The Orlando Magic traded guard Arron Addlalo to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. The Magic get point guard Evan Fournier from the Nuggets and the 56th pick in this year’s draft.
Afflalo has played for the Nuggets before as he played there for three seasons. He was sent back to the Magic on August 10, 2012 as part of a four-team, 12 player deal that involved Dwight Howard. Last season he averaged 18 points for the Magic, according to the Associated Press.He shot 46 percent from the field and 43 percent from the three-point line, CBS Sports notes. Afflalo has two years remaining on his contract. His contract includes an Early Termination Option for next summer. This year he will make $7.5 million and can opt in to a $7.75 million deal next summer.
“Even a casual fan could probably tell that, if a player is maybe four years older than the average player on the team that it takes time for those other guys to develop,” Afflalo told the Orlando Sentinel.“Basketball has a shelf life. Although I feel like I'm a player that's only going to get better with time . . . every franchise, every team has to give a lot of insight to what they feel is best."
He went on to add, “I'm excited. Since I left there, there's a completely different change in the management, a completely different coaching staff. I've always been very appreciative of the Kroenke family. They gave me my first opportunity for success, so to speak. . . . When you play this game, you play to win and you play to have fun with your teammates and build relationships with your teammates. That group of guys that are still currently there are guys that I've had the best tenure with in my NBA career.”
Fournier is an up and coming guard. He was the 20th pick in the 2011 draft. Last season he averaged 8.4 points, according to Yahoo Sports, which first reported the deal. He also averaged 1.5 assists last season.
Afflalo will try to help get the Nuggets back to the playoffs. Last season the Nuggets were 36-46 as they were plagued by injuries. They missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2002-03 season. The Nuggets have the 11th and 41st pick in Thursday’s draft.