The 2003–04 NBA season was the Bucks' 36th season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Bucks acquired Joe Smith from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Under new head coach Terry Porter, the Bucks played around .500 for most of the first half of the season. At midseason, the team traded Tim Thomas to the New York Knicks for Keith Van Horn. The young Bucks managed to play well as Michael Redd, who continued to show improvement had a breakout season averaging 21.7 points per game, while being selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. However, after holding a 33–27 record as of March 3, the Bucks lost eight of their next nine games, but still managed to make the playoffs despite finishing fourth in the Central Division with a 41–41 record. Top draft pick T.J. Ford made the All-Second Rookie Team. However, the Bucks did not make it out of the first round once again, losing to the eventual champions, the Detroit Pistons, in five games.