Confirmed: Danny Mwanga to Colorado Rapids for 1st Round 2015 SuperDraft Pick; Timbers to Sign Frederic Piquionne? [UPDATE]

Here's a rumor for you to digest this morning. Ives Galarcep is reporting that sources are telling him the Portland Timbers will be sending forward Danny Mwanga to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a 1st round 2015 SuperDraft pick. Here is the exact tweet:

Sources tell me Rapids trading a 2015 1st-rd pick to Portland for Mwanga. Timbers likely to sign former West Ham F Freddie Piquionne #RCTID

— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) February 28, 2013

It's been no secret that Mwanga's time here in Portland hasn't exactly been the raging success we all had hoped it to be. While it's no secret that Mwanga has a lot of potential, he's sort of an awkward player to field and a team really needs to be built around him rather than adapt him to a team.

And then there's the former West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne. While Ives isn't sourcing that his signing is imminent, it does coincide nicely with this arrangement. That said, Piquionne hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire in preseason games.

As always, this is still a rumor. Take it with a grain of salt. Even if there is some validity to this rumor, deals fall through all the time.

What would you think of Mwanga being traded to Colorado? What about signing Frederic Piquionne?

[Kudos to community members jeremy.wyenberg and Sargent for the heads up.]

UPDATE: Merritt Paulson has taken to Twitter to announce a player trade and signing is to be announced today or tomorrow.

Trade and a separate player signing will be announced today or tomorrow.

— Merritt Paulson (@MerrittPaulson) February 28, 2013

UPDATE 2: This has now been confirmed. Full press release:

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers have acquired a first-round pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for forward Danny Mwanga, it was announced today.

"Danny was with the Timbers for a short time, but we appreciate his contributions to the club. With Danny being from Portland and having been developed as a player at Westside Timbers, it made this a very difficult decision. He was a great ambassador for the club and the sport in the community," said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager. "It is a good opportunity for him in Colorado and we feel this move is beneficial for all involved. We wish him well."

Mwanga, 21, played in 18 matches and scored three goals for the Timbers last season, joining the club on June 6, 2012, following a trade with the Philadelphia Union. In three MLS seasons, Mwanga has played in 79 games (42 starts), recording 15 goals and nine assists with Philadelphia (2010-12) and Portland (2012).