Jared Dudley not surprised by trade to Wizards

WASHINGTON - Forward Jared Dudley said the Washington Wizards were one of the teams he considered before he opted in to the final year of his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Dudley ended up a Wizard anyway when Washington acquired him in a trade with the Bucks for a future second-round draft pick. The deal was announced Thursday night.

''I liked my situation in Milwaukee, but if they told me I was going to opt-in and go to Washington, I would have opted in the first day because I can't see a situation's that's better for me right now,'' Dudley said during a conference call Friday.

Washington has signed guard Gary Neal, acquired Dudley and agreed to terms with swingman Alan Anderson, who will help replace what was lost when Paul Pierce decided to join the Los Angeles Clippers.

''I knew this could be a possibility once Paul Pierce left,'' Dudley said. ''I think I fit in well.''

The 6-foot-7 Dudley said he can play small forward or stretch the defense with his outside shooting skills as an undersized power forward. He did that last season after Milwaukee's Jabari Parker was injured.

''I could take them off the dribble,'' he said.