The Toronto Raptors traded PF Charlie Villanueva to the Milwaukee Bucks for PG T.J. Ford on Friday night.  The trade helps both teams fulfill needs on their roster. 

Free agent Mike James, a standout PG for the Raptors last season, will likely come at too high a price for the Raptors.  So, acquiring Ford, a player who came back last season from a serious spinal cord injury the season before, makes a lot of sense.  In fact, Ford may eventually end up being a better fit for Toronto. Averaging 12.2 points and 6.6 assists, Ford’s ability to run a break, penetrate and find the open man will better utilize the shooters on the team, players such as Morris Peterson and newly drafted, Andrea Bargnani.

Bargnani, this season’s number one overall draft pick is commonly compared to the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki - a 7-foot perimeter player that can fill it up from the outside.  Ford’s ability to break a defense down with his dribble and then dish it off will be more than welcome by Bargnani’s waiting hands.  Mike James, was a score-first PG and had a career year.  Somewhere out there, an NBA team is ready to overpay for his services.  Believe me, the T-Dot will be happy to have Ford.  Unfortunately, Ford comes at a high price - PF Charlie Villanueva.

Villanueva proved his critics wrong by the end of the season as he proved a viable and versatile player, finishing the season averaging 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds.  He was able to score from all over the floor and clean the glass with deftness.  He’ll fit in well with the Bucks, complementing C Andruw Bogut and SG Michael Redd.

Both Ford and Villanueva should thrive with their new teams - Ford racking up the assists by dropping dimes to Chris Bosh, Bargnani, and Peterson.  Villanueva should continue his progress and build on last season’s rookie breakout.  Again, the trade makes sense for both, but I think the Bucks make out on this deal in the whole scheme of things.  It’s hard to find a player as versatile as Villanueva, especially almost being 7-feet!