New Orleans Hornets trade Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor for Rashard Lewis and a second round draft pick with the Washington Wizards
On Wednesday night, the New Orleans Hornets took the first step towards building a stronger and a younger foundation. In what is the first significant trade this off season, the Hornets have traded Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor
to the Washington Wizards in return of Rashard Lewis and a second round draft pick - 46.
"We are rebuilding our team and this is one step in our new direction," NOH General Manager Dell Demps said. "This trade will provide an opportunity for our young players to develop and create flexibility to add to our core group
moving forward."
Hornets will also receive the 46th draft pick which was originally owned by the Dallas Mavericks. As the current situation stand, with a new owner and a new management, New Orleans is looking to move to a younger direction.
They have the first pick in this year`s draft which they would most probably use to select University of Kentucky`s freshman Anthony Davis, who by far is the best player in the class. Hornets also own the 10th pick in
the draft which they might use to reunite Wildcats team mate Terrence Jones with Davis.
The decision to trade Okafor for the Hornets may have been an easy one as he failed to live up to the expectation of being the second pick in the 2004 draft. Even though he averaged 12.7 points and 10.1 rebounds for his career
but during the last season his performances suffered an all time low as he only averaged 9.9 points and 5.2 rebounds and also missed a chunk of the season due to injury.
Ariza averaged 10.8 points and 5.2 points but with him being deactivated in the final part of the season, the Hornets have opted to move towards a younger direction. They have a fresh bunch of players coming in to join the likes
of Al-Farouq Aminu who showed major signs of improvement in the final half of the season and then there is Eric Gordon.
The decision to acquire Lewis may have been made keeping in mind that he can be a candidate for the amnesty clause and the Hornets can choose to let him go in order to create more salary cap and compete for Gordon, who is a restricted
free agent this summer.
Before the trade took place, New Orleans did not have any picks in the second round while the Wizards now have the third pick in the first round and the second pick in the second round.
While the Hornets will surely benefit from the trade, it’s also a win situation for the Wizards, who seem inclined to ensure a good defensive system at their franchise. They roped in Nene Hilario during last mid season trade window
and with the Ariza and Okafor; they have added two more defensive specialists in the team.
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