season, averaging just 91.9 points per game. Salmons, who came in a trade deadline deal two seasons ago, sparked Milwaukee to its first playoff berth in four seasons and a 22-8 record down the stretch.

But after he signed a $40 million, five-year deal in the offseason, he slumped to 14 points per game and failed to provide the dynamic scoring the Bucks had hoped for.

Maggette was a bad fit from the start after needing ankle surgery that slowed him early in training camp. When he returned, he failed to break in as the sixth man in the rotation and was left with little playing time, no real role and a bloated contract.

The money-losing Kings were able to unload Udrih, who averaged 13.7 points a game last season, but is owed nearly $22 million over the next three seasons.

ATLANTA — Joe Johnson came out sporting a new look.

If his teammates have their way, he won’t be changing it anytime soon.

Wearing a black headband, Johnson scored 36 points — 28 in the first half — and the Atlanta Hawks romped to a 110-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in a makeup game Tuesday night.

Johnson donned the headband to protect the back of his scalp after undergoing a procedure to treat a skin infection. It must have helped his shooting touch, too. He made six straight 3-pointers on the way to the highest-scoring half by an Atlanta player this season.

“He wanted to take it off at halftime,” Hawks center Al Horford said. “We were like, ‘No way.’”

Johnson has to wear the headband at least a few more games to cover his wound.

After that, he’s not sure.

“I’m not really a headband kind of guy,” Johnson said, breaking into a grin. “But for right now, I’ve got to wear it.”

With Johnson firing away, the Hawks went on a 20-0 run that started at the end of the first quarter and extended into the second. The Bucks missed 10 straight shots — plus turned it over four times — during a scoring drought of nearly 6 minutes.

Andrew Bogut led Milwaukee with 21 points. That wasn’t nearly enough against Johnson and the Hawks, who shot a staggering 63 percent (46 of 73).

“This was much needed,” Johnson said. “We were playing a Bucks team that’s really given us a lot of problems.”

Last year, Milwaukee surprisingly took the Hawks to seven games in the opening round of the playoffs, even with Bogut out with an injury. This season, the Bucks had won two of three meetings, including a 108-91 rout in Atlanta back in November.

This game, originally scheduled for Jan. 11, was postponed after an ice storm crippled Atlanta. The Bucks were forced to return to Atlanta, and what a wasted trip it was. They fell behind by as many as 24 points in the first half.

“It’s just another one of those games where we didn’t play very well,” coach Scott Skiles said. “We were just too slow.”

The Hawks were bolstered by the return of Horford, the All-Star center who had missed the previous game because of an ailing left ankle. Otherwise, they stuck with the lineup that snapped a four-game losing streak last weekend: Johnson shifting up to small forward, with Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Teague starting in the backcourt.

The way Johnson played, it didn’t matter who else was on the court. He made 13 of 19 shots — 6 of 9 beyond the arc — to bury the Bucks.

Johnson finally missed on his final two 3-pointers of the half, apparently tired from all that shooting. He came up short of his career high, 42 points, largely because he came out near the end of the third quarter with the Hawks comfortably ahead and didn’t return.

PACERS 119, KNICKS 117

INDIANAPOLIS — Danny Granger’s jumper with 0.3 seconds left gave Indiana a victory over New York.

Granger, who missed Sunday’s 106-93 win at New York with strep throat, scored 26 points. Tyler Hansbrough scored a career-high 30 points after setting a career high with 29 Sunday. Darren Collison added 24 points and nine assists for Indiana.

Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and Amare Stoudemire added 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost three straight.

BULLS 98, WIZARDS 79

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose scored 23 points as Chicago defeated Washington, a victory that moved the Bulls into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference.

Luol Deng added 20 points and Keith Bogans scored 17, his highest total since joining the Bulls. Bogans took all of his 10 shots from behind the 3-point arc, hitting a season-high five.

The Bulls (48-18) moved a half-game ahead of the Boston Celtics.

Washington center JaVale McGee had a rare triple-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 12 blocks, the most by an NBA player since Toronto’s Keon Clark had 12 on March 23, 2001.

Rookie Jordan Crawford led the Wizards with 27 points.

ATLANTA (AP)

Sporting a new look, Joe Johnson scored 36 points — 28 in the first half — and the Atlanta Hawks romped to a 110-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in a makeup game Tuesday night.

