Months after signing a four-year, $64 million extension with the Orlando Magic, Tobias Harris is heading to Motown.
Harris was traded to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday in exchange for two players with expiring contracts — point guard Brandon Jennings and forward Ersan Ilyasova.
Harris projects as a power forward — or stretch 4 in head coach Stan Van Gundy’s vernacular — in a frontcourt that includes center Andre Drummond.
Harris averaged 17.1 points per game last season, but his perimeter shooting has dropped off and his overall numbers are down under coach Scott Skiles (13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds per game).
The Pistons landed the 23-year-old combination forward in exchange for Jennings and Ilyasova, who combined to average 18.1 points per game this season.
— With the NBA trade deadline just two days away, the Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat made a reported three-team deal.
The Grizzlies sent swingman Courtney Lee to the Hornets in exchange for P.J. Hairston and also obtained Chris Andersen from the Miami Heat for Hornets guard Brian Roberts. Additionally, the Grizzlies receive four second-round draft picks, including two from the Hornets in 2018 and 2019, and two from the Heat.
The 30-year-old Lee is expected to give the Hornets some help with scoring and perimeter defense. The Grizzlies, in need of front-line help after a season-ending injury to center Marc Gasol, are hoping to get rebounding and defense from Andersen. Hairston is in his second year in the league and averaging 6.0 points and 2.7 rebounds this season. Roberts, 30, is averaging 4.8 points and 1.3 assists in 2015-16.
—Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will have shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the 2015-16 season after recently suffering a second labrum injury.
Dr. Gerald Williams will perform the repair on Wednesday at Methodist Hospital in Philadelphia, the team announced.
Kidd-Gilchrist hurt the shoulder again on Feb. 10 in a win over the Indiana Pacers after recovering from a labrum tear during preseason to return to the court. Het ended up playing in just seven games this season, averaging 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds, after signing a four-year, $52 million contract extension in September.
—Atlanta Hawks reserve center Tiago Splitter opted for hip surgery that will force him to miss the remainder of the season, the team announced.
The Hawks said a date for surgery is yet to be determined. Splitter decided to pursue the surgery after getting a second opinion on treatment options.
Before the NBA All-Star Game break, Splitter sat out six games to rest his right hip. He has not played in a game since late January. The 31-year-old veteran has been bothered by the hip for much of this season. He was averaging 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 16 minutes in 36 games.
—The Phoenix Suns called up guard Jordan McRae, who scored an NBA Development League record 61 points last month, from Bakersfield.
McRae was a starter in the D-League All-Star Game on Saturday in Toronto. He had seven points and five assists in the East’s 128-124 victory.
In six games with the Suns this season, McRae is averaging 4.8 points and 1.2 assists. The 24-year-old signed a second 10-day contract with the Suns on Feb. 8.
In 28 games with Bakersfield this season, McRae was third in scoring with a 23.1-point average and averaging 5.2 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals. His 61-point outburst came against Canton on Jan. 28.