Magic send free agent Anderson to Hornets in sign-and-trade deal

Orlando has agreed to send restricted free agent forward Ryan Anderson to New Orleans in a sign-and-trade for forward Gustavo Ayon, sources confirmed to SI.com.

Anderson, who won the league's Most Improved Player award after averaging 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season, will be given a four-year deal worth approximately $34-36 million when the deal is formalized on July 11. Ayon, a 27-year-old from Mexico who played internationally until last season, will be paid $1.5 million next season and has a team option on his contract for the 2013-14 campaign.

This was the latest quality move from the Hornets, who added Kentucky forward Anthony Davis with the No. 1 pick and Duke guard Austin Rivers at No. 10 in last month's draft and are still planning to match Pheonix's maximum contract offer for Hornets restricted free agent shooting guard Eric Gordon. The fourth-year player has made it widely known that he would rather play for the Suns, but New Orleans is in control of the situation because of his restricted status.