Johnson donned a black headband to protect the back of his scalp after undergoing a procedure to treat a skin infection. It must have helped his shooting touch, too. He made six straight 3-pointers on the way to the highest-scoring half by an Atlanta player this season.

With Johnson firing away, the Hawks went on a 20-0 run that started at the end of the first quarter and extended into the second. The Bucks missed 10 straight shots — plus turned it over four times — during a scoring drought of nearly 6 minutes.

Andrew Bogut led Milwaukee with 21 points. That wasn’t nearly enough against Johnson and the Hawks, who shot a staggering 63 percent (46 of 73).

The teams were making up a Jan. 11 game that was postponed after an ice storm struck Atlanta. What a wasted trip for the Bucks, who fell behind by as many as 24 points in the first half.

The Hawks were bolstered by the return of All-Star center Al Horford, who had missed the previous game because of an ailing left ankle. Otherwise, the Hawks stuck with the lineup that snapped a four-game losing streak over the weekend: Johnson shifting up to small forward, with Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Teague starting in the backcourt.

The way Johnson played, it didn’t matter who else was on the court. He made 13 of 19 shots — 6 of 9 beyond the arc — to bury the Bucks.

Johnson swished his first 3-pointer with just under 4 minutes left in the opening quarter, erasing Milwaukee’s final lead. After Bogut tied it one last time at 17 with a hook shot, the Bucks suddenly went cold — and the Atlanta star couldn’t miss.

He hit another 3 early in the second, picked off a bad pass by Corey Maggette and knocked down another one. After Carlos Delfino broke Milwaukee’s scoreless streak, Johnson swished another 3. Then another, even though he was about as close to midcourt as he was to the arc. And, yes, one more.

Johnson finally missed on his final two 3-pointers of the half, apparently tired from all that shooting. He came up short of his career high, 42 points, largely because he came out near the end of the third quarter with the Hawks comfortably ahead and didn’t return.

The Hawks led by as many as 33 down the stretch as both teams emptied their benches.

NOTES: Johnson came up shy of his career high for points in a half — 32 at Chicago on Jan. 28, 2006. … Bucks G Michael Redd took part in the shootaround but hasn’t had a chance to get in a full-contact practice. He hasn’t played since January 2010, when he tore both the anterior cruciate and the medial collateral ligaments in his left knee. … Teague, who tied his career high with 24 points in Atlanta’s last game, scored just 6 points on a pair of late 3s. … Because of the makeup game, both teams will have to play on back-to-back nights. At least the Hawks get both games at home, facing Denver on Wednesday. The Bucks were traveling back to Milwaukee to host Orlando.

Read More: Larry Drew (A – ATL), Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets

Joe Johnson gave Atlanta Hawks fans a night to remember. No, not because of his black headband or because the first time they tried to play this game against the Milwaukee Bucks there was six inches of snow and a bunch of ice on the ground here in Atlanta. He just put on a shooting performance for the ages.

Johnson posted 36 points before resting for most of the second half to lead the Hawks to a 110-85 annihilation of the Bucks on Tuesday night at Philips Arena.

Josh Smith finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds and Marvin Williams posted 16 for Atlanta, which shot 63-percent (46-for-73) from the field.

“It makes it a whole lot easier (when Johnson’s scoring like that),” Josh Smith told the team’s TV broadcast afterward. “Now he becomes a decoy. Guys are able to play off him well and guys were making shots tonight.”

To think Johnson entered this one in a bit of tailspin, averaging just over 14 points in each of his last 15 games. In this one, he simply couldn’t miss, at one point connecting on six straight 3-pointers as the Hawks opened up the early lead.

Johnson, who was wearing a headband after getting stitched up due to some minor skin procedure, finished 13-for-19 from the field, 6-for-9 from the line and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. However, because of the blowout and an impending game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night here, Johnson was removed from the game late in the third quarter — one point shy of his season high of 37 and six away from his career-high of 42.

Atlanta’s All-Star forward and his headband should return tomorrow.

“We’re definitely gonna keep the headband,” Hawks coach Larry Drew joked afterward. “He seemed to have some bounce in that step. He was just really aggressive coming through screens. He had a solid, solid game on both ends of the court.”

The Hawks actually looked sluggish early on as the Bucks opened up an 11-10 lead midway through the first. But that didn’t last very long. Atlanta scored the last 11 points of the first quarter, quickly extended the bulge to 20 in the second and never really looked back.

