MILWAUKEE — Rookie forward Joe Alexander signed a contract with the Milwaukee Bucks today, a deal that guarantees him $4.15 million over the first two years.

Under the league's rookie salary scale, the Bucks hold options for the third and fourth years of the deal, at $2.3 million and $2.9 million, respectively.

Alexander, a 6-foot-8 forward from West Virginia, was the eighth overall pick in the June 26 draft. The 21-year-old played three years with the Mountaineers and averaged 16.9 points and 6.4 rebounds as a junior last season.

The rookie received high praise from veteran forward Richard Jefferson on Monday at a Bradley Center news conference. The Bucks made a trade with New Jersey to acquire the 28-year-old Jefferson on draft day, a few hours before selecting Alexander in the opening round.

The Nets, who drafted two spots after the Bucks at No. 10, also were keenly interested in Alexander but selected 7-footer Brook Lopez when the West Virginia player was off the board.

"Talking with (Nets President) Rod Thorn before the draft, everyone was very high on Alexander," Jefferson said. "He's a talented kid, and a lot of people think his up side is tremendous.

"This is coming from my team; they really wanted him. Here, I have an opportunity to play with a young guy. From everything I've heard, he's a competitor, and he's only going to push myself and push some of the older guys. You need young guys.

"The best team I've ever been on had good young guys and they were pushing the older guys in practice and making them work. I think a guy like him, you add that to your already talented backcourt and your already talented frontcourt, and I think you're in a good situation."

Bucks general manager John Hammond has said he expects Alexander to begin his pro career at the power forward spot, although he eventually also might play at small forward.

"You can say we're a little undersized if we do that," Hammond said. "But that's OK. Right now in the NBA there are a lot of people who are playing small like that.

"I think we can do that, and that's going to be up to Scott (Skiles). I think Joe will do anything it takes to get better and anything it takes to help our team win games."

Alexander and second-round pick Luc Richard Mbah a Moute were in camp Tuesday at the Cousins Center as workouts opened for the Bucks' summer league squad. The team, which also includes point guard Ramon Sessions and forward Awvee Storey, will play five games in the Las Vegas Summer League beginning Saturday against Memphis.