30 Team Association: Suns acquire Turkoglu in three-team trade - mmcnab91's Dynasty

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30 Team Association: Suns acquire Turkoglu in three-team trade

Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:45 AM.

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3/24/13-Faltering Suns acquire Turkoglu from Magic in three-team trade

PHOENIX-Looking to give their fading playoff chances a needed boost, the Phoenix Suns acquired small forward Hedo Turkoglu from the Orlando Magic in a three-team deal that saw Turkoglu rejoin the team that dealt him to Orlando over two years ago.

Just two games out for the eighth playoff seed with 12 games to go, Phoenix sent small forward Wesley Johnson and point guard Sebastian Telfair to the league-worst Magic for Turkoglu, power forward Quincy Acy, and center Kyle O'Quinn. Phoenix promptly sent O'Quinn the Hornets, sending Orlando center Hassan Whiteside from the Hornets.

The Suns had lost six of their last eight games before the trade.

Turkoglu averaged 11.3 points and 4.9 assists a game in 70 games for the Magic. Turkoglu will be active for Phoenix's home game against the Nets tonight.

Orlando head coach Jacque Vaughn said the Magic would start Johnson at small forward over rookie Moe Harkless. In 70 games with Phoenix, Johnson averaged 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds a game, mostly in bench minutes behind All Star Michael Beasley.

Telfair, Phoenix's backup point guard, averaged 3.9 points and 1.7 assists with the Suns. Vaughn said Telfair would be the third-choice point guard in Orlando, behind Jameer Nelson and Ish Smith.

Acy will join his third team in three months, having joined Orlando from the Toronto Raptors in a February 9 trade. He played just three games for the Magic, totaling two points, one assist, and one block.

O'Quinn, Orlando's 2012-second round draft pick out of Norfolk State, hadn't played since a three-game stint in mid-November. O'Quinn, who is signed to three-year rookie minimum deal, will be the Hornets' third-choice center behind Robin Lopez and Jason Smith.

Whiteside has been inactive for the duration of the 2012-13 season so far. Vaughn confirmed Whiteside would remain inactive in Orlando for the time being.

For Orlando, the trade meant shedding nearly $8 million in payroll; of the three players Orlando received, only Johnson is signed past the end of the season. However, a Magic front office source said Johnson is likely to receive a buyout after the season, as the Magic are targeting UCLA small forward Shabazz Muhammad in this year's draft.