Former Milwaukee Bucks forward Desmond Mason attempted to shed more light on the bitterness he felt over being traded to the New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets earlier this week by revealing Friday that over the summer he and his agent had asked the Bucks to trade him, only to be denied.

"This summer, looking at the scenario of how things were playing out . . . we had asked to be moved," Mason told the Journal Sentinel Friday. "We thought it would be in the best of everybody's interest."

Mason was traded Wednesday, along with a first-round draft choice and cash, for center Jamaal Magloire, who is expected to be introduced today at a news conference.

Mason said his agent, Roger Montgomery, told the Bucks that they wanted a trade about the time the Bucks were in the process of signing free agent Bobby Simmons to a $47 million contract in August. Mason and Simmons both play the small-forward position.

According to Mason, general manager Larry Harris at first gave his approval to Mason to seek a trade. But then when other teams called to inquire about a deal, the Bucks expressed no interest.

"We asked to start talking to somebody else," Mason said. "Larry and all those guys gave us permission to talk. There were a few teams that were interested. They called and Larry denied them."