Clippers to Trade Wright to Atlanta

Coveted free agent Lorenzen Wright has been linked to numerous teams over the last few weeks, including the Lakers and Indiana Pacers, but the former Clipper will wind up with the Atlanta Hawks.

As early as today, Wright is expected to sign a seven-year contract with the Clippers, believed to be worth about $40 million, and then be traded to the Hawks for two 2000 draft choices, the Hawks’ and Toronto Raptors’ No. 1 picks, according to league sources.

Wright came close to reaching a one-year deal with the Lakers for their $2-million salary cap exception on Friday. But that deal fell through when Atlanta approached the Clippers with a different offer than the one they took off the table early in the week, which included guard Jimmy Jackson.

The Clippers now appear willing to deal Wright in exchange for only the draft picks. The Hawks gained the Raptors’ pick through a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, who acquired the pick and Damon Stoudamire in a trade with the Raptors two years ago.

Wright, a power forward selected by the Clippers with the seventh pick in the 1997 draft, earned $1.923 million and averaged 6.7 points and 7.5 rebounds last season, mostly as a backup to center Michael Olowokandi and forward Maurice Taylor. He’ll step in as a starter at power forward for Atlanta, earning $4.4 million next season.

The Lakers, meanwhile, are running out of options in their pursuit of a power forward. They now appear to be on the verge of losing out on their top two choices--Charles Oakley and Wright--to fill the void.

New Coach Phil Jackson had said repeatedly that he expected and needed the Lakers to upgrade themselves at the position.

But General Manager Mitch Kupchak recently conceded that the Lakers may have to look to one of their holdover players to fill the spot.

As for the Clippers, they still have some unfinished business. They still need a point guard, must re-sign Tyrone Nesby and hope to reach a long-term agreement with Taylor.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to do some more things,” Coach Chris Ford said Friday.

Around the NBA

Former Clipper Gary Grant signed a one-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. Grant, 34, has played 11 seasons in the NBA including stints with the New York Knicks and Miami Heat. He has spent part of each of the last two seasons with Portland. In 24 games with the Trail Blazers, Grant averaged 4.4 points and 3.7 assists with an 85.7 free-throw percentage.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Wright Stuff

Lorenzen Wright’s career statistics with Clippers:

*--*

Season G Pts. Reb. ‘96-97 77 7.3 6.1 ‘97-98 69 9.0 8.8 ‘98-99 48 6.6 7.4

*--*