Sources: Nets reach agreement to acquire Kings' Marcus Thornton
The Sacramento Kings have reached agreement on a deal to send guard Marcus Thornton to the Brooklyn Nets for guard Jason Terry and forward Reggie Evans, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
The Nets' deal with Sacramento doesn't preclude them from also completing a deal for the Los Angeles Lakers' Jordan Hill using the Nets' Disabled Player Exception, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Brooklyn ownership has expressed a willingness to complete the deal for Hill, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Hill's $3.5 million contract added to the payroll would require the Nets to pay a staggering $17 million in additional luxury tax.
Thornton's contract has two years and nearly $17 million remaining through the 2014-15 season. Terry, 36, has $10.7 million left on his deal, including $5.4 million next season.
Brooklyn had discussed a deal involving Terry for Cleveland's Jarrett Jack, too, but sources told Yahoo Sports the Nets were turned off by the length of Jack's contract, which guarantees a total of $12.6 million in the final two years of his deal through the 2015-16 season.
The Nets' $5.25 million Disabled Player Exception can be used in a trade or free-agent transaction until March 10 and they can use a portion of it to absorb the remaining $3.5 million on Hill's expiring contract.
Nevertheless, the luxury tax penalty from absorbing Hill's contract would be extraordinary for Brooklyn. Hill could give the Nets a capable power forward and center replacement for a postseason run, but the team's salaries and luxury tax would reach $210 million.
Hill, 26, has never been a favorite of Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni and has struggled to find minutes in his system. It is doubtful that Hill would re-sign with the Lakers as a free agent this summer with D'Antoni still the coach, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Hill has averaged 8.5 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes for the Lakers.
