NBA Capsules: Rockets acquire Lee in 4-team trade
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Larry Bird always said he wouldn't rush the rebuilding of the Indiana Pacers.
He stuck to his word, and it paid off. He waited until all the free agency hype died down before delivering one of the biggest moves for his franchise in years — the acquisition of point guard Darren Collison from New Orleans — in a four-way trade that also includes New Jersey and Houston.
"We said at the beginning of the summer that we were going to be patient and don't make drastic moves just to make a move," Bird said. "We have a plan here. It's a three-year plan, and I expect to get the job done in three years."
The term rebuilding might no longer apply now that the Pacers have added the 22-year-old Collison to a core that includes forward Danny Granger and center Roy Hibbert.
"I think it helps out tremendously," Bird said. "I think this was the piece that we needed. The vision I have for this franchise is to get the core group up and ready to go as quick as we can, and this piece here will accelerate everything."
The Pacers also announced Wednesday they have dealt Troy Murphy to the Nets, who sent guard Courtney Lee to Houston. To complete the trade, the Rockets shipped swingman Trevor Ariza to New Orleans.
Indiana also got James Posey from New Orleans in the deal.
The Pacers were searching for a point guard because T.J. Ford fell out of favor last season with coach Jim O'Brien. The Pacers get a good young one in Collison, who played well when Chris Paul was injured. He averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 assists as a rookie last season, including 18.8 points and 9.1 assists in 37 starts.
"I didn't think he'd have the year he had last year," Bird said. "He's solid. He likes to defend. He always could shoot the ball. We think he's a complete player."
The Nets get a good rebounder in the 6-foot-11 Murphy, a New Jersey product who is an excellent outside shooter for his size. The former first-round pick from Notre Dame is a career 39 percent shooter from 3-point range. He played in 262 games for the Pacers, with averages of 13.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
"We are very pleased to add Troy to our roster," Nets general manager Billy King said. "He is a quality power forward who has the ability to stretch the floor, and we feel that he will be a very positive addition to our frontcourt rotation."
Posey has spent 11 seasons in the NBA with career averages of 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Last season, he averaged 5.2 points and 4.3 rebounds. The cash-strapped Hornets were able to move the remaining two years and more than $13 million remaining on Posey's contract.
The Rockets cut salary with the move after re-signing point guard Kyle Lowry and power forward Luis Scola, both restricted free agents, and picking up backup center Brad Miller.
Ariza was due to make about $6.3 million this season, the first of four years left on his contract. Houston signed Ariza in July 2009, when free agent Ron Artest decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said their involvement in the trade was mostly about the opportunity to get Lee, a 6-5 guard whom they've coveted since the 2008 draft.
"We really target players who we think will fit in well here over time," Morey said. "When we got our first chance to acquire him, we were fairly aggressive to get that done. He's very versatile."
The Rockets envisioned the 6-8 Ariza developing into a dependable scoring threat on the wing. He averaged a career-high 14.9 points in 72 games last season, but shot 39.4 percent from the field and 33.4 percent from 3-point range.
"To get something you like, you've got to give up something," Morey said. "It wasn't a situation where we were down on Trevor. It was really about that we think Courtney has a big future."
Lee, acquired from Orlando on draft night in 2009 in the Vince Carter deal, averaged 12.5 points in 71 games for the Nets last season, including 66 starts. He shot 43.6 percent from the field last season and will likely back up shooting guard Kevin Martin with the Rockets.
Nets get power forward, NJ's own Troy Murphy
The New Jersey Nets finally have a seasoned power forward, even if it took a month longer than expected.
The Nets found a very productive mentor for rookie Derrick Favors on Wednesday, acquiring Troy Murphy from the Indiana Pacers as part of a four-team trade in which the Nets shipped shooting guard Courtney Lee to the Houston Rockets.
Nets general manager Billy King says the deal may be the last one for the team heading into the season.
New Jersey had tried to reach deals with power forwards Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer and Amare Stoudemire last month in free agency but came up short and they signed elsewhere.
Getting Murphy gives them a 30-year-old who averaged a double-double in points and rebounds last season, can shoot the 3-pointer and is excited to be returning to his home state. He is also a veteran who can teach Favors, the 19-year-old who was the No. 3 pick overall in the draft.
"When you have a chance to get big men in this league, you have to go for it because there are not a lot of good big men in this league," King said in a conference call. "I think you win in this league with big guys and you win with rebounding."
A nine-year veteran, Murphy has career averages of 12.1 points and 8.6 rebounds in 29.4 minutes over 621 career games (477 starts) with Golden State and Indiana. He has shot .447 from the field and .394 from 3-point range.
