--The Williams trade got all the headlines, but the Bucks also made another roster move on the day of the six-player, three-team swap, signing free-agent backup center Francisco Elson to a two-year, $3-million deal.
--The Bucks will be one of just six teams playing on opening night in the NBA, which is Oct. 28. The league has scheduled Milwaukee to visit Chicago that night in a game that will mark new Bucks coach Scott Skiles' first return to the home of his former employer. Skiles was dismissed as Bulls coach last December. --There are two other interesting aspects of the opening night game. Jim Boylan, who replaced Skiles in Chicago as the club's interim coach, is back with Skiles as his assistant coach with the Bucks. And longtime Bucks coach Del Harris now serves as Vinny Del Negro's assistant in Chicago.
--This will be the 24th consecutive year in which the Bucks will open away from home. Their record in the past 23 openers: an impressive 14-9.
--The Bucks will play 20 of their first 33 games on the road.
--The Bucks haven't started a season as early as Oct. 28 since opening on Oct. 25, 1985.
--The Bucks catch a break in that they play only once at Boston. They will visit every other Eastern Conference team other than the Wizards twice apiece.
--Two Eastern teams will be making only one trip to Milwaukee: Miami and Philadelphia.
--Richard Jefferson, the longtime Nets standout, won't see his old mates until they visit Milwaukee on Jan. 9. His homecoming at the Meadowlands will be on Feb. 3.
--Among the Bucks' 15 games at Western Conference sites, only four will start as late as 9 p.m. Central. The opponents will be the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Trail Blazers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm going to enjoy it under Coach Skiles. It's just his competitiveness and toughness. I'll try to bring that to the court." -- New Bucks point guard Luke Ridnour, expressing his pleasure to be playing for a new boss--former point guard Scott Skiles.
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