Posted: July 27, 2012
The Phoenix Suns today completed a three-team, sign-and-trade deal with the New Orleans Hornets and Minnesota Timberwolves that will send restricted free agent Robin Lopez, forward Hakim Warrick and cash considerations to the Hornets, and a 2014 second-round draft pick (acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers) to the Timberwolves.
In exchange, Phoenix receives swingman Wesley Johnson, a protected 2013 first round pick from Minnesota, and the contracts of Brad Miller and guard Jerome Dyson. New Orleans sends to Minnesota a pair of second-round picks, one in 2013 (acquired from the Brooklyn Nets) and another in 2016 (acquired from Minnesota in an earlier trade).
Johnson, a 6-7, 215 forward, just completed his second NBA season, both with Minnesota, after originally being selected with the fourth overall pick (first round) of the 2010 NBA Draft. The 25-year-old owns career averages of 7.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 144 games (127 starts). Johnson, who boasts a 7-1 wingspan, just concluded a successful Las Vegas Summer League in which he averaged 20.5 points while shooting 48.3 percent from the floor, including 45.0 percent from three-point range. A three-year collegiate performer at Iowa State (2006-08) and Syracuse (2009-10), Johnson averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, and was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy (NCAA Player of the Year) in his lone season with the Orange.
Lopez, a 7-0, 255-pound center, is a four-year NBA veteran who was originally selected by the Suns with the 15th overall pick (first round) in the 2008 NBA Draft. The 24-year-old Stanford product owns career averages of 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 242 games (94 starts).
Warrick, a 6-9, 219-pound forward, has played the last two seasons in Phoenix after originally being acquired by the Suns on July 9, 2010, in a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls. Last season, Warrick averaged 6.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 35 games for the Suns.