Memphis Grizzlies Blog – Page 64 – NBA Blog

Assistant for Lorenzen Wright turns over audio tapes to police

The Philadelphia Daily News reports:

The personal assistant to slain former NBA player Lorenzen Wright said she had audio recordings of Wright’s ex-wife threatening to harm him, according to a report.

Wendy Wilson told ABC24-WPTY that the Sherra Wright, who was divorced from Lorenzen in January, was recorded saying “things like if she caught him with anyone else, she’d have him ‘bleeped up’ or whatever.”

Wright had been missing since July 18 when he left his ex-wife’s house with an unidentified person around midnight. Family members filed a missing persons report on July 22.

Grizzlies issue statement on the death of Lorenzen Wright

Memphis Grizzlies Majority Owner Michael Heisley issued the following statement today regarding the death of Memphis native and former Grizzlies player Lorenzen Wright.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Lorenzen Wright. We lost a member of the Grizzlies family. Lorenzen delighted fans on the court with his passion and off the court with his generosity in a Memphis community that watched him grow throughout his playing career at Booker T. Washington High School, the University of Memphis and the NBA.

“In his five seasons with the Grizzlies, Lorenzen played an integral role in guiding this franchise to three consecutive playoff appearances and was a member of the inaugural Memphis Grizzlies team in 2001.

“On behalf of the entire Memphis Grizzlies organization, we would like to express our sincerest condolences to Lorenzen’s family during this difficult time.”

Wright, a 13-year NBA veteran with the Grizzlies (2001-06), Los Angeles Clippers (1996-99), Atlanta Hawks (1999-2001, 2006-08), Sacramento Kings (2007-08) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2008-09), averaged 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 336 games with the Grizzlies. He ranks in the club’s all-time Top 10 in rebounds (2,386, 4th), blocks (250, 7th), games (7th), minutes (8,883, 8th) and points (3,148, 10th) and still holds the club’s all-time single-game record of 26 rebounds, set on November 4, 2001 vs. Dallas.

Lorenzen Wright found dead

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

Law enforcement officials have found the body of missing Memphis basketball star Lorenzen Wright in a wooded area at Hacks Cross and Winchester in southeast Memphis.

A law enforcement source confirmed the body was that of Wright, who has been missing since July 19, though the Memphis Police Department won’t officially comment.

The body was found by someone who called police today.

InsideHoops.com note: This page will be updated later today.

Lorenzen Wright missing since Sunday

George Brown of WREG News channel 3 in Memphis reports:

Lorenzen Wright, a former Memphis Tiger and Memphis Grizzlies player, is missing.

The family of Wright says he’s been missing since Sunday.

Wright’s sister, Savia Archie, says her family is very concerned.

Archie said, Wright was last seen on sunday when he was expected to fly out of Memphis, but no one has heard from him since.

Bulls sign Ronnie Brewer

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent guard Ronnie Brewer. In accordance with team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

“We’re very happy to add a player of Ronnie’s ability to our team. He brings great versatility on both ends of the floor and will be an excellent addition to our backcourt,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.

Brewer (6-7, 236), a four-year NBA veteran, comes to the Bulls after spending last season with both the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies. Drafted out of Arkansas in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft (14th overall) by the Utah Jazz, Brewer spent three-plus seasons with the Jazz before being dealt to the Grizzlies at last season’s trade deadline.

Last season with the Jazz, Brewer appeared in 53 games (all starts) and averaged 9.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.60 spg in 31.4 mpg. He shot .495 from the field and .633 from the line. He was limited to only five games with the Grizzlies due to a partially torn right hamstring.

A native of Fayetteville, Ark., the 25-year old Brewer has played in a career 271 regular season games (223 starts) and posted averages of 10.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.46 spg, 26.2 mpg, .521 field goal shooting, .234 three-point shooting and .707 from the line. During the 2008-09 campaign, he posted career highs in points per game (13.7) and rebounds per game (3.7), while ranking first in the NBA in steals-per-turnover ratio (1.87) and seventh in field goal percentage (.558). He also ranked in the NBA’s Top 10 in total steals during the 2008-09 and 2007-08 seasons. In his four seasons in the NBA, his teams have advanced to the playoffs three times, where he has appeared in 25 games (17 starts) and averaged 7.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.4 apg, 20.1 mpg and shot .490 from the field and .685 from the line.

Heat sign Mike Miller

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent guard Mike Miller. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“From the first moment that we met Mike on July 1, it seemed like it would be a match made in heaven,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “We consider him to be the finest perimeter shooter in the NBA. But also he is a multi-faceted player who can rebound, handle the ball and make plays. We expect big things from him.”

Miller has appeared in 692 career games (528 starts) with four teams over 10 seasons. During his career, he has averaged 13.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 32.4 minutes while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three-point range. He was selected as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year following the 2000-01 season, and was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year following the 2005-06 season.

During the 2009-10 season, Miller averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists, while shooting 50.1 percent from the field in 54 games (50 starts) for the Washington Wizards. He led the Wizards in three-pointers made with 82, and his 48.0 percent shooting from three-point range ranked second in the NBA.

Miller, who will wear #13 for the Heat, was originally drafted with the fifth pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2002-03 season, and then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the 2008-09 season. He was then acquired by the Washington Wizards prior to the start of the 2009-10 season, and spent one season playing for the Wizards before signing as a free agent with the Heat.

Mavs sign rookie Dominique Jones

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed first round draft choice Dominique Jones. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jones (6-4, 215) was originally the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. The Mavericks acquired his rights from Memphis for cash considerations in a draft day trade.

