MILWAUKEE -- Yi Jianlian didn't want to play in Milwaukee. The man he was traded for insists he does.
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| Scott Skiles and Richard Jefferson share a laugh Monday. (Getty Images) |
The second-leading scorer in Nets history was surprised by the trade.
"I didn't know anything was going on and then the next thing I know my phone didn't stop ringing for about a week," he said. "When this happened I was upset, but after calming down and evaluating everything I became excited."
Jefferson said he has nothing against the city that Yi was reluctant to play in.
"It was nothing about Milwaukee," he said. "I could've been traded to Boston. I could've been traded to L.A. I could've been traded anywhere.
"It wasn't about the city. It was about that feeling of rejection by the team that traded for you on draft day seven years ago. But when that happened, I didn't want to go to New Jersey either."
After tumbling to a 26-56 finish last season, the Bucks selected another forward, Joe Alexander, with the No. 8 pick. With Jefferson and Michael Redd, the team should be much improved.
"This was a major move to get two guys that are both in the top 10 in the league in scoring on the same team," Jefferson said. "I played with Vince Carter in New Jersey. He was one of the most amazing players I've ever seen.
"But I think Michael Redd and I can complement each other a little bit more because he's one of the best outside shooters I've ever seen, and I'm more of a slasher inside."
Jefferson said he's also looking forward to playing for new coach Scott Skiles.
"I'm a cocky little guy, and that's why I think Scott likes me," Jefferson said. "Me and Scott are friendly now, but there will probably come a time when he cusses me out."
"That's a pretty safe bet," Skiles interjected, drawing laughter during the news conference at the Bradley Center. "I've been a Richard Jefferson guy for a while. We wanted to add toughness this summer, and there's a lot of things to admire from a coaching standpoint."
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