Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has acquired Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton and Quinton Ross from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson.

“This trade gave us a good opportunity to change our short-term future and improve our long-term future,” said Grunfeld. “It accomplished two goals by giving us financial flexibility and bringing a new look and energy to the roster.”

Howard has averaged 12.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 31 games for the Mavericks this season. He has missed a total of 21 games due to injury ( five due to left wrist surgery, 14 due to left ankle surgery and one each due to a left thigh contusion and stomach illness). The seventh-year swingman holds career averages of 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 431 games (all with Dallas) and was named to the 2007 All-Star Team. He was originally acquired by the Mavericks in the first round (29th pick) of the 2003 Draft.

Gooden, in his eighth season, has averaged 8.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 46 games with Dallas this season. The 6-10 forward/center has career averages of 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds over 556 games in stints with Orlando (twice), Memphis, Cleveland (twice), Chicago (twice), San Antonio, Sacramento and Dallas. He was signed as a free agent by Dallas prior to this season and was originally a first round draft pick (fourth overall) by Memphis in 2002.

Ross, a 6-6 swingman, has averaged 2.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 27 games with the Mavericks this season. He is in his sixth season overall and holds career averages of 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 397 career games with the L.A. Clippers, Memphis and Dallas. Ross, who was undrafted out of SMU, was signed as a free agent by Dallas prior to this season. Singleton, a 6-8 forward, has averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 25 games this season. He holds career averages of 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds over four NBA seasons (two each with the Clippers and Mavericks). Singleton, who was undrafted out of Murray State, has played overseas in Spain and Italy and was originally acquired by Dallas as a free agent prior to the 2008-09 season.

“Our four new players bring versatility and the experience of playing in a winning situation,” said Grunfeld. “Josh and Quinton can each play both the shooting guard and small forward positions while providing athleticism and outside shooting. Drew can play both the power forward and center positions and he and James give us an inside presence that combines skill and toughness.”

"We are more than excited to welcome Caron, Brendan and DeShawn to the Mavericks family," President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. "Caron is an established professional and an All-Star with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. Brendan with solidify our center position with athleticism, shot blocking and defense. DeShawn has also shown that he can be a talented asset to this team."

Butler (6-7, 228) is a seven-year veteran who holds career averages of 16.7 points and 6.0 rebounds to go along with 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 36.7 minutes in 533 games (500 starts). Butler has played for Miami, L.A. Lakers and Washington - where he was a two-time NBA All-Star (2007, 2008). This season, Butler has started each of his 47 games with the Wizards and is averaging 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals.

A native of Racine, Wis., Butler attended the University of Connecticut. In his sophomore campaign, Butler averaged 20.3 points and 7.5 rebounds on his way to Co-Big East Player of Year and All-America Second Team honors. He was an early-entry candidate into the 2002 NBA Draft where he was selected 10th overall by the Heat.

Haywood (7-0, 263) arrives from Washington as the longest-tenured Wizard. Haywood, drafted by Washington out of the University of North Carolina in 2001, has played for the Wizards in 579 games ranking third all-time in franchise history in field goal percentage (.561), fourth all-time in blocked shots and sixth all-time in rebounds and games played. The Greensboro, N.C., native holds career averages of 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

Stevenson (6-5, 218) is a ninth-year guard out of Washington Union High School in Fresno, Calif., where he averaged 30.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists as a senior. Stevenson was originally the 23rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Stevenson comes to Dallas having played in 621 games (422 starts) with career averages of 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 23.9 minutes with Utah, Orlando and Washington.

“Caron, Brendan and DeShawn all made significant contributions to this franchise and this community, but this was an opportunity we did not want to pass up,” said Grunfeld. “We wish all three players the best and thank them for what they helped us accomplish during their tenures with the Wizards.”

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