Suns trade Lopez and Warrick, land Wesley Johnson, pick

Though the deal was agreed to days ago, some complications
seemed to put it in jeopardy. But now, it’s officially
official: Robin Lopez’s up-and-down tenure with the
Phoenix Suns has come to an end.

The Suns announced Friday they have traded Lopez and
forward Hakim Warrick — along with cash considerations —
to the Hornets, and a 2014 second-round pick (from the
Lakers) to the Timberwolves as part of a three-way deal.
Phoenix is getting swingman Wesley Johnson as well as a
lottery-protected first-round pick and the contracts of
Brad Miller and Jerome Dyson.

Besides maybe adding another center to the roster, the
Suns are probably done making moves.

“This is just another opportunity for us to move into a
new era for Suns basketball,” Suns GM Lance Blanks said
Friday. “At minimum we’re talking about six new players,
and maybe seven or eight when it’s all said and done.”

The pick, which belonged to Minnesota via Memphis, is
protected for the next four years, and according to
Arizona Sports 620’s John Gambadoro, and could turn into a
second-round selection and cash should the Grizzlies fail
to make the playoffs over the next few seasons. That was
the reason the deal was on shaky ground for a bit.

Deal had to be
modified because pick Suns are getting via Memphis/Minn
could turn into 3 mill & Suns already have received 3
mill from LA

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo620) July 27,
2012

The Grizzlies have made the playoffs each of the
last two seasons and are regarded as one of the Western
Conference’s better teams, so the chances of the Suns not
getting the pick in 2013 appear to be slim.

Johnson, who was taken fourth overall in the 2010 NBA
Draft, has been a
disappointment through two years in the NBA. He averaged
just 6 points
and 2.7 rebounds per game as a starter last season while
shooting .398
from the floor (.314 from three-point range).

He is coming off an impressive stint in the Las Vegas
Summer League, where he averaged 20.5 points and shot 48.3
percent from the floor.

He entered the league known for being an outstanding
athlete, and there’s a chance a change of scenery will do
him good. At least, that’s what Blanks said they’re hoping
for.

“He’s coming in pretty much with a blank slate,” Blanks
said, noting the team’s player development program could
be real helpful. “We’ll try to work on him as much as
possible to come and be the player that we believe he can
be.”

Of course Lopez, who the Suns are parting with, is heading
to New Orleans with a similar mindset. Suns President of
Basketball Operations Lon Babby said the team wanted to
keep their backup center and made a competitive contract
offer in hopes of doing just that, but it wasn’t enough to
convince him to come back.

“I don’t think it was a financial decision in any way,
shape or form on Robin’s part,” he said. “It was really
the opportunity to start.”

Taken 15th overall in the 2008 draft out of Stanford,
Lopez has career
averages of 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per
game. He’s
battled injuries and inconsistency since coming to the
NBA, and there are
some who believe he has peaked as a player.

Warrick, on the other hand, has been underwhelming since
being acquired by the Suns prior to the 2011 season. He
averaged just 6.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in 35
contests last season.

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