Spurs Send Message To Lakers, Acquire Richard Jefferson From Bucks

Just two days before the 2009 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs made an aggressive move that suggests they are trying to one up the Los Angeles Lakers and win a fifth title in the Tim Duncan Era.  Knowing that their window of opportunity is quickly coming to a close, the Spurs acquired small forward Richard Jefferson from the Milwaukee Bucks for three aging scraps – Fabricio Oberto, Bruce Bowen, and Kurt Thomas.  Jefferson immediately makes the Spurs a dangerous team, whether or not the hobbled Manu Ginobili comes back at full strength.

By Jason M. Williams

Jefferson, a 19.6 point scorer in Milwaukee last season, will team with the Big Three of Duncan, Ginobili, and Tony Parker to form one of the most feared and dynamic foursomes in the league.  This puts the Spurs on par with Boston’s quartet of Rondo-Allen-Pierce-Garnett and immediately makes them a threat to take down the Lakers next season while fighting for Western Conference supremacy.

[Image via: M. David Leeds/NBAE via Getty Images]