New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves agree on a three team trade – NBA News
The New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves have reached an agreement on a complicated trade, as reported by the Associated Press. The deal is not final yet and is expected to be announced in the coming days
after a few minor issues are settled.
As per the proposed deal, the Phoenix Suns will send centre Robin Lopez and forward Hakim Warrick to the New Orleans Hornets, where as the Wolves will move forward Wesley Johnson and a first round draft pick to Phoenix. The deal
will also send guard Jerome Dyson and soon to be retiring Brad Miller to the Wolves, allowing them to free up some cap space as they look to lure more players into the franchise and become a playoff contender next season.
Minnesota will also receive two future second round draft picks from the Hornets, who in turn will receive cash.
All three teams have been aggressive in free agency and offseason trades this summer, and have come up with another agreement to boost their respective rosters. Minnesota were looking for some salary cap space as they are interested
in Russian forward Andrei Kirilenko and sources have reported that the Wolves have even agreed to a 2 year - $20 million deal with him. His arrival in the Wolves roster will surely be a big boost to their campaign next season.
The acquisition of Lopez will allow the Hornets to shore up the centre position, after they traded Emeka Okafor and let Chris Kaman go in free agency. Although their number 1 draft pick from this year, Anthony Davis, played centre
at college, but is being trained to start as a power forward for the Hornets since they believe that his relative lack of size will render him helpless against much stronger centre players in the NBA such as Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard.
Lopez was drafted by the Suns in the 2008 Draft, before which he played for Stanford along with brother Brook Lopez, who is currently the starting centre of the Brooklyn Nets.
Warrick is an 8 year veteran to the NBA and played as a reserve for the Phoenix Suns the past two seasons. He has a career average of 9.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 20.4 minutes of playing time per game. Wesley Johnson is entering
his third year in the NBA, and averages 7.7 points and 2.9 rebounds over his short career.
Wolves General Manager David Kahn refused to comment on the trade and the Wolves possible deal with Kirilenko, stating that he could not comment on a deal that is yet to be consummated. The trade will allow him to add a front court
player in Kirilenko to the team.
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