Magic Send Ryan Anderson to Hornets in Sign-and-Trade

Unwilling to spend the money required to keep restricted free agent Ryan Anderson on their roster, the Orlando Magic have agreed to sign-and-trade the stretch power forward to the New Orleans Hornets. They’ll receive Gustavo Ayon in return. Some details, via Yahoo!: “Ryan Anderson has reached agreement with the New Orleans Hornets on a four-year, $36 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal that will send backup center Gustavo Ayon to the Orlando Magic, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. As a restricted free agent, Anderson intended to sign an offer sheet from the Hornets that the Magic didn’t want to match. Orlando then decided to negotiate the sign-and-trade. Anderson, 24, emerged as one of the best long-range shooting big men in the NBA, averaging 16 points and seven rebounds for the Magic last season when he was named the league’s Most Improved Player.”