Source: Kings trading Evans
Guard to N.O. in 3-team deal
NBA sources say Sacramento, New Orleans and Portland have agreed to a three-team deal sending restricted free-agent guard Tyreke Evans to the Pelicans, center Robin Lopez to the Trail Blazers and point guard Greivis Vasquez to the Kings.
NBA rules prevent confirmation of trades until July 10, when Evans is expected to sign a four-year, $44 million contract. The sources say Portland is sending second-round draft pick Jeff Withey, a 7-footer out of Kansas, to New Orleans and a draft pick to Sacramento as part of the deal, which was first reported by ESPN. The trade also sends Pelicans shooting guard Terrel Harris to Portland.
Evans, a star at the University of Memphis and a former Rookie of the Year, averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists with the Kings last season, his fourth. At 6- 6, he has played both guard positions and even some small forward.
The 7-foot Lopez averaged 11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Vasquez, a former Grizzly, averaged 13.9 points and nine assists for New Orleans.
Evans, 23, had taken the first step Wednesday night by agreeing to the $44 million offer sheet with the Pelicans, sources said. Sources said the Kings believed Evans’ price range was $8 million to $9 million annually, significantly less than New Orleans’ offer
For New Orleans, the trade comes after a draftday deal that sent sixth overall pick Nerlens Noel,
a 6-11 center out of Kentucky, to Philadelphia for All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday. Evans could become a key sixth man, backing up Holiday or high- scoring shooting guard Eric Gordon as needed. That is, if the Pelicans decide not to trade Gordon, who has played just 51 games in the past two seasons because of lingering knee problems.
DEVELOPMENTS
Sources say Jefferson, Bobcats reach deal: The Charlotte Bobcats agreed Thursday to a three-year, $ 40.5 million contract with 6-10 free agent center Al Jefferson from the Utah Jazz, sources said.
Jefferson will make $13.5 million in each year of the deal, with the third season a player option.
Jefferson, 28, has averaged 18.8 points and 10 rebounds per game over the last seven seasons. Last season, his third with the Jazz, he averaged 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
More moves: Cleveland has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with 6-10 forward Earl Clark, who played alongside Dwight Howard last season in Los Angeles. Clark is getting a deal worth $9 million, a source said. ... A source says the Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement to re-sign guard-forward Kyle Korver to a multiyear deal. Korver averaged 10.9 points per game and ranked second in the NBA by making 45.7 percent of his 3-point shots last season. ... The New York Knicks are keeping J. R. Smith and Pablo Prigioni, two key members of their first Atlantic Division championship team since 1994. Both players agreed to new deals Thursday, their agents confirmed. Smith, the Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 18.1 points per game in the regular season, gets a four-year contract worth around $25 million. Prigioni could make about $6 million over three years. The Argentine guard moved into the starting lineup late in the season and helped the Knicks finish 54-28.