The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

BY GERY WOELFEL
The timing, to say the least, is interesting.

With the Milwaukee Bucks playing their best basketball of the season, having won five of their last six games, one of the last things you'd expect is personnel changes.

But the Bucks will be adding a player to their mix today when veteran guard Damon Jones joins the team in Milwaukee. And more changes could be in store.

Jones was acquired in a multi-player, multi-team trade in August, but has stayed away from the team after he and the Bucks mutually agreed he wasn't in their plans.

Bucks officials even conceded they were trying to trade Jones and there was even speculation  they would pay a portion of his $4.4 million salary for this season.

But the Bucks haven't found any takers for Jones and now apparently have had a change of heart about him helping them in some manner.

Bucks coach Scott Skiles had little to say about the decision to bring in Jones besides, "I know Damon is a high-level NBA shooter. That's where he's kind of made his mark.''

Mark Termini, Jones' agent, was also rather tight-lipped about the situation.

"We'll continue to explore all options ... in a positive manner,'' Termini said.

Jones, 32, played for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. He was then dealt to the Bucks in a trade that also brought Luke Ridnour and Adrian Griffin to Milwaukee.

In that same transaction, the Bucks sent guard Mo Williams to Cleveland and Desmond Mason to Oklahoma City. The Thunder also obtained veteran forward Joe Smith in the deal.

While all of the aforementioned players have played for their respective team this season, Jones hasn't. He's been inactive for all of the Bucks' 30 games while working out first in Las Vegas and then in Houston.

How much Jones plays for the Bucks could hinge on the health of guards Luke Ridnour and Charlie Bell. Ridnour was sent home from practice Friday with flu-like symptoms, and he has also been bothered by back problems.

"Nobody knows how hurt he's been,'' Skiles said of Ridnour. "He probably shouldn't have played in several games.

"But he's an unselfish guy, so he played anyway.''

Bell, meanwhile, has also been plagued by an assortment of injuries, the most prominent being his knee and ankle. He hurt his knee against Utah Tuesday night and didn't practice Friday.

Bell said it was unlikely he would play Saturday night against Detroit at the Bradley Center, not because of his sore knee but because of his surgically-repaired ankle.

While Bell and Ridnour have health and injury issues, Tyronn Lue doesn't have either. But Lue's status appears to be up in the air as well. It is believed the Bucks have an offer on the table from the Los Angeles Lakers for Lue, with the Bucks receiving veteran big man Chris Mihm in return.

There have also been rumors that Lue could be dealt to Oklahoma City, perhaps as part of a package deal with teammate Charlie Villanueva.

The Bucks are looking to solidify their power forward position and the Thunder have three power forwards that may interest the Bucks: Nick Collison, Chris Wilcox and Smith.

Villanueva has played well this season, averaging 12.9 points and 6.7 rebounds -- despite playing only 22.6 minutes a game.

But Villanueva's minutes have recently taken a nose dive.

"I played four games in a row of 30 minutes or more,'' Villanueva said after practice Friday. "Then, the next four games, I'm under 20 minutes.

"It's frustrating. I don't know what to say. But I'm not worried. We're winning, and we're not winning by a little. We've been blowing out some teams, so I can't complain.

"I just want to win.''

There has also been scuttlebutt Villanueva could be involved in a multi-player trade that would send him to Houston.

In return, the Bucks would possibly receive reserve forward Carl Landy, who was a prep star at Milwaukee Vincent High School.

The 6-foot-9 Landry is averaging 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20.8 minutes a game.