I joked before the game that the Bucks looked like a deer caught in the middle of the road staring at the glare of oncoming headlights when they set a franchise low of 56 points against the Boston Celtics on Sunday. On Tuesday, the Hawks preyed upon some deer roadkill.

Atlanta held a 41-31 edge on a Milwaukee team that shot just 42-percent from the field (36-for-86). They swatted eight shots and dished 31 assists on 46 Hawks field goals.

“Tonight was just our night,” Drew said. “We were good on both ends of the floor.”

Al Horford returned to action after missing Saturday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers with a sprained left ankle and finished with 15 points. Josh Powell also returned to the court after spending missing Saturday night’s game due to legal issues. He did not score in six minutes.

Andrew Bogut posted 21 points and 13 boards and Carlos Delfino added 13 for Milwaukee, which dropped its second straight game.

Joe Johnson came out sporting a new look.

If his teammates have their way, he won’t be changing it anytime soon.

Wearing a black headband, Johnson scored 36 points — 28 in the first half — and the Atlanta Hawks romped to a 110-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in a makeup game Tuesday night.

Johnson donned the headband to protect the back of his scalp after undergoing a procedure to treat a skin infection. It must have helped his shooting touch, too. He made six straight 3-pointers on the way to the highest-scoring half by an Atlanta player this season.

“He wanted to take it off at halftime,” Hawks center Al Horford said. “We were like, ‘No way.’”

Johnson has to wear the headband at least a few more games to cover his wound.

After that, he’s not sure.

“I’m not really a headband kind of guy,” Johnson said, breaking into a grin. “But for right now, I’ve got to wear it.”

With Johnson firing away, the Hawks went on a 20-0 run that started at the end of the first quarter and extended into the second. The Bucks missed 10 straight shots — plus turned it over four times — during a scoring drought of nearly 6 minutes.

Andrew Bogut led Milwaukee with 21 points. That wasn’t nearly enough against Johnson and the Hawks, who shot a staggering 63 percent (46 of 73).

“This was much needed,” Johnson said. “We were playing a Bucks team that’s really given us a lot of problems.”

Last year, Milwaukee surprisingly took the Hawks to seven games in the opening round of the playoffs, even with Bogut out with an injury. This season, the Bucks had won two of three meetings, including a 108-91 rout in Atlanta back in November.

This game, originally scheduled for Jan. 11, was postponed after an ice storm crippled Atlanta. The Bucks were forced to return to Atlanta, and what a wasted trip it was. They fell behind by as many as 24 points in the first half.

“It’s just another one of those games where we didn’t play very well,” coach Scott Skiles said. “We were just too slow.”

The Hawks were bolstered by the return of Horford, the All-Star center who had missed the previous game because of an ailing left ankle. Otherwise, they stuck with the lineup that snapped a four-game losing streak last weekend: Johnson shifting up to small forward, with Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Teague starting in the backcourt.

The way Johnson played, it didn’t matter who else was on the court. He made 13 of 19 shots — 6 of 9 beyond the arc — to bury the Bucks.

Johnson swished his first 3-pointer with just under 4 minutes left in the opening quarter, erasing Milwaukee’s final lead. After Bogut tied it one last time at 17 with a hook shot, the Bucks suddenly went cold — and the Atlanta star couldn’t miss.

He hit another 3 early in the second, picked off a bad pass by Corey Maggette and knocked down another one. After Carlos Delfino broke Milwaukee’s scoreless streak, Johnson swished another 3. Then another, even though he was about as close to midcourt as he was to the arc. And, yes, one more.

Johnson finally missed on his final two 3-pointers of the half, apparently tired from all that shooting. He came up short of his career high, 42 points, largely because he came out near the end of the third quarter with the Hawks comfortably ahead and didn’t return.

“I had my legs under me,” Johnson said. “It was just a feeling. I was just letting it go.”

The Hawks led by as many as 33 down the stretch as both teams emptied their benches.

“We haven’t had a win like this all year,” coach Larry Drew said. “Hopefully a game like this will give us some juice.”

