NBA AM: Sessions Blindsided By Deadline Deal

Ramon Sessions Talks Being Traded And Free Agency Plans

As the 2014 trade deadline continues to fade further and further back in our rearview mirrors, the players who have been impacted the most are still adjusting to their respective change of scenery .

One of the last deals to be announced, at the deadline, was the Charlotte Bobcats’ decision to send guard Ramon Sessions and forward Jeff Adrien to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guards Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour.

For Sessions, who had a prominent role in Bobcats’ nightly rotation, news of the deal completely blindsided the veteran who fully believed he was safe in Charlotte.

“To be honest the trade was kind of last minute,” Sessions told Basketball Insiders on being dealt to Milwaukee. “I didn’t really hear too much coming up to the trade deadline but as we got closer I started getting calls from my agent and hearing certain things were happening behind the scenes. But it’s one of those things in the league that when it happens, you got to pack up and be ready to move on to another team.”

This is Sessions’ second stint in Milwaukee, having logged action with the franchise during the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. This time around the Bucks are in a similar position,  headed to the draft lottery and in the middle of a lengthy rebuilding project, while the Bobcats are eyeing a playoff berth.

Sessions, on the books for $5 million this season, is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The seventh year pro wouldn’t rule out considering a long term Milwaukee reunion, but it’s clear he plans to take the time to fully evaluate his market value during the offseason.

“It’s been a difficult season but the talent is here,” Sessions said. “Milwaukee has embraced me well, so it was a good welcome to come back. I’m finishing my seventh year  so I just take it game by game. When the summertime comes we’ll see what happens. The big thing is to be healthy when we move into the summer and really see what happens. I really don’t pay [free agency] much attention during the season.”

Despite Milwaukee’s struggles the team has been playing much more competitive basketball of late, with their last seven losses all being decided by 11 points or less.

Sessions believes it isn’t a matter of talent, but the nature of having so many young guys playing big minutes who have yet to learn how to close games out.

“We’re a young team and I tell a lot of the guys that since we’re playing close games now and it’s just a matter of figuring out how to finish games,” Sessions said. “In this league it takes a while to learn because there are a lot of veteran teams.  It’s going to come. [Head coach] Larry Drew has a great system and I feel if we grow into it we’ll be just fine.”

The Bucks (13-52) currently have the league’s worst record.

The End Nearing for Carlos Boozer in Chicago?

When former All-Star forward Carlos Boozer signed with the Chicago Bulls in the summer of 2010 it was expected that the former Duke University standout would be Derrick Rose’s chief sidekick.  Fast forward nearly four completed seasons and it is becoming more and more clear the Boozer deal hasn’t panned out as expected.

With the recent emergence of forward Taj Gibson, Boozer has been found playing the role of observer late in games instead of key contributor.

This offseason the Bulls are widely expected to utilize the amnesty provision to clear Boozer and the $16.8 owed for the 2014-15 campaign off their books.

For Boozer he has continued to persevere through the endless amnesty rumors and his reduced playing time courtesy of head coach Tom Thibodeau.

“I’ve been dealing with that all year, so the (amnesty) talk doesn’t bother me,” Boozer told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. “I just block it out and try to hoop.

“It’s (reduced role) not what I want but I haven’t said anything. I just keep playing my role and try to support my teammates. I’m doing everything I can to help my team win.”

The Bulls are one of the league’s hottest teams winning seven of their last 10 contests which includes victories over Dallas, Golden State, Houston and Miami.

After Rose was lost for the season and veteran forward Luol Deng was traded to Cleveland most believed the Bulls were headed to the draft lottery. Instead the team continues to reinvent itself and currently owns the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference if the playoffs were to begin today.

With the Bulls winning at a high clip, Boozer said he won’t let the opinion of others outside the locker room impact his mental state.

“People can say whatever they want,” Boozer said. “They have their own opinions. That’s out of my control. I’m just doing everything I can to help my team be ready for the playoffs. That’s all I can do. If you’re out there, you have an important role.”

Boozer is averaging 14.1 points and 8.8 rebounds on 45 percent shooting from the floor in 58 appearances this season.