Lakers send Vujacic to Nets for Joe Smith in 3-way trade with Rockets

Lakers send Vujacic to Nets for Joe Smith in 3-way trade with Rockets

2010-12-15 11:00:51 GMT+7 (ICT)

LOS ANGELES (BNO NEWS) -- The Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday agreed to send guard Sasha Vujacic and a 2011 first-round draft pick to New Jersey to bring forward Joe Smith in a three-team trade, local media reported.

The New Jersey Nets will get Vujacic and a 2012 first-round pick from the Houston Rockets plus the Lakers' 2011 first-round pick for sending Smith to the Lakers and Terrance Williams to the Rockets.

The move will help the Lakers create luxury-tax savings by trading Vujacic's $5.5 million salary for Smith's $1.35 million.

Following the trade, the Nets now have 5 first-round draft picks during the next years to help their rebuilding process under new owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

Vujacic, 26, has spent his entire seven-year NBA career with the Lakers and has averaged just 1.8 points and 1.2 assists in 11 games this season. Smith, 35, a 16-year pro, has only appeared in four games for the Nets this season, averaging 6.3 minutes per appearance.

Williams, 23, the No. 11 pick in the 2009 draft, has played in 10 Nets games this season, averaging 6.7 points and 3.6 rebounds. He also spent time with New Jersey's Development League team before being recalled on December 7.

The deal will have to wait until Wednesday, the first day Smith and other free agents who signed in the summer can be traded.

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