NOTES: Johnson came up shy of his career high for points in a half — 32 at Chicago on Jan. 28, 2006. … Bucks G Michael Redd took part in the shootaround but hasn’t had a chance to get in a full-contact practice. He hasn’t played since January 2010, when he tore both the anterior cruciate and the medial collateral ligaments in his left knee. … Teague, who tied his career high with 24 points in Atlanta’s last game, scored just six points on a pair of late 3s. But Drew was pleased with what he brought to the team in other areas. “He set the tone for us,” the coach said. “His speed and quickness were a big factor.” … Because of the makeup game, both teams will have to play on back-to-back nights. At least the Hawks get both games at home, facing Denver on Wednesday. The Bucks were traveling back to Milwaukee to host Orlando.

The last time that the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks tried to play a basketball game in Atlanta, people were ice skating down Peachtree Street. Although the weather outside may be only a little less frightful early on a rainy early Tuesday morning in the ATL, there’s no doubt they’ll get the rescheduled game in.

Jeff Teague looks to build on his career-best tying performance as the Hawks battle the Bucks at Philips Arena (7:00 p.m., SportSouth, 97.9 FM) in a game that you shouldn’t have a problem at all finding a seat.

This one is a “regular guy’s” dream. You know — those types of games in baseball where the game is rained out and some of those pricey seats that those swarmy know-it-all overpaid corporate-type folks that don’t know the difference between a double play, double down and a daily double invade on a regular basis suddenly become available.  (And we all know most of those corporate folk get those seats — not for the love of the game — but as some sort of status symbol: kinda like their trophy wife, hot little nanny or their fancy Mercedes SL65 AMG Roadster).

Well, as of right now, some of the better seats in Philips Arena are available for this one – even in club level. And if you somehow have like a grand or so to burn, you too, can be living the High Life (and then drinking one after the game).

This is the first makeup game in Atlanta at least 13 years for the Hawks. And more likely than not, there has never been a rescheduled basketball game here. (From my memory and the Atlanta PR staff’s memory, no games were ever cancelled when the Hawks played at the Georgia Dome, Georgia Tech or Philips Arena — that is until this season. The records could not be verified past then at the time of the cancellation of the Jan. 11 game).

It is not, however, the first time that a game will be decided on a day other than when it was initially supposed to be played here.

Hawks fans remember all too well that contest between the Miami Heat and the Hawks on Dec. 19, 2007. In that one, the Hawks scorekeepers improperly gave Shaquille O’Neal an extra foul and claimed that he fouled out of the game in OT. Of course, he did not.

Whoops.

Miami protested. The league ordered that the last 51.9 seconds replayed the next time the Heat came to town.

Atlanta won the OT game and the nightcap of a rare basketball quasi-double header to take over the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on March 8, 2008.

Bucks fans are looking for some similar magic on Tuesday. The team is very much in the playoff hunt for the eighth and final spot in the East and will enter play 1-1/2 games behind the Indiana Pacers and the Charlotte Bobcats for the last ticket to the dance.

They were playing very good basketball, winning three straight before heading to Boston on Sunday, where — quite frankly — they had that look of a deer caught up in the middle of the road staring at the glare some headlights from oncoming traffic. The Boston Celtics held Milwaukee to a franchise-low 56 points in a 29 point demolition as the Bucks went splat.

Milwaukee has had problems generating offense this season. It is last in the league in points-per-game (91.2) and field-goal percentage (42.5). If the Hawks defense decides to show up on Tuesday, the Bucks could be in for a long night.

However, it’s not like Atlanta has been playing great basketball either of late. The Hawks dropped 10 of 14 before snapping a four-game losing streak with a 91-82 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. Teague was the star for a shorthanded team, posting a game-high 24 for Atlanta, which was without Al Horford (sprained left ankle).

Horford practiced with the team on Monday and should play on Tuesday.

The news may not be the same for reserve C/F Josh Powell, who was arrested before Saturday’s game for blocking traffic by the arena while an ambulance was trying to get through. He spent the night in jail while waiting to be arraigned on felony Obstruction of an Officer charges.

While Powell has since been released from prison, the team has not released a statement as to what, if any, disciplinary action the former Riverdale High School standout faces.

Atlanta will also try to solve the riddle of where Joe Johnson’s points have gone. The Hawks All-Star is averaging just over 14 points over his last 15 games.

Milwaukee will be looking take the four-game set from Atlanta. The Bucks have won two-of-three games in the series, including a 90-85 win here on Dec. 27.

(Sports Network) – The Milwaukee Bucks look to put an end to their six-game road losing streak when they invade the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.

