The Portland Trail Blazers are very unhappy with Zach Randolph.  He was set to be cornerstone of a new era of Blazer basketball, where the only news he would make would be on the court play, not in the court the play.  The recent develops stemming from a shooting involving his brother at a nightclub and Randolph's subsequent allegeded obstruction of justice have made the Blazers reconsider their plans.

The Oregonian is reporting that a trade is being negotiated where the Blazers would send Randolph, Derek Anderson and a 2005 draft pick to Milwaukee for Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Marcus Haislip.

This deal could be perceived as a success for the Blazers even without Randolph's legal problems, as Redd has become one of the league's most highly touted shooting guards.  The Blazers would receive a player to finally properly fill the position vacated by Clyde Drexler.

The motivation for the Bucks to complete this deal will be because Redd becomes an unrestricted free-agent at the end of this season and this could be the lone opportunity for Milwaukee to get equal value in return.  In Randolph, a restricted free-agent at season's end, they will have the NBA's most promising young power forward.  Even though the Bucks have high hopes for Redd, a shooting guard is an infinitely easier position to fill.

T.J. Ford is on a long road to recovery from spinal-cord stenosis surgery, which he had on May 5th.  Ford suffered the injury on Feb. 24th in a game versus Minnesota when he slammed into the floor after a drive, landing square on his tailbone and his skull hitting the hardwood.

Team doctors initally believed the injury was a bruise to the spinal cord, but when it failed to heal as quickly as expected, it became evident that surgery would be needed.

He?s recovering in Houston, taking things very slowly. He is unable to run, shoot, or lift weights yet.

?Right now I?m just rehabbing,? Ford told the Austin American-Statesman. ?I?m just working to get my body parts stronger, so I won?t have to worry about that type of injury again. I have to make sure I?m 100 percent. I have to heal right.?

The slow recovery means Ford is unlikely to return in time for the start of training camp in October. Ford can?t say when he will be ready to play, only that the doctors says he is recovering on schedule.

The Utah Jazz will not match Milwaukee's three-year, $5.5 million offer to point guard Mo Williams.

The 21-year-old played in 57 games with the Jazz as an NBA rookie and averaged 5.0 points, 1.3 assists and 13.5 minutes.

"We knew we needed two point guards when we started free agency," Bucks' GM Larry Harris said.  "First we wanted a veteran point guard (James), and then we were seeking to secure someone younger and with tremendous potential."

Williams was the 47th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

"When he got his opportunity, he proved he belonged," Harris said. "We feel fortunate to get him.  In our position, we've always got to look to the future. We needed someone to help right now, but also down the road."

The acquisition of Williams does not say anything about T.J. Ford's injury or his prospects in Milwaukee.

"T.J. and Mo are very good friends, and T.J. spoke to him a number of times on the phone," Harris said. "That shows a lot about T.J., that he wants the organization to succeed as well."

Unrestricted free-agent Toni Kukoc will sign a one-year contract to return to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kukoc is 35 and has become a key reserve for Milwaukee.  The deal is expected be final next week.  Terms of the contract were not announced.

Kukoc was acquired in a trade that sent forward Glenn Robinson to the Atlanta Hawks in 2002 and has applied his high basketball IQ with positive results as a Buck.

Kukoc put up 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 73 games last season.

"Not only do our players like playing with him, but the community has embraced him," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "He has a great passion for the game, a great intellect.  He's been through everything in this game. He's a great piece, and one of our focal points in free agency to get done."

Harris has repeatedly said that he was confident of retaining Kukoc.  Entering his 12th NBA season, Kukoc received widespread interest from around the league, including Miami and Sacramento.

Kukoc was in the final year of a contract that paid him $9.1 million.

Kevin O'Connor has to consider a number of variables in whether to match the Bucks' offer sheet to Mo Williams.

First of all, Williams is only 21 years of age and should keep improving.  

Second, a $5.5 million salary over three years is not an exorbitant deal.

He should have significant trade value and can play both guard positions.  

