June 30, 2006 - General Manager Larry Harris announced tonight that the Milwaukee Bucks have acquired forward Charlie Villanueva from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for guard T.J. Ford and cash considerations. Villanueva, 21, was selected seventh overall in the 2005 NBA Draft and enjoyed a successful rookie season last year, averaging 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 81 games (36 as a starter). He ranked second among all rookies in points and rebounds, third in blocks (0.78) and minutes (29.1), seventh in field goal percentage (.463) and eighth in steals (0.74). The 6-11 forward notched 12 double-doubles last season and set Toronto rookie single-game records for points (48 – at Milwaukee, 3/26/06) and rebounds (18 – vs. New Orleans/Oklahoma City, 4/2/06). His rookie campaign was further highlighted by an appearance in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend, Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for the month of December and a spot on the All-NBA Rookie First Team. Villanueva attended the University of Connecticut for two seasons before becoming an early entry candidate for the 2005 NBA Draft. He averaged 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 63 collegiate games and received second-team All-Big East honors his sophomore year. “Acquiring Charlie takes care of a primary need we had going into the summer, ” said Harris. “He’s a gifted power-forward who knows how to score both inside and outside. We believe his style of play will complement Andrew Bogut ’s very well, giving us an extremely young and athletic frontcourt. The outstanding rookie season he had last year is only the beginning of what he’ s capable of achieving.” “The hard part of any trade is having to give up something in return,” Harris added. “T.J. is a talented, young athlete who gave his all to this organization for three years, both on and off the court. He was an inspiration to all of us when he found the will and strength to fight back from the neck injury he suffered during his rookie season. Many people thought he would never play basketball again, but he thrived in the face of adversity and now has the promise of a long NBA career ahead of him. We wish him much success in Toronto.” Ford, 23, appeared in 127 games with the Bucks after being drafted by the organization eighth overall during the 2003 NBA Draft. After missing the second half of the 2003-04 season and the entire 2004-05 season with a spinal cord bruise, he came back to appear in 72 games last year and averaged 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and a team-best 6.6 assists in 35.5 minutes per game. Prior to suffering the season-ending injury during his rookie year, he was averaging 7.1 points and 6.5 assists per game in 55 contests. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in his first NBA season. --

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