Houston — Jerry Stackhouse just wants a chance to prove himself.
Scott Skiles said the 14-year National Basketball Association veteran will get that opportunity with the Milwaukee Bucks, and soon.
"Because he's been out so long, we don't want to overplay him the first couple weeks," Skiles said. "But we're not signing him to be on the inactive list. We'll activate him right away, and we'll get him in a game. We'll watch his minutes a little bit but see what he can do."
Stackhouse, who signed with the Bucks on Monday, is expected to practice Tuesday and get at least some playing time Wednesday night, when the team hosts the Toronto Raptors.
Stackhouse worked out for the Bucks coaching staff in Houston on Sunday, and he was impressive enough to earn a contract for the rest of the season. The 35-year-old has not played in the league this season after being traded by Dallas to Memphis and being released by the Grizzlies.
"He looked good," Skiles said. "He's not in mid-season shape or anything, but considering he's been out so long, he was in surprisingly good shape, we thought.
"We're hoping he can do what he's done in his career, come in and score some points. He's always had a pretty high level of toughness. He's not afraid to attack the rim and get to the line."
The 6-foot-6 Stackhouse became an appealing option for the Bucks after 30-year-old guard Michael Redd suffered a severe knee injury Jan. 10 in Los Angeles. Redd tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee, the same injury he suffered nearly a year earlier.
"He's been around the block and knows what it takes to win," Bucks guard Charlie Bell said of Stackhouse. "With Mike going down, we need some more veteran leadership, especially on the perimeter.
"I'm probably the oldest guy (at age 30) in the starting lineup. He can be a positive force in the locker room."
Stackhouse has played in 854 regular-season games with four teams: Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington and Dallas. He was named an all-star in 2000 and 2001, when he was with the Pistons.
He spent the past five seasons with the Mavericks.
Stackhouse was limited to 10 games with Dallas last season due to foot and knee injuries, but he has been working out in Atlanta while trying to get ready for a return to the league.
"He's one of the guys left that I actually played with," said Skiles, whose last season as an NBA player (in 1995-'96) was Stackhouse's rookie year. "I've known Jerry a long time, and we've been talking the last several days.
"He's really excited about it. With Michael (Redd) down, it's someone like him or it's D-League type players. There's a big difference between those two."
The versatility of Stackhouse's game appealed to the Bucks, who have struggled to get to the foul line throughout the season and are ranked 29th in the league in field goal percentage.
"He's always been good in the post," Skiles said. "He possibly could be our second-best post-up player if not our best post-up player."
Center Andrew Bogut said he thought Stackhouse could help as the Bucks try to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
"We're kind of young at the moment," the 25-year-old Bogut said. "I'm looked at as a veteran, but I'm relatively young. Stackhouse has been on championship runs and been on teams that were really bad. So he's got to know the ups and downs of the NBA.
"So you put him with (37-year-old Bucks center) Kurt Thomas. Those are two guys that are very smart in the locker room. If you've got questions, they've got answers."
Posts
