MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee is cutting costs. With that being no secret, guard Michael Redd doesn't deny there is a possibility he could be traded before his contract expires in the summer of 2011.But that's not what Redd wants.
"Oh yeah, absolutely,'' Redd said Thursday in an interview with FanHouse about wanting to remain with the Bucks through the life of his deal. "I've been here for 10 years. So I've enjoyed my time here, man, and the team keeps getting better.''
Redd, 30, is making $17.04 million this season and has an $18.3 million early-termination option for next season. It would be a shock if Redd, who has played his entire career with the Bucks since entering the NBA in 2000, opted out.
"Anything is possible,'' Redd said of rumblings he could be dealt. "It's a business. We all know that. So I don't worry about it. I don't concern myself with it. All I can do is keep playing basketball and enjoy where I'm at, enjoy my teammates. Whatever happens, happens.''
The cost-cutting Bucks since June have traded Richard Jefferson to San Antonio for next to nothing, renounced the rights to restricted free agent Charlie Villanueva, making him unrestricted, not matched a Minnesota offer sheet on restricted free agent Ramon Sessions and not picked up the 2010-11 contract option on Joe Alexander.
See Also: Joe Alexander Wants to Be Traded
Redd's big contract and recent health problems could make him difficult to move. But at least the star guard is close to returning to the court after missing 42 of Milwaukee's past 44 regular season games.
Redd sat out the final 35 games last season after suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee. After averaging 13.0 points in the first two games this season, Redd has missed the past seven due to left patella strain.
There had been a possibility of Redd returning as soon as Friday against Charlotte. But that was pushed back to a Monday return at San Antonio.
Redd took part in a non-contact practice Thursday. But he said he wants to have a practice with contact before returning, and the next one is expected to be next Tuesday.
"Let me get hit a few times by Andrew (Bogut) and Danny (Gadzuric) and (Francisco Elson), and then we'll be ready to play,'' said Redd, although the Bucks announced late Thursday that Bogut will be out two-to-four weeks with a lower leg injury suffered Wednesday.
Redd, a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Beijing, said his health will be play a role on whether he will look to play for Team USA at next summer's World Championships in Turkey.
"If they ask me, I definitely would consider it, man, absolutely,'' Redd said. "I want to be healthy first and to be productive for this team. And then, when I get to that point, if they ask me, we'll definitely talk to them about it. ... I'm definitely open to it. They just haven't talked to me about it.''
A conversation with USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo could be coming soon. Colangelo told FanHouse in September he anticipates by late fall having talked to holdovers from the 2008 Olympic team and assembling a list of 25 candidates for next summer's 12-man roster.
However, it's no guarantee Redd, who averaged just 3.1 points and 9.1 minutes during the Olympics, will get an invitation. Colangelo has acknowledged that "Tayshaun Prince and Carlos Boozer ... and Michael Redd. Those guys will have competition (for a roster spot for Turkey).''Health permitting and if he's selected, Redd has an interest in remaining with USA Basketball through the 2012 Olympics in London.
"We'll see what happens, but it definitely would be an honor,'' he said. "To experience what we experienced last year winning the gold medal. ... We can all say we would love to play together again.''
Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Classy guy, loved Redd when he played at OSU, such an athletic guy and such a weird looking shot. Hopefully if they do trade him it's to a contender.