The Hornets, Suns, and Timberwolves completed a three-team deal Friday that will send 7-foot center Robin Lopez and forward Hakim Warrick from Phoenix to New Orleans, while moving forward Wesley Johnson and a first-round draft pick from Minnesota to the Suns.
Word of the multiplayer trade broke on Wednesday, though the final version had minor changes.
The deal sends the contracts of Jerome Dyson and Brad Miller from New Orleans to Phoenix. Minnesota receives three second-round draft picks in the deal.
The acquisition of Lopez fills a need at center for the Hornets, who traded away Emeka Okafor and let Chris Kaman go in free agency.
‘‘We wanted to fill the center position and we feel like Robin fits in with our timeline,’’ Hornets general manager Dell Demps said. ‘‘He brings a defensive presence. We hung our hat on our defense since we’ve been here. His size and his athleticism we think will really anchor our defense.’’
The Hornets expect 6-foot-11-inch Anthony Davis, the first overall pick in last month’s draft, to play often at power forward because of his slender build.
Lopez has been an off-and-on starter in the NBA and was a reserve for all 64 games in which he appeared last season, averaging 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 14 minutes a game.
Miller plans to retire, but the $5.1 million remaining on his expiring contract could give the Suns added financial flexibility.
Wolves nab Kirilenko
Minnesota signed free agent Andrei Kirilenko, bringing the versatile forward back to the NBA after a one-season absence.
The contract was completed as soon as the Wolves consummated their three-team trade with New Orleans and Phoenix to clear salary space.
The 31-year-old is currently playing with the Russian national team at the Summer Olympics in London. He played 10 years for Utah, averaging 12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, but spent the 2011-12 season with the CKSA Moscow club. He won the MVP and Best Defender awards in the Euroleague.
Bump in the road
Hornets first-round draft pick Austin Rivers had surgery to clean up bone spurs in his right ankle but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. The Duke guard, taken 10th overall, had the injury flare up during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last week . . . Veteran big man Ronny Turiaf signed a one-year contract with the Clippers. Turiaf, who finished last season with the NBA champion Heat, will be with his sixth team in eight NBA seasons . . . Toronto signed free-agent point guard John Lucas III and re-signed center Aaron Gray. Lucas, 29, had career bests in points (7.5), assists (2.2), rebounds (1.6), and games (49) with Chicago last season. Gray averaged 3.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 16.6 minutes over 49 games with the Raptors last season . . . The Bulls signed free agent center Nazr Mohammed. The 14-year NBA veteran played for the Thunder last season, appearing in 63 games, while averaging 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.