Milwaukee hasn’t won on the road since a 116-110 overtime win at Toronto on Jan. 28 and is only 8-22 away from Brew City this season.

The Bucks just went 1-3 on a four-game homestand and capped the trek with Sunday’s 89-83 loss versus the Boston Celtics. Brandon Jennings finished with 23 points, six boards and five assists, while Luc Mbah a Moute had 19 points and seven boards for Milwaukee, which suffered its 12th loss in 16 games.

“The whole game, we felt like we hung in there, we did a good job of hanging in there with them, but I feel like we shot ourselves in the foot, turning the ball over and not executing when we needed to at a crucial moment of the game,” Mbah a Moute said. “That really cost us.”

Mbah a Moute is averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in his last two games and Jennings is posting 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals so far this month (3 games). John Salmons had 11 points in the loss to Boston and is 11 rebounds shy of 2,000 and nine steals from 600 for his career.

The Bucks are still pushing for a postseason spot in the East and sit 3 1/2 games behind Indiana for the eighth and final berth in the conference. Andrew Bogut is questionable for Tuesday’s game with a rib injury and has missed three straight games.

Washington will begin a three-game homestand tonight versus the Bucks, Clippers and Thunder, and is 15-17 in DC this season.

The Wizards are coming off Sunday’s 113-102 road loss against the Detroit Pistons, as rookie John Wall finished with a game-high 24 points and handed out seven assists in defeat. Nick Young and Andray Blatche scored 21 points apiece for Washington, which fell to 1-29 as the guest this season and has dropped eight of nine games overall.

“We didn’t get any stops down the stretch tonight is what it boiled down to,” Acting Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. “[Detroit] hurt us with the (Prince) and Stuckey pick-and-roll and kind of hurt us every which way.”

Wizards head coach Flip Saunders missed the game in order to attend his mother’s wake and funeral. He should be on the sidelines for tonight’s game. Kay Saunders, 90, died last Friday in suburban Cleveland.

Wall is averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in his last 10 games, while Blatche is averaging 18.4 points, 8.4 boards and 3.4 assists over his previous seven contests. Blatche has scored 20-plus points in three straight games. Rashard Lewis (knee) is questionable for Tuesday.

The Bucks and Wizards have beaten each other once this season, with each team prevailing as the host. Young is averaging 23.5 points in those two games.

The Sports Network

Read More: Chauncey Billups (G – NYK), Carmelo Anthony (F – NYK), New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks

Carmelo Anthony didn’t have the best shooting game of his career in his New York Knicks debut, but few at Madison Square Garden will be asking for a refund. The Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 114-108, with Melo and fellow new guy Chauncey Billups each scoring four points in the final minute.

Anthony finished the night with 27 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Billups’ 21 points and eight assists. To his eternal shame, Melo was responsible for one of the two free throws missed by Knicks players on the night. John Salmons led the Bucks with 27 points and seven assists, with Andrew Bogut adding 14 points and 12 boards.

The Knicks, now 29-26 and undefeated in the Carmelo Anthony era, now begin a road trip that’ll take them to Cleveland on Friday, Miami on Sunday, and Orlando on Tuesday.

For more on this game, Knicks fans should join Posting And Toasting and SB Nation New York, while Bucks fans should join Brew Hoop.

Bucks 94, Timberwolves 88

Bucks 94, Timberwolves 88

Updated Feb 22, 2011 12:14 AM ET

MILWAUKEE (AP)

Michael Redd rejoined the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday with a new perspective for the game.

Redd last played 13 months ago when he tore both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Jan. 10 against the Lakers in Los Angeles. He was away from Milwaukee with the club’s permission, opting to rehabilitate back home in Columbus, Ohio.

”It feels great,” Redd said after participating in practice. ”It feels great. One of the happiest days of my career to come back and be a part of practice. To be on the court is a blessing, man. I kissed the court.”

Redd has averaged 20.2 points in his 10-year career and was a gold-medal winning member of Team USA at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but has appeared in just 51 NBA games since.

”You really start to treasure things when you can’t do them anymore,” Redd said. ”I missed the last two years of my career due to injury. Not that I didn’t appreciate it before, but I appreciate it even more because I did miss it.”

Redd, 31, missed the final 48 games of the 2009-2010 season and was out nine games from Nov. 3-21 with a strained left patella tendon. Then, it was seven more from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 with left knee soreness.