In 2008-09, he became the only player in NBA history to rank among the league's top five in both rebounding average (11.8) and 3-point field goal percentage (.450, 161-358).
Last season, Murphy started 69 of 72 games, averaging 14.6 points and 10.2 rebounds.
King said Murphy also will help center Brook Lopez. His ability to shoot the 3-point shot will prevent teams some doubling Lopez, and his ability to rebound will take some of the pressure off the Nets' big man.
King said that like most of the Nets, Lee struggled during the team's franchise-worst 12-70 season. Lee averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 33.5 minutes last season.
"I would have liked to have hung on to him," King said. "He is a young player, but I looked at some of the guys we signed, some of the guys we have coming back, I felt it was worth to move him to get Troy."
Trading Lee does open things up for the Nets to play second-year pro Terrence Williams or recently signed free agents Anthony Morrow or Jordan Farmar at the shooting guard.
The deal leaves the Nets with just $3 million in cap space for this season, but it clears another $2 million next year, putting them about $20 million under the cap next season.
Murphy will earn $11.9 million this season in the final year of his contract. Lee was due $1.3 million.
"I also wanted to make sure we put a team on the floor that was going to compete every night and give us the best chance to win," King said. "I just didn't want to hold on to that cap space. I felt Troy was a player to help us get better and then be a team that is competing every night and tries to win on the floor."
King spoke briefly with Murphy on Wednesday afternoon and he said the Sparta native was "ecstatic."
"He is looking forward to the opportunity being a Jersey guy," King said.
-- Tom Canavan
Thomas won't return to Knicks as consultant
NEW YORK (AP) — Isiah Thomas wanted to help the New York Knicks achieve the success that never came when he was in charge.
He won't do it as a consultant. Not while he is coaching college basketball, anyway.
But even without the new job, it's clear he still has his old boss' ear.
Thomas said Wednesday in a statement he was declining a consulting position with the franchise he ran for 4½ years because it may not be legal.
"After speaking with commissioner (David) Stern and Knicks executives, it has become apparent that my new agreement violates certain NBA bylaws," Thomas said. "Because of this, I have decided to rescind my contract with the team."
Thus ends — at least for now — the surprising and controversial reunion between the Knicks and Thomas, the frequent target of fans and media during his turbulent tenure at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks announced the agreement with Thomas on Friday and it was quickly criticized. League personnel aren't allowed to have contact with players who aren't yet eligible for the draft, which Thomas would have in his role as coach at Florida International University.
"We have been informed by the Knicks that Isiah Thomas has rescinded his consulting agreement with the team. As a result, it is not necessary for the league to take any formal action on the proposed arrangement," Stern said. "However, we have reminded the Knicks of NBA rules that prohibit team personnel, including consultants, from having contact with players not eligible for the draft."
Thomas could have chosen to leave his college job after just one season and keep the Knicks position. Instead, he thanked the organization for giving him another chance.
"Although I'm disappointed that Isiah will not be working with the Knicks as a consultant, I continue to believe in his basketball knowledge, including his ability to judge talent," MSG chairman James Dolan said. "He's a good friend of mine and of the organization and I will continue to solicit his views. He will always have strong ties to me and the team. We wish him continued success at FIU."
Thomas also blamed himself for the Knicks' poor performance while he was team president from December 2003 through April 2008. He was also the coach the final two seasons, and the team never won a postseason game while he was in charge.
"One of the biggest regrets of my life is that the Knicks didn't perform up to the standards the fans had every right to expect while I was in charge. I take full responsibility for that," he said. "I was very much looking forward to this unique opportunity to help the organization do what I do best: find basketball talent. I wish the team nothing but success in the future."
Thomas aided the Knicks during free agency when he went to Ohio to speak with a member of LeBron James' inner circle. Donnie Walsh, who replaced Thomas as president and later fired him as coach, thanked Thomas during the news conference to announce Amare Stoudemire's signing.
That fueled speculation in New York that Thomas, a favorite of Dolan, could return to the Knicks, perhaps even in a management role. But Dolan said Wednesday he is confident in the team he has in place.
"I also believe Donnie Walsh has done a terrific job since joining the Knicks and my tremendous respect for him has only grown since he's joined the organization," Dolan said. "I'm confident that the work that Donnie, coach Mike D'Antoni and their staffs have done this summer has the team poised for long-term success."
The decision should calm members of the basketball community who questioned the partnership. Among them was Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who said he would decline an offer to be a paid consultant of an NBA team.
"I don't think you can be in both worlds, in an official basis. I think that makes people in both worlds somewhat angry about it, or concerned," Krzyzewski said. "You're getting a leg up, and in college we definitely shouldn't do that."
