SACRAMENTO — General manager Geoff Petrie and the Sacramento Kings had a busy Monday, signing point guard Aaron Brooks, picking up forward James Johnson in a trade with the Toronto Raptors and waiving center Hassan Whiteside.
The Kings let Whiteside go to clear space for Brooks, who became an unrestricted free agent after Phoenix withdrew its qualifying offer to him on July 7.
Brooks was acquired from Houston at the 2011 trade deadline and appeared in 25 games with the Suns, averaging 9.6 points and 4.2 assists in 18.9 minutes. He played in China last season.
Sacramento got Johnson, 25, from Toronto in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2014.
The trade gives the Kings another young forward with size as he joins a frontcourt that includes DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, Chuck Hayes and rookie Thomas Robinson. Entering his fourth NBA season, the 6-foot-9 Johnson can play both forward spots. He averaged 9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and two assists while starting 40 games last season.
Johnson was drafted 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2009. He was traded to Toronto during his second season and is entering the final year of his contract.
Sacramento drafted Whiteside 33rd overall in 2010 as a freshman out of Marshall. The 7-footer averaged 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 19 games with the Kings over two seasons. He played in just one game his rookie year after tearing a tendon in his left knee in training camp.