His sore left knee cost him a considerable portion of the 2008-09 season. He played in 33 games and led Milwaukee in scoring for the sixth consecutive year at 21.2 points per game, but missed the last 35 games after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee on Jan. 24, 2009, against Sacramento.

Redd’s first step will be to work out with team trainers to determine his next step.

”You can have all the great plans you want, and then all of a sudden something happens and there’s a setback,” coach Scott Skiles said. ”Or, it goes the other way. You realize the guy is a lot further along. The medical staff has a hold of that.”

Bucks center Andrew Bogut believes Redd could be back playing in games soon.

”He did 20 minutes,” Bogut said of Redd’s effort. ”He can’t obviously go through a full practice. It would be stupid for him to do so. He’s got to build himself up until he’s comfortable and ready. He did the warm-up drills and looked pretty good.”

Bogut was asked if Redd might help the Bucks (21-34) turn around their season and make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

”Any energy shot we can get will help us,” Bogut said. ”Obviously, he’s about two weeks away from what I hear our trainers say.”

Redd, a shooting guard who has made 427 starts in 568 games, said he had no preconceptions about how he would fit in.

”Basically, I’m new to this team,” he said. ”Whatever happens happens. Everybody knows what I can do. It’s just a matter of getting me in basketball shape and playing again. Whatever I can do off the court, on the court, I’ll do it.”

He is being paid $18.3 million in the final year of a $91 million, six-year contract signed in 2005 and wants to play another three to five years.

Michael Redd rejoined the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday with a new perspective for the game.Redd last played 13 months ago when he tore both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Jan. 10 against the Lakers in Los Angeles. He was away from Milwaukee with the club’s permission, opting to rehabilitate back home in Columbus, Ohio.”It feels great,” Redd said after participating in practice. “It feels great. One of the happiest days of my career to come back and be a part of practice. To be on the court is a blessing, man. I kissed the court.”Redd has averaged 20.2 points in his 10-year career and was a gold-medal winning member of Team USA at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but has appeared in just 51 NBA games since.”You really start to treasure things when you can’t do them anymore,” Redd said. “I missed the last two years of my career due to injury. Not that I didn’t appreciate it before, but I appreciate it even more because I did miss it.”Redd, 31, missed the final 48 games of the 2009-2010 season and was out nine games from Nov. 3-21 with a strained left patella tendon. Then, it was seven more from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 with left knee soreness.His sore left knee cost him a considerable portion of the 2008-09 season. He played in 33 games and led Milwaukee in scoring for the sixth consecutive year at 21.2 points per game, but missed the last 35 games after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee on Jan. 24, 2009, against Sacramento.Redd’s first step will be to work out with team trainers to determine his next step.”You can have all the great plans you want, and then all of a sudden something happens and there’s a setback,” coach Scott Skiles said. “Or, it goes the other way. You realize the guy is a lot further along. The medical staff has a hold of that.”Bucks center Andrew Bogut believes Redd could be back playing in games soon.”He did 20 minutes,” Bogut said of Redd’s effort. “He can’t obviously go through a full practice. It would be stupid for him to do so. He’s got to build himself up until he’s comfortable and ready. He did the warm-up drills and looked pretty good.”Bogut was asked if Redd might help the Bucks (21-34) turn around their season and make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.”Any energy shot we can get will help us,” Bogut said. “Obviously, he’s about two weeks away from what I hear our trainers say.”Redd, a shooting guard who has made 427 starts in 568 games, said he had no preconceptions about how he would fit in.”Basically, I’m new to this team,” he said. “Whatever happens happens. Everybody knows what I can do. It’s just a matter of getting me in basketball shape and playing again. Whatever I can do off the court, on the court, I’ll do it.”He is being paid $18.3 million in the final year of a $91 million, six-year contract signed in 2005 and wants to play another three to five years.

MILWAUKEE — Michael Redd rejoined the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday with a new perspective for the game.

Redd last played 13 months ago when he tore both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Jan. 10 against the Lakers in Los Angeles. He was away from Milwaukee with the club’s permission, opting to rehabilitate back home in Columbus, Ohio.

“It feels great,” Redd said after participating in practice. “It feels great. One of the happiest days of my career to come back and be a part of practice. To be on the court is a blessing, man. I kissed the court.”