-- Brian Mahoney
Thomas and Knicks reunion doesn't end well
David Stern's long reign as commissioner of the NBA has been filled with decisions, some momentous and some mundane.
Rarely, though, has he had one as easy as the one in front of him Wednesday.
All he did was save the New York Knicks from themselves.
More precisely, he made it clear to the team that hiring Isiah Thomas was one brilliant idea that wouldn't fly. Thomas then decided to give up the good fight and stick to his job coaching college kids at Florida International.
Too bad for Thomas, who undoubtedly envisioned a triumphant return to the Big Apple. Even worse for Knicks owner James Dolan, whose affinity for Thomas seemingly knows no bounds.
This is, remember, a guy who stuck by Thomas all the way through a civil trial brought by a former Knicks executive who says he sexually harassed her. The same guy who reached into his deep pockets to cough up the $11.5 million judgment when the jury decided the woman was right.
Apparently, Dolan missed the crazy shenanigans around the office. He missed Isiah's smile. He missed having someone around who shared his penchant for overpaying overrated players.
So, two years after Thomas lost his job as president and coach of the Knicks, he invited him back. Only this time he would be a "consultant" since he already had a day job.
It was a dumb idea, even without Thomas' checkered past with the Knicks. It got dumber when coaches like Duke's Mike Krzyzewski questioned the wisdom of dual jobs, and even dumber when people around the league wondered if it violated NBA rules preventing contact with players ineligible for the draft.
They would mostly be college players, like the ones Thomas is coaching.
Had Dolan simply let Thomas call a few shots in the background without giving him a formal role he might have gotten away with it. But he was so proud of his coup that he announced it in a press release last week and extolled Thomas for having qualities that "will be extremely beneficial to the team's success."
Forgive Dolan, because he might have had temporary amnesia. Thomas not only failed to contribute to any success during his five-year reign in New York, he was an unmitigated disaster, last seen being booed out of Madison Square Garden.
As president of the team, Thomas presided over a string of puzzling signings that did little more than give the Knicks a bloated payroll. As coach, he alienated a loyal fanbase.
But after two years of trying to clean up his mess, the Knicks invited him back to make a new one. Only it wasn't the basketball guys — who said the right things but clearly wanted nothing to do with Thomas — doing the inviting.
No, it was Dolan himself, who remains so smitten with Thomas that he issued a statement Wednesday saying he would still seek his advice on an informal basis.
Just why, who knows. It's not as though Thomas had a good record recognizing and signing talent — Jerome James? Jared Jeffries?
Remember, too, that this is the same judge of talent who years ago said of Larry Bird: "If he were black, he'd be just another good guy."
What Dolan probably saw in Thomas was someone he could use to recruit the top free agents to New York and rebuild his tattered franchise. Thomas was unofficially involved in the pursuit of LeBron James and surely would have been in the mix if the Knicks tried to pursue Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul down the road.
For Thomas it would have been the best of both worlds. He could still be a big shot in the NBA while polishing up his coaching credentials at FIU, where he went 7-25 last year, including nine straight losses to end the season.
He might have even been able to put some of his baggage with Knicks fans in the past, something he made an attempt to do in a statement Wednesday.
"One of the biggest regrets of my life is that the Knicks didn't perform up to the standards the fans had every right to expect while I was in charge," Thomas said. "I take full responsibility for that."
Hearing those words don't make up for years of frustration in New York. They don't suddenly turn the Knicks into a contender again.
But it is the first time that Thomas held himself accountable for what he left behind.
And that may be the best thing that comes out of the hiring that wasn't.
Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg@ap.org.
AP Source: 76ers to hire Thorn as team president
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says the Philadelphia 76ers have hired Rod Thorn as their new team president.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal isn't expected to be announced until Thursday.
The person said on Wednesday night that team president Ed Stefanski will stay on as general manager. Stefanski had held both roles since he replaced Billy King in December 2007.
King replaced Thorn as New Jersey's, GM last month.
The hiring was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.
Thorn was president and general manager of the Nets for 10 years before leaving in early July. Thorn and Stefanski worked together in New Jersey and helped lead the franchise to consecutive trips to the NBA finals. The Nets lost both times.
He had called the shots for the Nets since 2000 and hired Avery Johnson as coach before resigning. Thorn helped turn the Nets into a contender in 2001 when he engineered a trade to bring Jason Kidd to New Jersey.
Before joining the Nets, Thorn was the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations from 1986-2000.
