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Report: OKC Thunder on verge of trading Steven Adams to New Orleans Pelicans for NBA Draft picks

Jeff Patterson
by Jeff Patterson
Published: Sat, November 21, 2020 12:09 AM Updated: Sat, November 21, 2020 11:21 AM

The Steven Adams era is apparently coming to an end.

On the first night of free agency during an abbreviated NBA offseason, Thunder general manager Sam Presti continued his transaction spree late Friday. Oklahoma City is set to trade longtime center Steven Adams to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a four-team deal for guard George Hill, forward Darius Miller, a 2023 protected first-round pick via Denver and second-round picks (via Charlotte in 2023 and Washington in 2024), ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported. 

The Thunder selected Adams 12th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft out of Pittsburgh. OKC had acquired that pick the previous October as part of the James Harden trade with the Houston Rockets.

The native New Zealander quickly became a fan favorite in OKC for his personality as well as his play on the court.

In seven seasons with the Thunder, Adams has averaged 9.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He is entering the final season of a four-year, $100-million contract that he signed in 2016. 

Also late Friday night, OKC reportedly acquired forwards Trevor Ariza (via Detroit) and Justin Jackson (via Dallas) and a draft pick as part of a team trade with the Pistons and Mavericks that sent guard Delon Wright from Dallas to Detroit.

In the past seven days, the Thunder has traded away many key players from last season's roster, including Dennis Schroder, Chris Paul and Terrance Ferguson.

The 2020-21 NBA season is set to begin on Dec. 22. A schedule has yet to be released.

Related Photos
Steven Adams (12) poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]

Steven Adams (12) poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]

Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams hold their jerseys during a press conference at the Thunder Events center, Saturday, July 29, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Steven Adams made his Thunder debut Sunday in Orlando. He scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes. Photo by Sarah Phipps The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) celebrates from the bench during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The Thunder is using Enes Kanter, left, and Steven Adams in the offense more than ever, from passing to running the fast break. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN]
Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams misses a dunk over Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson during Tuesday night's game in Indianapolis. The Pacers whipped Oklahoma City, 111-85. [AP Photo/Michael Conroy]
Oklahoma City's Steven Adams goes up for a dunk over Philadelphia's Joel Embiid during Monday night's game. Adams scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in OKC's 120-113 loss. [AP Photo/Matt Slocum]
+4+7Boston's Enes Kanter, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City's Steven Adams during Sunday's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Kanter, a former Thunder player, remains a fan favorite in Oklahoma City. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman]
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-b93fbddc0ecd0a475a965b43243b578c.jpg" alt="Photo - Steven Adams (12) poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]" title="Steven Adams (12) poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>Steven Adams (12) poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-5fc2f4d01fdd4a93724e6bfc33b50004.jpg" alt="Photo - Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams hold their jerseys during a press conference at the Thunder Events center, Saturday, July 29, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman" title="Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams hold their jerseys during a press conference at the Thunder Events center, Saturday, July 29, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams hold their jerseys during a press conference at the Thunder Events center, Saturday, July 29, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-8a13c5242e480ca975e22dbb2f95d8aa.jpg" alt="Photo - Steven Adams made his Thunder debut Sunday in Orlando. He scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes. Photo by Sarah Phipps The Oklahoman" title="Steven Adams made his Thunder debut Sunday in Orlando. He scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes. Photo by Sarah Phipps The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Steven Adams made his Thunder debut Sunday in Orlando. He scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes. Photo by Sarah Phipps The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-548d8a45b739da5c8bc9a511997bc76d.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) celebrates from the bench during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman " title="Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) celebrates from the bench during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman "><figcaption>Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) celebrates from the bench during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-06b5080e7d430f26cb5b547bf44f5437.jpg" alt="Photo - The Thunder is using Enes Kanter, left, and Steven Adams in the offense more than ever, from passing to running the fast break. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN] " title=" The Thunder is using Enes Kanter, left, and Steven Adams in the offense more than ever, from passing to running the fast break. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN] "><figcaption> The Thunder is using Enes Kanter, left, and Steven Adams in the offense more than ever, from passing to running the fast break. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-1b0634556cb2acbb24b14884e5cdff65.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams misses a dunk over Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson during Tuesday night's game in Indianapolis. The Pacers whipped Oklahoma City, 111-85. [AP Photo/Michael Conroy] " title=" Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams misses a dunk over Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson during Tuesday night's game in Indianapolis. The Pacers whipped Oklahoma City, 111-85. [AP Photo/Michael Conroy] "><figcaption> Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams misses a dunk over Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson during Tuesday night's game in Indianapolis. The Pacers whipped Oklahoma City, 111-85. [AP Photo/Michael Conroy] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-b1e0081e9198132ce16ef5e4ade27224.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City's Steven Adams goes up for a dunk over Philadelphia's Joel Embiid during Monday night's game. Adams scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in OKC's 120-113 loss. [AP Photo/Matt Slocum] " title=" Oklahoma City's Steven Adams goes up for a dunk over Philadelphia's Joel Embiid during Monday night's game. Adams scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in OKC's 120-113 loss. [AP Photo/Matt Slocum] "><figcaption> Oklahoma City's Steven Adams goes up for a dunk over Philadelphia's Joel Embiid during Monday night's game. Adams scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in OKC's 120-113 loss. [AP Photo/Matt Slocum] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-ef20a69017246609f746e1eed172f4df.jpg" alt="Photo - Boston's Enes Kanter, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City's Steven Adams during Sunday's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Kanter, a former Thunder player, remains a fan favorite in Oklahoma City. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] " title=" Boston's Enes Kanter, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City's Steven Adams during Sunday's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Kanter, a former Thunder player, remains a fan favorite in Oklahoma City. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption> Boston's Enes Kanter, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City's Steven Adams during Sunday's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Kanter, a former Thunder player, remains a fan favorite in Oklahoma City. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-41237ffe4eb5987b71d7a9438c9f3dcf.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, right, celebrates a basket from half-court near the end of the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night at Smoothie King Center. The Thunder won 123-118. [AP Photo/Matthew Hinton] " title=" Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, right, celebrates a basket from half-court near the end of the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night at Smoothie King Center. The Thunder won 123-118. [AP Photo/Matthew Hinton] "><figcaption> Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, right, celebrates a basket from half-court near the end of the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night at Smoothie King Center. The Thunder won 123-118. [AP Photo/Matthew Hinton] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-7a334ae5e90582d3d0aa79d7e4d57519.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City's Steven Adams gets ready to dunk the basketball beside San Antonio's Marco Belinelli and Lonnie Walker IV during Sunday night's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Adams had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the Thunder's 131-103 victory. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman] " title=" Oklahoma City's Steven Adams gets ready to dunk the basketball beside San Antonio's Marco Belinelli and Lonnie Walker IV during Sunday night's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Adams had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the Thunder's 131-103 victory. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption> Oklahoma City's Steven Adams gets ready to dunk the basketball beside San Antonio's Marco Belinelli and Lonnie Walker IV during Sunday night's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Adams had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the Thunder's 131-103 victory. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-2f0757741e4712be315f77bc91f1fc22.jpg" alt="Photo - Thunder center Steven Adams recently flew back to Oklahoma City from New Zealand ahead of the NBA season restart, arriving to a place much different than the one he left 7,500 miles behind. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title=" Thunder center Steven Adams recently flew back to Oklahoma City from New Zealand ahead of the NBA season restart, arriving to a place much different than the one he left 7,500 miles behind. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption> Thunder center Steven Adams recently flew back to Oklahoma City from New Zealand ahead of the NBA season restart, arriving to a place much different than the one he left 7,500 miles behind. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure>
Jeff Patterson

Jeff Patterson is the sports editor of The Oklahoman. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, he allegedly once told his father on a childhood trip passing through Oklahoma that he would one day live there. He doesn't recall this, but he fulfilled that... Read more ›

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