Adams set for move to Pelicans
BASKETBALL
AUCKLAND: Steven Adams is set to head to New Orleans and, for a few minutes, it looked like he would not be the only player with New Zealand ties in the deal.
The reported deal, which would involve Adams moving from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a four team trade centred around Jrue Holiday being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, is rather complicated.
So, even the man reporting the trade, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, had a bit of trouble explaining it, leading fans to believe that RJ Hampton was part of the deal.
Hampton, who played for the New Zealand Breakers last season, was selected this week by the Denver Nuggets with the 24th pick in the NBA Draft.
The Nuggets acquired that pick from the Pelicans in exchange for a 2023 lotteryprotected firstround pick, and the Pelicans decided to send that 2023 pick to the Thunder, along with two secondround picks, in exchange for Adams.
However, the wording of Wojnarowski's tweet left many confused.
After another attempt to clear up the confusion, even Hampton started to wonder whether he had been traded, before finally learning he was staying with the Nuggets.
So, the brief possibility of having two players with Kiwi ties in one NBA trade was gone, as was Hampton's concern.
When the trade is confirmed, Adams will not be the first New Zealand presence in New Orleans basketball, Sean
Marks playing 79 games over two seasons in 20082010, when the franchise was known as the New Orleans Hornets.
New Zealand Breakers guard Corey Webster also spent the preseason with the squad in 2015. — The New Zealand Herald