This is the latest big move this summer for the Sixers after they missed the playoffs last year. They fired coach Eddie Jordan after one season and replaced him with Doug Collins. Then they traded disgruntled center Sam Dalembert and drafted Ohio State guard Evan Turner with the No. 2 overall pick.
Stefanski said after the season the Sixers took an "unacceptable" step backward in finishing 27-55 and missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
Stefanski's job was never really guaranteed by ownership and now he has one less role to worry about.
-- Dan Gelston
Raptors acquier F Wright from Hornets
TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Raptors have acquired forward Julian Wright from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for guard Marco Belinelli.
The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Wright averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 68 games with New Orleans last season.
"This move should help balance the roster and alleviate some of the redundancy we have with our guards," Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said in a release Wednesday. "Julian is another young athletic player that will add depth at the small forward position."
Wright was the 13th pick in the 2007 NBA draft and has averaged 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 179 career games.
Belinelli, acquired from Golden State last summer, averaged 7.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 66 games with the Raptors.
Lakers re-sign Shannon Brown
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed free agent guard Shannon Brown.
He averaged a career-high 8.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists playing in all 82 regular-season games, including seven starts last season. During the Lakers' run to the NBA championship, Brown averaged 4.9 points and 1.3 rebounds.
General manager Mitch Kupchak says the Lakers were aware that Brown had several attractive offers from other teams and they're glad he chose to remain with them.
Brown has won two NBA titles since being acquired by the Lakers in February 2009 as part of a trade with the Charlotte Bobcats.
Bulls sign G Keith Bogans
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls have signed free agent swingman Keith Bogans.
Terms were not disclosed Wednesday, though a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press last week that the deal is guaranteed for one year with a team option for a second.
The 6-foot-5 swingman spent last season in San Antonio, where he averaged 4.4 points in 79 games. Bogans becomes the latest addition to a team that has signed Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer this summer.
Bogans is a seven-year NBA veteran out of Kentucky.
Heat moving into second phase of ticket plan
MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat are unveiling a partial season-ticket plan, the latest way for thousands already on the team's waiting list to have a chance to see LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh this coming season.
Starting Monday, the team will have 10-game packages available, with ticket prices ranging from $35-$125 per game depending on the opponent. All 41-game season-ticket packages have already been sold.
Heat business operations president Eric Woolworth says the remaining tickets will be released in phases. The 10-game packages will be offered to fans who already paid $100 to get on the team waiting list, although it's not guaranteed everyone on that list will have a chance to buy.
Single-game tickets are expected to go on sale in the last week of September.
NBA D-League
Musselman getting another chance to coach
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Eric Musselman is finally getting another chance to coach: in the NBA's Development League.
He has enjoyed some of his best coaching success in basketball's minor leagues.
The former Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings head coach is set to be formally introduced by the Reno Bighorns in a news conference Thursday. The Reno team is affiliated with both the Kings and Warriors.
The 45-year-old Musselman just finished coaching the class of 2011 to-be college players at the Adidas Nations camp in Chicago and also the Dominican Republic national team. He also has been working in television in recent seasons, though he has expressed interest in returning to coaching. He shared the news of his new job in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
"I'm excited, glad to get back to coaching and back in the NBA family," said Musselman, who owns a 108-138 career record in three NBA seasons.
The Kings fired Musselman in April 2007 after a 33-49 season. Musselman was arrested on a drunken-driving charge after Sacramento's first preseason game in October 2006. He immediately issued a public apology, later pleaded no contest to the charge and served a two-game suspension in February.
He led the Warriors to two surprisingly successful seasons from 2002-04 as one of the game's most impressive young coaching minds.
Golden State fired him after the franchise missed the playoffs for the 10th straight year in his second season at the helm. Golden State went 37-45 in his final season and he led the Warriors to 38 victories in his first year for the team's best finish since 1994 — the last time this team made the playoffs.
The Warriors have been to the postseason only once since them, advancing to the second round in 2007 under coach Don Nelson.
After being dismissed by the Warriors, Musselman spent two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies as an assistant under Mike Fratello.
His first NBA coaching experience came with the Minnesota Timberwolves under his father in 1990-91. Musselman also worked as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks under Lon Kruger and as an assistant for the Orlando Magic under Chuck Daly and Doc Rivers.
Musselman went 270-122 during seven years as head coach of the Continental Basketball Association's Florida Beach Dogs. From 1990 through 1997, Musselman had 24 players called up to the NBA, the highest number in the league during that span.
-- Janie McCauley
International
Old man Odom ready seeking another chance for gold
NEW YORK (AP) — Lamar Odom is an old man, at least when it comes to this U.S. basketball team.
