Ryan Anderson has reached agreement with the New Orleans Hornets on a four-year, $36 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal that will send backup center Gustavo Ayon to the Orlando Magic, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Ryan Anderson was last season's Most Improved Player. (AP)As a restricted free agent, Anderson intended to sign an offer sheet from the Hornets that the Magic didn't want to match. Orlando then decided to negotiate the sign-and-trade.
Anderson, 24, emerged as one of the best long-range shooting big men in the NBA, averaging 16 points and seven rebounds for the Magic last season when he was named the league's Most Improved Player. He shot 43.9 percent from the field, and 39.3 percent on 3-pointers. The Magic drafted St. Bonaventure forward Andrew Nicholson with the 19th overall pick.
Ayon, 27, averaged 5.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 54 games for the Hornets last season.
Ryan Anderson was last season's Most Improved Player. (AP)As a restricted free agent, Anderson intended to sign an offer sheet from the Hornets that the Magic didn't want to match. Orlando then decided to negotiate the sign-and-trade.
Anderson, 24, emerged as one of the best long-range shooting big men in the NBA, averaging 16 points and seven rebounds for the Magic last season when he was named the league's Most Improved Player. He shot 43.9 percent from the field, and 39.3 percent on 3-pointers. The Magic drafted St. Bonaventure forward Andrew Nicholson with the 19th overall pick.
Ayon, 27, averaged 5.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 54 games for the Hornets last season.