The New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trailblazers and Sacramento Kings have agreed to a three-way deal, according to the Associated Press. The move will cause guard Tyreke Evans to go to the Pelicans and guard Greivis Vasuez to go to the Kings.
Here’s what each team gets from the deal according to ESPN.com:
New Orleans Pelicans—PG Tyreke Evans, C Jeff Withey from New Orleans
Sacramento Kings—PG Grevis Vasquez, two second-round picks from Portland
Portland Trailblazers—C Robin Lopez, SG Terrel Harris from New Orleans
The Trailblazers have to pay the $1,568,999 trade kicker in Lopez's contract. The Pelicans had been looking to acquire Evans and keep newliy-acquired guard Jrue Holiday, so they needed to make a trade. The trade shed's salary and allows them to keep both players. Evans is expected to sign an offer sheet for a four year, $44 million deal.
The trade seems to benefit each team in a specific area.
The Pelicans get a scorer in the form of Evans who averaged 15.2 points per game last season. If star guard Eric Gordon can stay healthy the Pelicans have a strong backcourt. The team made a draft-day trade with the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire a star point guard with great potential in Jrue Holiday. The Pelicans sent first round pick Nerlens Noel to Philadelphia. Holiday and Gordon can each give the team 20 points a night and Holiday can average about 7 assists. Evans would most likely serve as a sixth man who can come off the bench and provide instant offense.
The Sacramento Kings get a facilitator who is coming off a breakout year with the former New Orleans Hornets. Greivis Vasquez averaged 9 assists last season and was a facilitator on a rebuilding Hornets team. (The Hornets officially changed their names to the Pelicans at the end of last season.) However, since the Pelicans were able to acquire Holiday there was no room for Vasquez. The young Kings team will have an up and coming point guard who can lead their offense.
The Portland Trailblazers get another big body inside who can provide a bit of scoring and be a presence in the paint. Although he is not the scoring machine his twin brother Brook is, Robin is coming off his best season with 11.3 ppg, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. This is not the only move Portland has made for a big man. According to CBS Sports, the Houston Rockets gave the Blazers power forward Thomas Robinson in exchange for two future second-round picks. This is perceived to be a tactic to free up cap space so the Rockets can sign both Dwight Howard and Josh Smith.
