Grizzlies Trade Away Benjamin to Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks acquired 11-year veteran center Benoit Benjamin from the Vancouver Grizzlies on Monday for guard Eric Murdock and center Eric Mobley.

It was the fourth time Benjamin has been traded. The Clippers, who picked him third in the 1985 draft, traded him to Seattle in 1991. Two years later, Seattle traded Benjamin to the Lakers, who traded him to New Jersey after keeping him for only half a season.

The Grizzlies picked him up in the expansion draft, but also have first-round pick Bryant Reeves at center.

Murdock became expendable to the Bucks after they acquired guard Sherman Douglas on Sunday in a trade that sent swingman Todd Day and center Alton Lister to the Boston Celtics. The 6-foot-11 Mobley, a first-round draft pick of the Bucks in 1994, had seen little playing time this season.

Benjamin had started fast for Vancouver, leading the expansion team to consecutive victories to open the season and scoring 29 points in the franchise’s first game. Since then, the 7-footer has cooled considerably. He is averaging 13.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

In Milwaukee, Benjamin will be reunited with Coach Mike Dunleavy, who was the Lakers’ coach when Benjamin was with the team in 1993.

The Grizzlies also waived center Rich Manning and put forward Ashraf Amaya on the injured list because of a knee problem.