Mike James in, Damon Jones out in Beertown

While Mike James will officially be in the Milwaukee Bucks' fold soon, Damon Jones will officially be leaving it shortly.

The Bucks have reached a verbal agreement with James, who was a backup guard on the champion Detroit Pistons, and should have him under contract as soon as today.

James, 29, played in 81 regular-season games last season with Boston and Detroit. He averaged 9.3 points and 4.2 assists in 27.1 minutes a game.

The 6-foot-2 James was courted throughout free agency by nearly a dozen teams. He narrowed his final list to Houston, Seattle, Miami and Milwaukee.

"I like his game,'' Cleveland Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said of James. "He can push it up the court, and he's a very good long-range shooter. I think he's just exploring his game, just scratching the surface."

Via Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal

Milwaukee Bucks

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Wizards will match Etan Thomas

The Washington Wizards will re-sign forward-center Etan Thomas, according to a league source.

Thomas, a bruising 6-foot-9, 260-pounder, signed a six-year, $38 million offer sheet earlier this month with Milwaukee. As a restricted free agent, the Wizards retained the right to match the Bucks' offer. Last night, they decided to do just that, according to the source.

While not commenting directly on the signing, Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan called the 26-year-old Thomas the team's "guts, grit and glory guy."

"It's hard to keep him off the floor, especially at the end of games when the pressure is on," said Jordan, entering his second season as Wizards coach. "He's as emotionally tough and physical as they come and that is how you become a great team, by playing with guys like that."

Via Washington Post

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Bucks waiting on Etan Thomas, Kukoc talks continue

The waiting game continues for the Milwaukee Bucks, who probably won't know until Thursday whether the Washington Wizards will match their offer sheet to restricted free agent Etan Thomas.

On July 14, the 6-foot-10 Thomas signed a six-year offer sheet with the Bucks, a deal reported to be worth between $37 million and $39 million, or roughly the team's full midlevel exception.

The Wizards have a 15-day period to match the offer, or he will become a member of the Bucks.

"We won't know the outcome until Thursday," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said.

Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld, reached at his office on Monday afternoon, would give no hints about whether Washington will match the offer.

"I think it's the 29th," Grunfeld said of the deadline. "By then, we will have an answer."

"He had a great year for us," said Grunfeld, who left the Bucks' front office to join the Wizards before last season.

Meanwhile, Harris said Monday that contract talks were ongoing with Bucks veteran Toni Kukoc, an unrestricted free agent, and his representative, Herb Rudoy.

"Certainly, we're looking forward to this season and beyond," Harris said of a possible deal. "There's a desire on the part of both parties, and we'd like to see him back in a Bucks uniform."

Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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