10. Getting John Salmons from Chicago
Milwaukee Sent: Hakim Warrick, Joe Alexander
Chicago Sent John Salmons and a pick swap (later to become Larry Sanders)
John Salmons’ stay with the Milwaukee Bucks may not be the longest or most illustrious in franchise history, but the deal itself in which the team picked him up is certainly not unimpressive.
With the Bulls eager to cut salary, and Milwaukee looking to cement their role in a playoff chase and potentially make them a dangerous matchup in the post-season, the I-94 rivals were a perfect match to make a deal.
Still, what Milwaukee sent to Chicago represented little more than straight robbery. With former eighth overall pick Joe Alexander having long proven to be a draft bust, packaging his expiring contract with that of backup big man Hakim Warrick represented very little to part with on the Bucks side.
Salmons went on to finish the 2009-10 season exceptionally strong as the Bucks clinched the sixth seed and would only fall in a seven game series to the Hawks in the first round. He would have a solid second season in Milwaukee before being traded to Sacramento.
An important detail that often goes unnoticed is that as well as Salmons, the Bucks got the option for a pick swap out of the Bulls. That allowed them to pick Larry Sanders instead of being at the spot where the Bulls drafted Kevin Seraphin.
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