Hornets send Ariza and Okafor to Washington in trade for Lewis

The New Orleans Hornets today traded forward Trevor Ariza and center Emeka Okafor to the Washington Wizards for forward Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick in the second-round of next week’s draft. “Both of those gentlemen are good players and better people that will be missed,” Hornets General Manager Dell Demps says in a news release. “We are rebuilding our team, and this is one step in our new direction. This trade will provide an opportunity for our young players to develop and create flexibility to add to our core group moving forward.” Lewis, a two-time NBA All-Star, is entering the last season of a six-year, $118 million contract and could be a candidate for the amnesty clause. The 29-year-old Okafor hasn’t yet lived up to being the second pick in the 2004 draft. He averaged a career-low 9.9 points and 7.9 rebounds last season, missing time with a sore left knee. Ariza averaged 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. Prior to today’s trade, the Hornets did not have a second-round pick in the draft, and now will have one in addition to the first and 10th selections in the first round.