New Orleans, LA – The Sacramento Kings completed a sign- and-trade deal on Wednesday to send former NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Sacramento receives point guard Greivis Vasquez as part of the three-team swap, which also involves the Pelicans sending center Robin Lopez as well as reserve guard Terrel Harris to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Kings also acquired a second-round selection in 2016 and a future second round consideration from the Blazers.
New Orleans will receive the draft rights to center Jeff Withey, as well future second round draft picks and cash considerations.
The moves comes after Evans, a restricted free agent, agreed to a four- year, $44 million offer sheet from New Orleans. The Kings decided not to match the contract for the versatile fourth-year pro, but were able to work out the sign-and-trade agreement to receive some compensation.
Evans, the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year who's averaged 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists for his career, becomes the second notable addition to the new-look Pelicans' roster. New Orleans previously acquired All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday from Philadelphia on the night of the NBA Draft for rookie center Nerlens Noel, whom the Pelicans took with the sixth overall pick.
Holiday's addition made Vasquez, who ranked second in the league with 9.0 assists per game last season and was the runner-up in voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player Award, expendable. The Venezuelan native also established career bests of 13.9 points and 4.3 rebounds while starting all 78 games he played in during 2012-13.
New Orleans was also willing to move Lopez, a five-year veteran who also established personal bests of 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds as the starting center in his lone season with the club. The trade possibly clears the way for sharpshooter Ryan Anderson to move into New Orleans' starting lineup opposite 2012 No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis in the frontcourt, with Evans slotting in at the small forward spot.
The Blazers, meanwhile, fill their need for a center after J.J. Hickson left to sign with the Denver Nuggets.
Lopez is coming off the best statistical season of his five-year career, posting 11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while starting all 82 contests during his only season in New Orleans in 2012-13.
The 7-footer spent the first four years of his career with the Phoenix Suns and holds career averages of 7.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
Harris, 25, is merely a throw-in who split last season with New Orleans and Miami and has averaged 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds over 42 NBA games.
Withey was selected by Portland with the 39th overall pick. During his senior season at Kansas, the 7-footer notched career highs in points (13.7), rebounds (8.5) and blocks (3.9).
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.