30 Team Association: Trail Blazers ship Hickson to Magic - mmcnab91's Dynasty

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30 Team Association: Trail Blazers ship Hickson to Magic

Posted on April 8, 2013 at 03:42 PM.

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4/27/13-Trail Blazers begin roster overhaul, send Hickson to Magic in three-team trade

PORTLAND-If there was any doubt Portland was going to draft a center in the upcoming draft, Saturday's trade all but erased those doubts.

The Trail Blazers seemingly confirmed the rumors that the team would draft a center in the upcoming draft when they shipped center J.J. Hickson to the Orlando Magic for three players and a draft pick in a three-team trade Saturday.

Portland sent Hickson, point guard Ronnie Price, and small forward Luke Babbitt to the Magic for point guard Sebastian Telfair, small forward Linas Kleiza, center Hassan Whiteside, and a 2013 second round draft pick.

In a related move, Portland sent center DeSagana Diop to the Phoenix Suns for center Kyrylo Fesenko. Portland then waived both Fesenko and Whiteside and signed veteran center D.J. Mbenga, leaving an open roster spot for Portland's future draft pick.

Orlando also waived a player acquired in the trade in Price, choosing to sign shooting guard Donald Sloan over retaining Price.

Hickson, acquired by the Trail Blazers off waivers in March 2012, averaged 13 points and 9.5 rebounds in 81 games for Portland this season. According to Magic general manager Rob Hennigan, Hickson-on a one-year deal with Portland-will sign a two-year contract extension with Orlando on Monday.

Price averaged just 3.2 points and 3.1 assists in 79 games for Portland this season as the third-choice point guard behind Damian Lillard and Nolan Smith. Price would've been the fourth-string point guard on the Magic, behind Jameer Nelson, Ish Smith, and Darius Johnson-Odom had the team kept him.

Babbitt averaged 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 80 games for the Trail Blazers. Orlando, rumored to be targeting UCLA small forward Shabazz Muhammad or Georgetown small forward Otto Porter, is not expected to retain Babbitt for next season.

Telfair, Portland's first round pick in 2004, was acquired by the Magic from the Suns in late March as part of deal for Hedo Turkoglu. In 82 games between the Suns and Magic, Telfair averaged 3.7 points and 1.5 assists per game.

Portland is not expected to retain Telfair; a Trail Blazers front office source reported that the team is interested in drafting North Carolina State's Lorenzo Brown or Detroit Mercy's Ray McCallum with one of their second round picks.

Orlando acquired Kleiza, Portland's first round pick in 2005, in the trade that sent Al Harrington to Toronto. In 73 games between both teams, Kleiza averaged 3.6 points and 1.3 rebounds. A Trail Blazers front office source said the team was still undecided on whether or not to retain Kleiza.

Whiteside, who didn't appear in a game this season, was acquired by the Magic in a swap with the Hornets involving Kyle O'Quinn.

Diop was acquired by the Trail Blazers in late March from the Bobcats for Jared Jeffries, averaging less than a point and 1.6 rebounds per game in 51 games between both teams.

Fesenko played in just five games for the Suns all season, averaging 2.2 points and one rebound in those games.

Mbenga played the entire season for the D-League's Reno Bighorns, averaging 14.8 points and 12.6 rebounds in 50 games with Reno. Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey said the team brought Mbenga aboard to mentor Portland's young center Meyers Leonard and their future draft choice.

Portland is rumored to be targeting one of three centers with their top pick: Alex Len of Maryland, Isaiah Austin of Baylor, and Kelly Olynyk of Gonzaga, with Len as their top choice.

Sloan, like Mbenga, played the entire season in the D-League. In 50 games for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Texas A&M product averaged 22.1 points and 7.4 assists per game.