University of Tennessee Athletics
VFL Jarnell Stokes Traded to New Orleans Pelicans
February 18, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2016
New Orleans Pelicans Press Release
Former Tennessee basketball standout Jarnell Stokes' NBA journey is taking him to the Gulf Coast, as the Miami Heat traded the forward to the New Orleans Pelicans Thursday.
The Memphis, Tennessee, native split time between the Heat and its D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce this season. His play with Sioux Falls (20.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg in 16 games) earned him a spot in last weekend's D-League All-Star Game in Toronto. When he was an active member of the Heat roster, the 22-year-old Stokes appeared in seven games.
The Heat will receive cash and a conditional draft pick in exchange for Stokes, who will be a free agent this off-season.
Stokes is Tennessee's all-time leading offensive rebounder, a member of UT's 1,000-Point Club and was a starter on the Vols' 2014 Sweet Sixteen team. He chose to forego his senior season and enter that summer's NBA Draft.
A second-round pick, Stokes--who was traded from the Utah Jazz to his hometown Memphis Grizzlies on draft night--joined the Heat via a trade last November.
He is the second NBA VFL to be traded this week, as fifth-year pro Tobias Harris was dealt from the Orlando Magic to the Detroit Pistons Tuesday.
Other Tennessee alumni active on NBA rosters are Jordan McRae (Phoenix Suns), Josh Richardson (Miami Heat) and C.J. Watson (Orlando Magic).
OFFICIAL: #Pelicans acquire Jarnell Stokes from @MiamiHEAT - https://t.co/TVwBJxpzVb pic.twitter.com/pwfbD9SWFv
-- New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 18, 2016
