New Zealand basketballer Steven Adams' move within the NBA has been confirmed with his trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the New Orlean Pelicans.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Financial details weren't given but the two year extension is reported to be worth $50 million.
He also picks up a $3 million trade bonus.
The deals runs through the 2022-23 season and is fully guaranteed.
The 2.11m centre has played his entire seven year career at OKC, who have decided to unload the majority of their squad.
He will link up with power forward Zion Williamson at the Pelicans, he was the number one draft pick last year.
The Pelicans also have Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball in their lineup.
Thanks, mate. pic.twitter.com/zBf54zcaIO
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 24, 2020
The Pelicans have made the play-offs just once in the last five years.
Adams appeared in 530 career regular season games with the Thunder, holding career averages of 9.8 points on .589 shooting, 7.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks.
The New Zealand native appeared in 63 games in 2019-20, averaging 10.9 points on .592 shooting, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks.
Selected 12th overall out of the University of Pittsburgh in the 2013 NBA Draft, Adams ranks fifth all-time in OKC/Seattle franchise history in blocks (531) and first in field goal percentage.
Adams was a part of a four team trade involving the New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Brandon Ingram Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Pelicans acquired Steven Adams (via Oklahoma City) and Eric Bledsoe (via Milwaukee), as well as two future first round draft picks from Milwaukee and the right to swap two additional first round picks with the Bucks. In exchange, Milwaukee has acquired Jrue Holiday and the draft rights to Sam Merrill, the 60th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft (via New Orleans); Denver has acquired the draft rights to R.J. Hampton, the 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft (via Milwaukee); and Oklahoma City has acquired a future first round draft pick (via Denver), George Hill (via Milwaukee), Zylan Cheatham, Josh Gray, Darius Miller and Kenrich Williams (via New Orleans) as well as two second round draft picks from the Pelicans (2023 via Washington, 2024 via Charlotte).
"Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe are not only fiercely competitive and driven to succeed at the highest levels, they are proven winners with a team-first mentality," said Pelicans executive David Griffin.
"As we continue to build toward the sustainable success our ownership demands and our fans so richly deserve, we are grateful to be able to do so with such high-quality teammates and human beings."
