Late Friday night, news broke that the Oklahoma City Thunder had agreed to trade center Steven Adams to the New Orleans Pelicans.
It’s a bit of a complex deal that also involves the Jrue Holiday trade from the Pelicans to the Milwaukee Bucks.
There is a massive exchange of players and draft picks involving two playoff teams trying to get closer to the NBA Finals, a competing team hoping to make the playoffs and one rebuilding trade stockpiling assets.
Here are the full details of the trade:
Thunder’s return
Players: George Hill and Darius Miller
Picks: 2023 lottery-protected first-round pick via Denver Nuggets, 2023 second-round pick via Charlotte Hornets, 2024 second-round pick Washington Wizards, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Pelican’s return
Players: Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe
Picks: 2024, 2026 first-round pick swap from Bucks; 2025, 2027 unprotected first-round pick from Bucks, according to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.
Bucks’ return
Player: Jrue Holiday
Pick: 2020 second-round pick (No. 60, Sam Merrill) (from Pelicans via Bucks)
Nuggets’ return
2020 first-round pick (No. 24, RJ Hampton) (from Milwaukee Bucks via Indiana Pacers)
Details on the Thunder
Let’s dig a little deeper into the Thunder’s return.
They found a spot for Adams, who is to be paid $27.5 million on the final year of his contract.
Hill makes $9.6 million this season and has a player option for $10 million next year. He can play a role at either guard position if the Thunder do not trade him.
Miller’s $7 million contract became guaranteed as part of the trade, according to The Athletic’s John Hollinger. Miller suffered an Achilles injury that cost him all of last season. A career 38% 3-point shooter, he could be a trade target for a contender if plays well and is healthy.
The first-round pick from the Nuggets is lottery-protected, according to Pelton.
In full, the Thunder saved about $11 million and got a first-round pick and two second-round picks for Adams. Hill is tradable, and Miller could build back his value by the deadline. It’s possible Oklahoma City nets more down the road from this trade.
