The 32-year-old guard, who has played for 10 National Basketball Association teams during his 11-year career, will begin his second stint with the Milwaukee Bucks , team officials confirmed Friday.

Jones has been on the Bucks' 15-man roster since the start of the season. But he did not report to the team by mutual agreement while agent Mark Termini and Bucks management pursued other options.

With any trade possibilities limited at the moment, Jones will join the Bucks to see whether he can contribute to a team that is hoping to make a run at an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Milwaukee (14-16) has won five of its last six games entering a home contest tonight against the division rival Detroit Pistons (16-11 ).

"I know Damon is a high-level NBA shooter," coach Scott Skiles said after his team's practice at the Cousins Center. "That's where he has kind of made his mark. We'll see. I don't have a closed mind about anything.

"We've played much better lately. It's hard to even comment about, because I haven't coached him, haven't been around him. So we'll see."

Jones was acquired by the Bucks on Aug. 13 in the three-team trade that sent Mo Williams to Cleveland and brought point guard Luke Ridnour to Milwaukee from Oklahoma City.

The 6-foot-3 veteran was included in the deal by Cleveland for salary purposes, carrying an expiring contract worth $4.46 million.

Since leaving the Bucks after the 2003-'04 season, Jones has played with his share of superstars. He joined Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal for one season in Miami before signing as a free agent with Cleveland in the fall of 2005.

Jones played three seasons with LeBron James and the Cavaliers, his longest stop with any NBA team.

Guard Michael Redd and center Dan Gadzuric are the only remaining Bucks players from the 2003-'04 team that also featured Jones, who played in all 82 games and made 26 starts.

Jones averaged 7.0 points and 5.8 assists and became a starter when T.J. Ford suffered a season-ending spinal injury in late February 2004.

"He's a great teammate," Redd said. "I played well with him. He knocked down threes with Cleveland and Miami, and with us when he was here.

"He helped me out tremendously when he was here. That was my first year starting. He helped me through the games and put me in positions to be successful. We talked a lot.

"We wanted to win so bad, and we played hard for coach (Terry) Porter. Desmond Mason was on that team; Joe Smith was on that team. Keith Van Horn was on that team, and we all got along."

The Bucks can complete December with an unblemished home record if they defeat the Pistons. Milwaukee is 5-0 at home this month and will finish the year with a two-game trip to San Antonio and Houston next week.

"We've got three good clubs in a row right now," Skiles said. "It's a good club (Detroit), and obviously they're in front of us in the standings.

"It's an opportunity for us to pick up a full game. We've been playing well at home.

"You never know how something like this is going to go. It's unusual to have two days off (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) during the regular season. But we had an opportunity to do it, and the guys had good energy today.

"Hopefully a little rest helped us and we can play even better."

Injury update: Reserve guard Charlie Bell, who hurt his right knee when he fell hard to the floor late in the second quarter on Tuesday, is listed as out for the game against the Pistons.

Ridnour missed practice Friday because he has the flu. His availability will be determined today.

Tonight

Bucks vs. Pistons

When: 7:30

Where: Bradley Center

TV: FSN

Radio: AM-620

JSOnline.com

Charles F. Gardner posts news, notes and analysis at jsonline.com/blogs/Bucks

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