Redd has averaged 20.2 points in his 10-year career and was a gold-medal winning member of Team USA at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but has appeared in just 51 NBA games since.

“You really start to treasure things when you can’t do them anymore,” Redd said. “I missed the last two years of my career due to injury. Not that I didn’t appreciate it before, but I appreciate it even more because I did miss it.”

Redd, 31, missed the final 48 games of the 2009-2010 season and was out nine games from Nov. 3-21 with a strained left patella tendon. Then, it was seven more from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 with left knee soreness.

His sore left knee cost him a considerable portion of the 2008-09 season. He played in 33 games and led Milwaukee in scoring for the sixth consecutive year at 21.2 points per game, but missed the last 35 games after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee on Jan. 24, 2009, against Sacramento.

Redd’s first step will be to work out with team trainers to determine his next step.

“You can have all the great plans you want, and then all of a sudden something happens and there’s a setback,” coach Scott Skiles said. “Or, it goes the other way. You realize the guy is a lot further along. The medical staff has a hold of that.”

Bucks center Andrew Bogut believes Redd could be back playing in games soon.

“He did 20 minutes,” Bogut said of Redd’s effort. “He can’t obviously go through a full practice. It would be stupid for him to do so. He’s got to build himself up until he’s comfortable and ready. He did the warm-up drills and looked pretty good.”

Bogut was asked if Redd might help the Bucks (21-34) turn around their season and make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

“Any energy shot we can get will help us,” Bogut said. “Obviously, he’s about two weeks away from what I hear our trainers say.”

Redd, a shooting guard who has made 427 starts in 568 games, said he had no preconceptions about how he would fit in.

“Basically, I’m new to this team,” he said. “Whatever happens happens. Everybody knows what I can do. It’s just a matter of getting me in basketball shape and playing again. Whatever I can do off the court, on the court, I’ll do it.”

He is being paid $18.3 million in the final year of a $91 million, six-year contract signed in 2005 and wants to play another three to five years.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE — Michael Redd rejoined the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday with a new perspective for the game.

Redd last played 13 months ago when he tore both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Jan. 10 against the Lakers in Los Angeles. He was away from Milwaukee with the club’s permission, opting to rehabilitate back home in Columbus, Ohio.

“It feels great,” Redd said after participating in practice. “It feels great. One of the happiest days of my career to come back and be a part of practice. To be on the court is a blessing, man. I kissed the court.”

Redd has averaged 20.2 points in his 10-year career and was a gold-medal winning member of Team USA at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but has appeared in just 51 NBA games since.

“You really start to treasure things when you can’t do them anymore,” Redd said. “I missed the last two years of my career due to injury. Not that I didn’t appreciate it before, but I appreciate it even more because I did miss it.”

Redd, 31, missed the final 48 games of the 2009-2010 season and was out nine games from Nov. 3-21 with a strained left patella tendon. Then, it was seven more from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 with left knee soreness.

His sore left knee cost him a considerable portion of the 2008-09 season. He played in 33 games and led Milwaukee in scoring for the sixth consecutive year at 21.2 points per game, but missed the last 35 games after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee on Jan. 24, 2009, against Sacramento.

Redd’s first step will be to work out with team trainers to determine his next step.

“You can have all the great plans you want, and then all of a sudden something happens and there’s a setback,” coach Scott Skiles said. “Or, it goes the other way. You realize the guy is a lot further along. The medical staff has a hold of that.”

Bucks center Andrew Bogut believes Redd could be back playing in games soon.

“He did 20 minutes,” Bogut said of Redd’s effort. “He can’t obviously go through a full practice. It would be stupid for him to do so. He’s got to build himself up until he’s comfortable and ready. He did the warm-up drills and looked pretty good.”

Bogut was asked if Redd might help the Bucks (21-34) turn around their season and make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

“Any energy shot we can get will help us,” Bogut said. “Obviously, he’s about two weeks away from what I hear our trainers say.”

Redd, a shooting guard who has made 427 starts in 568 games, said he had no preconceptions about how he would fit in.

“Basically, I’m new to this team,” he said. “Whatever happens happens. Everybody knows what I can do. It’s just a matter of getting me in basketball shape and playing again. Whatever I can do off the court, on the court, I’ll do it.”

He is being paid $18.3 million in the final year of a $91 million, six-year contract signed in 2005 and wants to play another three to five years.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press