Former Syracuse Orange Wes Johnson and Hakim Warrick are like strangers passing in the night. So close to sharing the same space for a brief moment until they kept moving in opposite directions.
The AP is reporting that the New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a three-way trade that sends center Robin Lopez and Warrick from Phoenix to New Orleans, while moving Johnson and a first-round draft pick from Minnesota to Phoenix.
The deal also sends guard Jerome Dyson and retiring center Brad Miller’s $5.1 million contract from New Orleans to Minnesota, allowing the Timberwolves to clear space under the NBA’s salary cap as they pursue free agents. Minnesota also will receive two second-round draft picks from New Orleans, while the Hornets will receive cash.
And so, The Grand Minnesota Timberwolves Syracuse Player Experiment is over. May it rest in peace. Before we got to know Cleveland Cavaliers fans hating our players who they felt weren't worth the draft pick they were selected with, we had the pleasure of hearing it from T'Wolves fans not once (Jonny Flynn) but twice (Wes). Unfortunately, neither player was able to prove doubters wrong, though it can be assumed that because Dave Kahn thought highly of them both, they were cursed to begin with.
Warrick is entering his eighth season in the NBA, the last two spent with Phoenix. He played previously for the Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls.
Johnson is entering his third year in the league and has averaged 7.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game so far.