The New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets have agreed in principle on a three-way trade that will send Terrence Williams to Houston, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic and a 2012 first-round pick from Houston will go to New Jersey. Nets forward Joe Smith will join the Lakers, who also will send their 2011 first-round pick to New Jersey. In an effort to create luxury-tax savings by trading Vujacic’s $5.5 million salary for Smith’s $1.35 million, the Lakers were willing to include their first-round pick.
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Williams, the No. 11 pick in the 2009 draft, recently returned to the Nets after being demoted to the Development League for his frequent tardiness to New Jersey’s games and practices. He is averaging 6.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season.
Vujacic, 26, has averaged less than five minutes in 11 games this season. His role with the Lakers has gradually decreased since he signed his three-year contract prior to the 2008-09 season.
Smith, 35, has appeared in just four games for the Nets this season.
The Nets own five first-round draft picks in the next two years, including two of their own, the Lakers’ (2011), Golden State’s (2011) and Houston’s (2012).
The deal can’t be finalized until Wednesday, the first day Smith and other free agents who signed in the summer can be traded.
