REPORT: Trailblazers to Trade Batum To Hornets

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13144136/portland-trail-blazers-agree-trade-nic-batum-charlotte-hornets-gerald-henderson-noah-vonleh


Blazers to trade Nic Batum to Hornets for Gerald Henderson, Noah Vonleh
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Ramona Shelburne, ESPN Senior Writer




The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to trade Nicolas Batum to the Charlotte Hornets for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh, a source confirmed.

Batum is going into the final year of his contract. The move saves Portland $4 million, giving the Blazers $43 million to spend on free agents this summer, including LaMarcus Aldridge, the team's leading scorer (23.4 points per game) last season.

Yahoo! Sports earlier reported the deal.

Batum averaged 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds as the Blazers' starting small forward last season. According to ESPN's Stats and Information, he has averaged 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game over the past three seasons, one of three NBA players to average at least six boards and five assists over that span. The other two players: LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.

Henderson, who also has one year remaining on his current deal, scored 12.1 points per game for the Hornets in 2014-15. Vonleh, the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft, averaged 3.3 points in 10.4 minutes.



bob
MY NOTE:  So, MJ has traded for Hawes and Matt Barnes (giving up ear-blower Lance Stephenson) and now he's getting Nicolas Batum (and trading away Vonley and Gerald Henderson).  Maybe we should start calling him "Trader Michael".  So, with Vonleh gone and Bismack BIYOMMMMBOOOO!!! probably gone, what does that say about Charlotte's needs?

5 - Big Al, Hawes, Cody Zeller
4 - Maxiell, Marvin Williams
3 - Batum, MKG, PJ Hairston,  (Matt Barnes?)
2 - Troy Daniels (Matt Barnes?)
1 - Walker, Mo Williams

Looks to me like they need a PF and some SGs.  And they have #9.



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