Wizards trade Markieff Morris to Pelicans for Wesley Johnson, second round pick

A veteran forward has been dealt out of the Crescent City before the NBA trade deadline.

But it’s not Anthony Davis.

The Washington Wizards have traded forward Markieff Morris to the New Orleans Pelicans for Wesley Johnson, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. David Aldridge, also with The Athletic, added the Wizards will send their 2023 second-round pick to the Pelicans in the trade.

The Pelicans confirmed the deal later Wednesday night (see below).

Morris, 29, has been sidelined since December 28 with transient cervical neuropraxia.

The 6-foot-10 former first round pick out of the University of Kansas played four and a half seasons with the Phoenix Suns before joining Washington. He averaged 12.5 points per game and shot 35% from three-point range during his tenure with the Wizards.

Johnson, 31, averaged 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 26 games for New Orleans.

PELICANS ACQUIRE MARKIEFF MORRIS

February 7, 2019
NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has acquired forward Markieff Morris and a 2023 second round draft pick from the Washington Wizards in exchange for forward Wesley Johnson.

Morris, 6-10, 245, has appeared in 34 games (15 starts) this season for Washington, averaging 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.0 minutes per contest. Selected 13th overall by Phoenix in the 2011 NBA Draft, Morris has appeared in 555 career regular season games (330 starts) with Phoenix and Washington, averaging 11.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.4 minutes per game.

Johnson, 6-7, 215, who was originally acquired by New Orleans in a trade with the L.A. Clippers on October 15, appeared in 26 games (13 starts), averaging 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds. Originally selected by Minnesota with the 4th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Syracuse, Johnson has appeared in 597 career regular season games (334 starts) with Minnesota, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Clippers and New Orleans, averaging 7.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists.