Lorenzen Wright

Former NBA player Lorenzen Wright , whose body was found in the woods outside Memphis, Tenn., was shot to death and the case is being investigated as a homicide, police said Thursday. Family members had said Wednesday that police told them Wright's body had been found near an apartment complex. Police delayed confirmation, awaiting an autopsy that confirmed the identity based on dental records, authorities said in a statement. The Shelby County medical examiner's office reported that Wright died of a gunshot wound, police said.

The New Orleans Hornets traded for forward Trevor Ariza on Wednesday, part of a four-team deal that involved the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers. In exchange for Ariza, who signed a five-year, $34-million contract with Houston last year, the Hornets shipped second-year point guard Darren Collison and forward James Posey to the Pacers. Troy Murphy left the Pacers for the Nets, who sent guard Courtney Lee to Houston. Ariza was a starting forward for the Lakers in 2009 when they won the NBA championship.

The uncle of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright said Wednesday that police have told the family the athlete who had been missing for 10 days has been found dead in Memphis, Tenn. Curtis Wright told the Associated Press that police called the player's father, Herb Wright , with the news he had died. There was no immediate word on the cause. Police declined to comment publicly. The Commercial Appeal cited a police source as identifying a body found in a field in southeast Memphis as Wright's.

Former NBA player Lorenzen Wright , whose body was found in the woods outside Memphis, Tenn., was shot to death and the case is being investigated as a homicide, police said Thursday. Family members had said Wednesday that police told them Wright's body had been found near an apartment complex. Police delayed confirmation, awaiting an autopsy that confirmed the identity based on dental records, authorities said in a statement. The Shelby County medical examiner's office reported that Wright died of a gunshot wound, police said.

"If someone provokes me, I'm going to pray for them." Lorenzen Wright, Memphis Grizzly center. Memphis opens the regular season Nov. 2 at home against Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat.

Lorenzen Wright has been a Clipper his entire three-year NBA career, and he's glad the Clippers will be playing at the Staples Center next season. "I'm not going to be all choked up [about leaving the Sports Arena]," said Wright, who will be a free agent this summer. "In fact, I'm real happy that the Clippers are getting away from here and finally going to a new arena."

Clipper forward Lorenzen Wright, who suffered strained ligaments in his left knee when Golden State Warrior center Felton Spencer fell on him in Friday night's 94-79 victory at Oakland, missed his third consecutive game. Wright, who averaged 16.4 rebounds in his last eight games, hopes to return for Friday night's game against the Lakers at the Sports Arena. * Vancouver guard Antonio Daniels, who ranks second among rookies in assists (5.8) remained at the team hotel with flu.

Forward Lorenzen Wright, who strained ligaments in his left knee when Golden State Warrior center Felton Spencer fell on him Friday at Oakland, said it was frustrating to miss Saturday's victory over the Dallas Mavericks at the Sports Arena. "Just when you start playing well, something like this happens," said Wright, averaging 16.4 rebounds in his last eight games. "But I'm going to come back with the same mind frame that I had before I left, so hopefully everything will continue."

Rookie center Lorenzen Wright, who played eight scoreless minutes against the Lakers, has missed eight shots in his last two games. He missed all six of his shots in Sunday night's 106-94 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, getting two points, two rebounds and two assists. Trail Blazer center Arvydas Sabonis made three of five shots and had six points, five rebounds and five assists. "I told you about Sabonis, he's huge," Wright said.

The uncle of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright said Wednesday that police have told the family the athlete who had been missing for 10 days has been found dead in Memphis, Tenn. Curtis Wright told the Associated Press that police called the player's father, Herb Wright , with the news he had died. There was no immediate word on the cause. Police declined to comment publicly. The Commercial Appeal cited a police source as identifying a body found in a field in southeast Memphis as Wright's.

"If someone provokes me, I'm going to pray for them." Lorenzen Wright, Memphis Grizzly center. Memphis opens the regular season Nov. 2 at home against Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat.

You guys might think I'm crazy, but I think Donald Sterling has been a genius. I honestly don't know why he has such a bad rap. People keep saying he doesn't want to pay people what they deserve. I say, show me one of these cases and I will show you cases where they didn't deserve the money they were asking. 1. Michael Olowokandi. Who would want him on the team? He's injury-prone and inconsistent, selfish and disrespectful. Let him go, and let's see how effective he is somewhere else.

For forward Lorenzen Wright, Atlanta's 20-point victory over the Clippers wasn't just a routine win. Not after spending the first three seasons of his NBA career with the Clippers before being traded to the Hawks once it was determined he wouldn't receive a long-term multimillion-dollar contract from owner Donald Sterling. "It felt good," said Wright, who had a season-high 28 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Hawks' 108-88 victory.

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.

The Clippers may have found a way to get something in return for free-agent forward Lorenzen Wright--and keep him away from the Lakers. The Atlanta Hawks and the Clippers on Friday discussed a sign-and-trade deal that would send two 2000 first-round draft choices to the Clippers and would give Wright a multiyear contract starting at $4.4 million.

General Manager Elgin Baylor says center Lorenzen Wright should have been selected to play in next month's rookie game on All-Star weekend. Thrust into the starting lineup after injuries to Stanley Roberts and Kevin Duckworth, Wright has averaged 5.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 32 games. "There's no doubt in my mind he should be [in the game]," Baylor said. "I called the league office and tried to find out the criteria and they said it was done several weeks ago.

Rookie swingman Lorenzen Wright, the seventh player picked in the draft, made only four of 22 shots in seven exhibitions. Wright, who broke a bone in his right foot while jogging at the predraft camp in Chicago last June, reported to training camp out of shape after undergoing surgery to have a small screw inserted into his foot. "He's light years away from being able to play in this league," Coach Bill Fitch said.

In a swift and stunning countermove, the Lakers have held serious discussions with Clipper free-agent forward Lorenzen Wright and could sign him to a one-year, $2-million bargain contract by this weekend, several sources said Thursday. With doubts rising about Charles Oakley's willingness to accept less money to sign with the Lakers, Executive Vice President Jerry West began talks to acquire Wright, said Wright's agent, Robert Fayne.