Hornets trade Okafor, Ariza to Wizards for Rashard Lewis
The New Orleans Hornets have agreed to trade center Emeka Okafor and swingman Trevor Ariza to the Washington Wizards for forward Rashard Lewis and a second-round pick in next week's draft, a league source confirmed.
The Hornets will part with two starters but create more financial flexibility in the trade. Okafor and Ariza will make a combined $43 million through 2014. Lewis is owed close to $23 million next season but he can be bought out for $13.95 million before July 1. Lewis' agent, Tony Dutt, said he would meet with Hornets general manager Dell Demps next week to discuss the possible buyout but that he has not been given an indication of what the team will do. Lewis, 32, averaged a career-low 7.8 points and shot only 38.5 percent from the field and 23.9 percent from three-point range in 28 games before a knee injury ended his season in late February.
Sauce
Major salary dump for the Hornets. I think NOLA is hoping to put themselves in a position to be able to make some significant free agent moves.