Bucks Acquire Ruben Patterson From Denver For Joe Smith
August 10, 2006 - The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired forward Ruben Patterson from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for forward Joe Smith, General Manager Larry Harris announced today.
“Adding Ruben gives us added strength at the small forward position,” said Harris. “He’s a tough, defensive-minded player who has shown an ability to score, and he also gives us added playoff experience. We know that Ruben’s path through the NBA has been a difficult one at times, but we’re confident that he has learned from those experiences and that he’s ready to contribute to helping our team win. We’re excited to bring him to Milwaukee.
“We certainly want to thank Joe for all he did for our organization during his three seasons here,” added Harris. “Joe is one of the best. He was a wonderful team captain and truly embraced the Milwaukee community. We wish him well in Denver.”
Patterson, 31, split the 2005-06 season with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Nuggets. He began the season in Portland, averaging 11.4 points and 3.4 rebounds over 45 games, before being traded to the Nuggets as part of a four-team trade on February 23. In 26 games with the Nuggets, he averaged 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He averaged 12.1 points and 3.4 rebounds over the entire season and shot 51.5 percent from the floor, good for 15th in the NBA.
The 6-5, 224-lb forward was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (31st overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft. His resume spans eight NBA seasons and includes time spent with Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland and Denver. He has averaged 10.3 points and 4.0 rebounds over 548 career games, and has averaged 6.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 22 playoff games.
Smith spent three seasons in Milwaukee and averaged 10.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in 194 games as a Buck. The 11-year NBA veteran has also spent time with Golden State, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Detroit, averaging 12.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 751 career games. He has appeared in six separate NBA postseasons, averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26 playoff games with the Timberwolves and Bucks.
