The Seattle SuperSonics traded Vladimir Radmanovic to the Los Angeles Clippers for Chris Wilcox on Tuesday in a swap of 6-foot-10 forwards auditioning for next season.
Radmanovic and Wilcox will be free agents at seasons end and both had fallen out of favor with their previous teams.
“They were looking for guy who can shoot from the outside and Vlade pretty much indicated he wasn’t going to re-sign with us,” Sonics general manager Rick Sund said. “Wilcox wasn’t really fitting into their club. Hopefully it will work out for both teams.”
Radmanovic has struggled for the past month despite being put in the starting lineup after new coach Bob Hill took over Jan. 3. Since Jan. 11, Radmanovic has scored in double figures only four times in 13 games, and recently was benched in favor of forward Nick Collison.
Radmanovic, who turned down a $42 million, six-year deal with the Sonics before the season and signed a one-year tender instead, is averaging 9.3 points – down from 11.8 last season. Because he signed a one-year tender, Radmanovic had the right to block the trade. He previously indicated he would block any deals, but changed his mind.
Playing without Wilcox, Seattle are trailing the Bucks, 59-44 tonight in Milwaukee. There’s a nice duel developing between Michael Redd and Ray Allen, but the Sonics have been sloppy (13 turnovers) and allowed Jamaal Maglioire and Bobby Simmons to control the boards thus far.