The Lake Wales, Fla., native finished his three-year career at South Florida ranked fifth in career scoring (1,797 points), first in free throws attempted (615) and fifth in both field goals made (592) and attempted (1,339). He was named First Team All-Big East as a junior when he averaged 21.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Jones led the Bulls in scoring in each of his three years. He was an honorable mention All-American and a finalist for both the Wooden Award and Naismith Award as a junior and was the only player in the nation to average at least 21 points, six rebounds and three assists per contest. He ranked second in the Big East (15th in the nation) in scoring in his final season with South Florida.

Bulls sign-and-trade Hakim Warrick to Suns

The Phoenix Suns today acquired forward Hakim Warrick in a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls. In exchange, Chicago receives the Suns’ second-round pick in 2011. Warrick has signed a four-year contract. We’ll post contract details later today.

“Hakim is a player we have watched perform well against us for years,” said Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry. “He is a long, athletic player who runs the floor and finishes well. We feel, given the opportunity, and playing alongside veterans like Steve Nash and Grant Hill, he can be a productive member of our rotation.”

The 6-9, 219-pound Warrick is an athletic finisher who owns career averages of 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 21.4 minutes in 383 games with three NBA teams. Originally selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 19th overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft, Warrick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Grizzlies before splitting the 2009-10 campaign between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Warrick has averaged double-digit scoring in three of his last four seasons overall, including a career-high 12.7 points and career-best 5.1 rebounds in 82 games during his best career season in 2006-07 with the Grizzlies. Most recently, the 28-year-old averaged 9.6 points and 4.1 boards in 76 games last season split between the Bucks and Bulls after being acquired by Chicago along with Joe Alexander in exchange for John Salmons and two future second-round picks at the trade deadline.

A perfect fit for the Suns’ up-tempo system, in 15 career meetings with Phoenix, Warrick has averaged 13.3 points in 27.5 minutes while shooting 58.1 percent from the field, all three of which are his highest against any NBA opponent. Warrick has also grabbed 6.4 rebounds in his career against the Suns, his second-most against any NBA team.

A four-year performer at Syracuse University (2001-05), Warrick started all 35 games for the NCAA Champion Orange as a sophomore. As a senior, he was named First Team All-America by the Associated Press, awarded Big East Conference Player of the Year and named First Team All-Big East after averaging 21.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in 34 games.

Grizzlies re-sign Rudy Gay

The Memphis Grizzlies have re-signed forward Rudy Gay to a multi-year contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll post contract details this afternoon.

“It’s a great day for the Grizzlies franchise to re-sign Rudy Gay,” Wallace said. “Rudy has been a cornerstone of our team for the past four seasons and was one of the top stars in perhaps the greatest free agent class in NBA history. We’re very excited for him to continue his professional career in the city of Memphis.”

Gay, a 6-8, 230-pound forward, ranked second in scoring (19.6 points, T-18th in the NBA) while setting career highs in field goal percentage (.466), steals (1.48) and minutes (39.7, 3rd) for a Grizzlies team that was the second-most improved team in the NBA last season behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Currently Memphis’ longest-tenured player, the four-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.25 steals in 35.3 minutes in 318 career games (282 starts), all with the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies’ third all-time leading scorer (5,538 points), Gay also ranks in the Top 10 in franchise history in rebounds (1,756, 8th), field goals made (2,118, 3rd), three-point field goals made (337, 4th), steals (398, 3rd), minutes (11,223, 6th), games played (8th) and games started (4th).

“I’m grateful to the Grizzlies organization for giving me the opportunity to continue my NBA career in Memphis,” Gay said. “We really got some momentum going last year under Coach (Lionel) Hollins, and I hope our fans are as excited as I am to see us build on that, continue to improve and achieve our goals for seasons to come. I embrace the opportunity to continually evolve in this leadership role – on and off the court.”

A member of the 2010-12 Team USA Men’s National Team Program, Gay has proven to be one of the NBA’s top young scorers over his career. Last season, the 23-year-old ranked fourth in the league in scoring average behind Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Chicago’s Derrick Rose and Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans among players age 23 or younger. The Baltimore, Md. native is one of five NBA players including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Andre Iguodala with at least 4,500 total points (4,692) and 300 total steals (327) over the last three seasons.

Memphis acquired Gay’s draft rights (eighth overall in the 2006 NBA Draft) along with Stromile Swift from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Shane Battier on July 12, 2006. In his final season at the University of Connecticut, Gay was named a 2005-06 First-Team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and was one of four finalists for the Naismith National Player of the Year Award as a sophomore.

Grizzlies waive Lester Hudson

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived guard Lester Hudson, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“We wanted to give Lester an opportunity to hook up with another team at the start of free agency,” Wallace said. “Unfortunately, with the draft day additions of guards Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez, it would have been difficult for Lester to get minutes in our backcourt. We wish him the best.”

The 6-3, 190-pound guard averaged 2.3 points and 0.7 rebounds in 5.2 minutes in 25 games as a rookie last season with the Boston Celtics and the Grizzlies. The 25-year-old Memphis native posted 4.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 6.8 minutes in nine games for the Grizzlies, who claimed Hudson off waivers on Jan. 8, 2010 after he was released by the Celtics on Jan. 6.

Hudson, who was assigned to the NBA Development League’s Dakota Wizards and Maine Red Claws last season, was selected by Boston with the 58th overall pick in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft.