Gaines accepts opening; Raptors win 00:00 am 2/26/05 Vic Feuerherd Wisconsin State Journal MILWAUKEE - It's another team and another chance for Reece Gaines. Gaines, the former Madison West prep star acquired from the Houston Rockets Thursday, was in uniform for the Milwaukee Bucks' 106-102 loss to the Toronto Raptors Friday night in front of 15,883 at the Bradley Center, but watched the game from what has become his customary spot - the end of the bench. Milwaukee is Gaines' third team in less than two seasons in the NBA, not exactly a good sign for a player looking for a chance to make his mark. The Bucks maintain Gaines will get that chance. Still, most of the post-trade attention is going to how the deals with Houston and Dallas have helped free $13 million for next year, a large chunk of cash that should help the Bucks be able to compete with teams likely to express an interest in free-agent-to-be Michael Redd. "This gives us some (financial) flexibility, which is important," coach Terry Porter said. The odds of getting significant playing time appear stacked against Gaines like they were in Orlando and Houston. Porter said he will go with a nine-man rotation that doesn't include Gaines or Calvin Booth, the backup center picked up in the trade Thursday with the Mavericks. With the departure of point guard Mike James to the Rockets and forward Keith Van Horn to the Mavericks, Porter said his main reserves will be forwards Toni Kukoc and Marcus Fizer, center Zaza Pachulia and guard Erick Strickland. "There are going to be four guys coming off the bench and you have a sense of who is going to get the minutes," Porter said. But Porter is not completely discounting a contribution from Gaines, who played just 38 games last year with the Magic and 10 games this season with the Rockets. "I wouldn't say this isn't an opportunity for him," Porter said. "I'll see how he gets acclimated and how things go in practice." Gaines, 24, isn't in a position to ask for anything more. "It's a chance to play, an opportunity," he said. "That's all anyone can ask for. I'm looking forward to it." With the departure of James, Maurice Williams will get the majority of the minutes at the point with Strickland in the backup role. Michael Redd is the team's leading scorer at the two guard with swingman Desmond Mason in reserve. Williams responded to that vote of confidence with a 21-point, seven-assist effort in the loss to the Raptors. However, Redd struggled mightily from the field, missing 15 of 20 shots while scoring just 14, eight below his season average. Gaines' best chance will come at the shooting guard spot, but even he admitted the rust from 1 seasons of inactivity will be hard to shake. "I haven't played ball in about two years," Gaines said. "The offense is going to come. Right now, I want to show them I'm going to be alert defensively." Gaines said he wasn't surprised by the trade but was surprised he ended up in Milwaukee, just 75 miles from his hometown. He doesn't want to get caught up in the hometown hero comes home stuff. He has more concerns on his mind. "This is definitely different," he said of the midseason move. "The team is going a certain way and I have to fit in both on the court and off the court." Contact Vic Feuerherd at 252-6175 or vfeuerherd@madison.com Toronto 27ï¿?7ï¿?1ï¿?1 - 106 Milwaukee 24ï¿?5ï¿?3ï¿?0 - 102
