Hawks get a backup center

[Agent Kev]

Center Wright returning to Hawks

By SEKOU SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/05/06

The Hawks have reached an agreement with free agent center and former Hawk Lorenzen Wright on a two-year contract worth an estimated $6 million, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Wright, a 6-11, 250-pound 10-year veteran, played the past five seasons in Memphis, alongside All-Star center Pau Gasol. He started 58 of 78 regular season games for the Grizzlies this past season and averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while playing just 21.7 minutes per game.

Wright spent two seasons with the Hawks, 1999-00 and 2000-01, posting a career high scoring average (12.4) during his second season.

Drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the seventh pick in the 1996 draft, Wright has career averages of 8.8 points and 6.9 rebounds. He fills a huge need for the Hawks as the backup center to fourth-year pro Zaza Pachulia.

Not a sexy pick-up but solid and a bargain at what they are paying compared to some of the overpriced deals that some of the younger unproven guys are getting. He will spell Zaza and that's more than we had last year.

So the lineup looks like:

C Zaza/Lo Wright/Batista
PF J Smith/Sheldon/Soloman Jones (Developmental league?)
SF M Williams/Childress
SG J Johnson/Childress/Stoudamire
PG Speedy/Lue/Ivey

Sheldon might end up starting with Josh or Marvin coming off the bench. All the Hawks need to do know is complete the Al S&T and send John Edwards with him.

[IWSfan4life]

Not a bad lineup at all as far as young talent, but Wright isn't gonna give them too much.

-Jason

[Agent Kev]

stylesclash2004 said:

Not a bad lineup at all as far as young talent, but Wright isn't gonna give them too much.

-Jason

I'm sure he will give us more than the 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg that back-up center John Edwards gave us last year. Plus, he's a big body that knows how to play the NBA game and that's what we need.

[IWSfan4life]

admin said:

stylesclash2004 said:

Not a bad lineup at all as far as young talent, but Wright isn't gonna give them too much.

-Jason

I'm sure he will give us more than the 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg that back-up center John Edwards gave us last year.

Don't expect TOO much more than that though. Although he is decent for the "tough minutes" of sustaining on defense and a few nice bourds/blocks which is what they need I suppose.

-Jason

[Agent Kev]

stylesclash2004 said:

admin said:

I'm sure he will give us more than the 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg that back-up center John Edwards gave us last year.

Don't expect TOO much more than that though. Although he is decent for the "tough minutes" of sustaining on defense and a few nice bourds/blocks which is what they need I suppose.

-Jason

He averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds in 21 minutes per game last year. And in his last 20 games he averaged 8.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg. I think those are realistic numbers for a backup center who will also see minutes at power forward.