DENVER _ The Milwaukee Bucks did not wait for the February trade deadline to make a move to address their untenable situation at the center position.
A league source confirmed Thursday that the Bucks have traded underachieving center Miles Plumlee to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for big men Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes. It is expected the Bucks will release veteran Steve Novak to make room for the extra roster spot.
The Bucks signed Plumlee to a four-year, $50 million contract during the past summer and he was given the first opportunity at the starting center job in training camp.
But the 6-foot-11 Plumlee struggled in two different stints as the starter and recently was dropped from the rotation as rookie Thon Maker took over as the starter in the last two games.
The trade should result in significant savings for the Bucks. Hibbert is on a one-year, $5million deal and Hawes has a $6 million player option for the 2017-18 season. Hawes is making $5.8 million this season.
Plumlee averaged 2.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 32 games with Milwaukee this season, including 12 starts. He did not play in 15 games because of coach's decision.
The 28-year-old Hawes is a 10-year NBA veteran and has played for five teams: Sacramento, Philadelphia, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Hornets.
He averaged 7.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in 35 games with Charlotte this season, including one start.
The 30-year-old Hibbert gives the Bucks two centers from Georgetown, joining the team's most productive big man this season, Greg Monroe.
The 7-2 Hibbert is in his ninth NBA season, including seven with the Indiana Pacers and one with the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 5.2 points and 3.6 assists in 42 games with Charlotte this season, including 13 starts.
Plumlee played well in the last few months last season and it was thought he could play well in the pick-and-roll game with Giannis Antetokounmpo. But that did not materialize and the former Duke player was not an effective rebounder or scorer.
The Bucks already had John Henson under contract on a 4-year, $44 million deal and Monroe on a 3-year, $50 million deal. Henson is in the first year of his deal and is being paid $12.2 million this season, while Monroe is in the second year of his contract and is being paid a team-high $17.1 million for the current season. Monroe has a player option at $17.9 million for the 2017-18 season.
Milwaukee (21-27) has lost nine of its last 10 games, including a 104-88 decision at Utah on Wednesday to open a three-game trip. The Bucks play the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on Friday night and at Phoenix on Saturday night.
A source said it was doubtful that Hawes and Hibbert would join the Bucks this weekend but more likely in time for the Bucks' home game against Miami on Feb. 8.
Novak, the former Marquette standout, was signed by the Bucks last February after being traded by Oklahoma City to Denver and being waived by the Nuggets. He suffered a knee injury in a game against Detroit shortly after joining the Bucks but was signed again by Milwaukee in the off-season. He played sparingly this season, appearing in eight games for a total of 22 minutes.
Novak was inactive 26 times and had 13 DNP-CDs (did not play coach's decision).
