<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">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.</div> Source
Nice signing for ATL, they're getting a pretty good big man core. They already have Pachulia who isn't bad, they drafted Shelden, and now Lorenzen. I like the contract too, 3 million/year for a solid C-F, very nice.
Don't know much about him. Isn't he labeled lazy and underachieving? At least this gives them a big body to work with.
Agreed, I think this is a great sign by the Hawks. Lord, so does that mean the Griz will be starting Big Jake... ick...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SP23:</div><div class="quote_post">I thought they couldn't sign anyone for more than one year?</div> I think that got settled and they were allowed to again, not sure.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't know much about him. Isn't he labeled lazy and underachieving? At least this gives them a big body to work with.</div> It's hard to really get a read on whether he's lazy or just not good enough to fulfill the hype that was around him back in the '96 draft, when he was taken over the likes of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Jermaine O'Neal, Peja Stojakovic, and 'Big Z'. One thing's for sure though, he's not a true center and is better played at power forward. He may have logged most of his time at center for the Grizzlies, but that was just because of their lack of any other true centers outside of Jake Tsakalidis. Regardless, at this point in the offseason and at this little cash, he's a solid pick-up. Does anyone else see the irony in this signing though? Lorenzen Wright is reportedly now going to be backing up Zaza Pachulia, the same player who he got frustrated and sucker-punched back in a 2004 exhibition game when Pachulia was a Buck. That can't be good for team chemistry. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Flashback:</div><div class="quote_post"> Lord, so does that mean the Griz will be starting Big Jake... ick...</div> I'd be expecting Pau Gasol to start logging more minutes at center. He played 33% of the team's center minutes last season and was very effective at it. The Grizzlies also have Stromile Swift back again, and while he's very uncooperative about playing for the Grizzlies again, V.P. of Operations Jerry West seems determined to keep him on the roster. If worst comes to worst though, Jake Tsakalidis is actually not a bad option at center. He's got size like Shaq and is deceptively quick. He's reallly lacking in the skills department, missing layups and commiting stupid fouls, but with his size and mobility, he still finds ways to be a difference maker on both ends of the court.
he brings veteran leadeship, kinda liek a rip off PJ brown. But I wouldnt consider him a true consitent starter
The Hawks are looking good for the up coming season. They have brought in some young talent over the last few year(not all small forwards). Look for Marvin Williams to have a good year.