Plus the Jazz may not have that many cheaper options.  

But there are negatives too.  For instance, the roster is deep and he may not get much playing time.  Three years is a long contract for a player at this level and could hurt flexibility.

Wesley Person is expected to sign a $1.6 million contract with Miami to help bolster the Heat's small forward position, the Miami Herald is reporting.

Person, a sharp shooter with a 41.3% three-point average over his career, beat out free agents Marcus Fizer, Lee Nailon, Kendall Gill, Bryon Russell and Michael Curry.

Miami aggressively courted Toni Kukoc, but he is planning to re-sign with Milwaukee.

Heat management continues to pursue the necessary pieces to create a championship contender with Shaquille O'Neal in the middle.  

The team lost much of its depth and perimeter talent in the trade with Los Angeles to bring O'Neal to Miami.

Person's outside range could keep defenses honest and relieve pressure on the inside.  The idea is that collapsing defensive schemes and double teams on O'Neal in the post could lead to some wide open spot-up looks from beyond the arc.

The Utah Jazz will have to figure out whether to keep restricted free-agent guard Mo Williams after he signed an offer sheet with the Milwaukee Bucks for $5.5 million over three years.

Utah made a qualifying offer of $770,046 for one year to Williams who made in the $350,000 range last season after being selected 47th overall.

Jazz senior vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor said he had not yet seen the Bucks' offer but knew of it.  "That's what I understand," he said. "Until I see the paperwork, I really don't have a comment."

O'Connor continued, "I don't know how it's being paid (per-year breakdown, etc.).  Obviously, we want Mo back. We'll have to take a look at it and see what it works into. We would like to have him back, but it's going to be dependent on where it comes up."

Barring a last-minute unforeseen glitch, Kukoc will re-sign with the Bucks. Kukoc is an unrestricted free agent and has drawn interest from several NBA teams, including some title contenders.

Herb Rudoy, Kukoc's agent, told The Journal Times in an e-mail Wednesday his client has decided to remain with the Bucks.  

"We are close enough to a deal that I have broken off talks with other teams,'' Rudoy said in the e-mail. "I expect that Toni will be back with the Bucks next season.'' Rudoy and Bucks general manager Larry Harris have had several conversations since the advent of the free-agency period on July 1. In those conversations, Harris stressed his high regard for Kukoc and how he still fit into their plans for next season.

Kukoc, who'll turn 36 on Sept. 18, has been a key contributor for the Bucks since he joined the team in a convertroversial trade with the Atlanta Hawks that also included Glenn "Big Dog'' Robinson.

Kukoc is expected to return from his native Croatia, where he is vacationing, in the middle of the month to sign the contract.

One soon-to-be former Piston is set to replace another former Piston in Milwaukee.

Free agent Mike James, a backup point guard for the Pistons this season after arriving in the Rasheed Wallace deal, will sign a multi-year contract later this week with the Bucks. Damon Jones, who played for the Pistons in 2000-01, appears to be the odd man out in Milwaukee.

Terms of the deal will not be announced, but the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that James will receive $3 million for next season.

The James deal can be completed when the Bucks clear center Etan Thomas off the roster. The Bucks made an offer to Thomas, a restricted free agent, in mid-July. The Wizards recently countered the offer and kept Thomas.

James sought a long-term deal, something the Pistons were unable to provide.

The Bucks were attractive to James because they have a former NBA guard as coach in Terry Porter.

?He talked with Terry, and that was a big thing for Mike,? said Doug Neustadt, James? agent. ?Mike is very defensive-oriented and can shoot the three, much like Terry did in his career. I think he sees some similarities there.?

The Milwaukee Bucks have pretty much inked Detroit backup point guard Mike James.  Though he played limited minutes on route to the championship, Mike James proved to be very effective on defense and clutch with his jumper.

"He talked with Terry (Porter), and that was a big thing for Mike," said James' agent, Doug Neustadt. "Mike is very defensive-oriented and can shoot the three; much like Terry did in his career. I think he (James) sees some similarities there."