MILWAUKEE -- Two weeks after the third-year option on his rookie contract wasn't picked up, Milwaukee forward Joe Alexander says he wants to be traded.Alexander's 2010-11 option for $2.76 million was not picked up by the Nov. 2 deadline, making him an unrestricted free agent next summer. In an interview with FanHouse before Tuesday's win over the Nets at the Bradley Center, Alexander was asked if he believes that means the Bucks could deal him as the February trade deadline approaches.
"They made it pretty clear that they don't see me having a future here,'' said Alexander, the No. 8 pick in the 2008 draft who averaged 4.7 points last season as a rookie. "So I'm assuming a trade would definitely be one of the options.''
Alexander then was asked if he would welcome a trade.
"I mean, yeah,'' he said. "If they don't want me, if they don't see a future with me here, that really is the only other option.''
Alexander missed all of training camp and has sat out the first three weeks of the regular season due to a right hamstring problem. He expects to return in three to four weeks, and anticipates some time after that to have a talk with Bucks brass about wanting to be moved.
Asked by FanHouse about Alexander's desire to be traded, Bucks general manager John Hammond declined comment. Asked if there's a chance he could be dealt before the February deadline, Hammond said, "I don't discuss trades with players on our team.''
The Bucks had high hopes for the 6-foot-8 Alexander when they took him out of West Virginia, selecting him ahead of players such as Brook Lopez, Jason Thompson and Anthony Randolph. Instead, Alexander became the highest first-round pick ever to have his rookie contract option declined after his first season.
"We're hoping that once he becomes healthy he can help our team. His job is to help us win games. And we hope he is capable of doing that."
- John Hammond,
Bucks GM "I was a little surprised,'' said Alexander, making $2.58 million this season. "I didn't think they really had enough time to evaluate me. But, even though I was surprised initially, I just had to move on right away and just look in the future.''
Interestingly, the reason Hammond said Alexander's option wasn't picked up was due to the Bucks not having enough time to evaluate him.
"I just didn't feel like we had a fair evaluation period to make a complete, full evaluation on Joe,'' Hammond said. "The fact that he missed a chunk of training camp last year, didn't play quite as many minutes as we were hoping last season (an average of 12.1 over 59 games) and then, of course, he's missed the entire season to date. It was because of those reasons we made that decision.''
Hammond, though, denied that Alexander isn't considered part of the team's future. He said "absolutely'' there's a chance he could be re-signed for next season.
"We're hoping that once he becomes healthy he can help our team,'' Hammond said of this season. "His job is to help us win games. And we hope he is capable of doing that.''
However, Alexander said Bucks officials "haven't really told me anything'' about any possible future he has with the team.
Despite the tough start to his career, Alexander remains confident he eventually can become an effective NBA player.
"I think it was a combination of myself having a lot to learn and learning very slowly,'' Alexander said of his career getting off to a disappointing start. "When you combine those things, it's a dangerous combination.
"Every career has it ups and downs. Unfortunately, mine hit a low point very early. But I think things are going to pick up.''
Alexander wouldn't mind if they pick up for him with a different team.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Come to the WARRIORS. Perfect for the 3 spot.
Is this kid serious? He needs to grow up. He only played 59 games last year...missed training camp both last year and this year...and hasn't played yet this year!? He wants his option picked up!? I'd cut him after that stupid remark. What has he done to make the Bucks want to keep him?
who is joe alexander? Is he even in the NBA?
Isn't Joe Alexander a male porn star?
Joe Alexander could be a good NBA player a Billy Cummingham in disguise.Skiles
should play him in the point guard position in practice (so he gets a better understanding of the game,like John Wooden would do with all his players even Kareem)as well as small forward. Larry Bird could make Joe a more Athletic clone of himself.Joe hire the Bird man to show U the way cause Skiles won't.
hes very very good in shooting, rebound and lateral movement and average blocking, he played in China as well. he woulda fit well with jennings and bogut on 3 spot, but well we cant do anythin, the kid is right.