Hornets/Wizards execute Trade

New Orleans sends C Okafur and SF Ariza to Washington for PF (but plays like a 6'6" SG, without the speed. Or lateral mobility. Or passing. Or courtvision. Or defense...) Rashard Lewis and a second-round pick.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-source-hornets-trade-ariza-190937833--nba.html

bob

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Can the Hornets amnesty him? It's the only thing that remotely makes any sense at all.

Outside wrote:Can the Hornets amnesty him? It's the only thing that remotely makes any sense at all.

You can only amnesty a player that was on your team at the time the new CBA was signed.
This deal makes a ton of sense for both teams.

Washington gets two veterans who will help bring a mature presence to the most immature team in the league.
Okafor and Ariza can still be pretty effective NBA players while Rashard Lewis looks like he has little left.
Washington took on a lot of salary next year in making this deal.

New Orleans will almost definitely waive Lewis by 6/30.
Doing so, they will save approximately $6m this year and $20.7m next year.
The down side is they will be paying Lewis over $13m this year for him not to play when he is waved.
New Orleans also gets Washington's #46 pick in the draft next week.

It's seems like a smart trade for both teams.

From Larry Coon's NBA Salary Cap FAQ:

67. What is the Amnesty provision?

Amnesty is a one-time opportunity for teams to release one player via the waiver process (see question number 63) and remove him from their team salary and luxury tax computations. For a player to be eligible for the Amnesty provision he must be on his team's roster continuously from July 1, 2011 to the date he is amnestied, without any new contract, extension, renegotiation or other amendment to his contract in the meantime. Players who were waived prior to July 1, 2011 and are still receiving guaranteed salary are also eligible. Teams cannot amnesty players they sign, receive in trade, extend, renegotiate, or otherwise amend after July 1, 2011.

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q67