He was reminded of that right from the first practice in New York, when he was so winded that he struggled to reach the rim shooting free throws.
While praising his leadership, coach Mike Krzyzewski and USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo acknowledge Odom isn't ready to play.
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers, are sitting out the world championships after three straight trips to the NBA finals.
So why was Odom running around in a college gym Wednesday instead of getting the rest he needs?
"Because I was asked," he said, "and it's a huge compliment."
"The first thing I was able to tell Coach K and Mr. Colangelo (was) where my body was at and they understood. And they wanted something else from me and that was leadership. It takes a certain type of confidence, cockiness, humbleness, humility to be able to win games, championships. For them to have the faith in me that I have that, it was just something I couldn't say no to."
There's more to it, though. Odom suited up for the Americans during their disappointing performance in the 2004 Olympics and has wanted another chance to wear a USA uniform ever since, but was stopped by everything from tragedy to injury.
"He had a whole series of things that prevented him from playing. He always wanted to play, he was always committed to play," Colangelo said. "There wasn't a big sell here to be done with Lamar Odom. He wanted to play, he has wanted to play. He wasn't able to."
Odom finally has the opportunity, and even now at age 30, envisions himself being in London in 2012 — hopefully with a better result than the bronze medal from Athens.
"Opening ceremony of the Olympics is something I would love for my kids to be able to see," Odom said during an interview at Niketown. "That opportunity, you don't come across something like that, an opportunity I would say yes to every time."
He was selected to the original national team of players in 2006, but pulled out before training camp after the death of his 6½-month-old son while sleeping in his crib. Odom couldn't participate the following year after having surgery on his left shoulder.
But Colangelo went back to him for this pool, making Odom the only player from the original group to be invited back without ever appearing for the team from 2006-08.
"He's a great big. It will be huge for us," Denver point guard Chauncey Billups said. "He can talk on defense, pass the ball. His experience will be valuable for this team."
Billups, who will be 34 next month, is the only player older than Odom on a roster with five players that are 21. Besides being much younger, most of his teammates had much longer breaks than Odom, whose season didn't end until June 18.
He was back on the floor a month later at training camp in Las Vegas, and the world championships in Turkey start Aug. 28.
"A lot of these guys had a little bit more time off, so they were able to prepare for these games a little bit," Odom said. "But the games that count don't start until the 28th. They all count, but as far as the medal games, I'll work myself back into shape. Got enough time to do that."
Trying to squeeze in as much rest time as possible, Odom took the redeye to New York and didn't arrive until Tuesday morning, hours before the first workout. He wouldn't be relaxing much in his hometown, planning a trip after practice Wednesday to Queens to spend time with his two children.
Odom wasn't on the floor much while the Americans scrimmaged, but his playing time will likely increase next week when they head to Europe.
"He's got to use all these exhibitions to get into his game shape. He's not there, but he will be there. He's a pro and he's an NBA champion," Krzyzewski said. "The fact he's here is good, and just a matter of getting his legs under him."
Besides his experience, the Americans need Odom for his size. At 6-foot-10, he's one of the tallest players on the undersized roster and would perhaps even see time at center.
"He's been a great leader, been a great coach, teacher to me and all the guys that play his position," Kevin Durant said. "We're going to need that type of experience and knowledge, and his skill-set is rare, a guy 6-10 can bring the ball up, pass, shoot, get to the rim. We're going to need him."
Odom may not be the old man if he plays two years from now, when some of the 2008 Olympians could return. Colangelo said that was another strength of Odom, that he'd fit in no matter what type of team was around him.
"I'm a New Yorker. I'm from Queens, New York," Odom said. "You put me anywhere, you drop me off in the middle of any country in the world and I'll find my way around, find out how to get to the airport and then get back home."
-- Brian Mahoney
Granger's finger OK, Rondo misses practice
NEW YORK (AP) — Danny Granger's ring finger on his shooting hand is not broken and he will be able to return to U.S. practice when he is ready.
USA Basketball officials said Wednesday that X-rays on Granger's finger were negative and it is only dislocated. The Indiana Pacers forward was hurt when he hit his right hand on the rim during a scrimmage Tuesday. He left practice with his ring and middle fingers taped together and a splint over the ring finger.
Granger said immediately after the injury he feared the finger was broken. He didn't practice Wednesday and went for an an MRI exam instead.
Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo missed practice because of a death in his family. He is expected to return Thursday.
Elsewhere
Wright's ex-wife says he left her house with drugs
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The ex-wife of slain former NBA player Lorenzen Wright told police she saw him leave her home carrying money and a box of drugs the night he disappeared, according to court documents obtained Wednesday.
Sherra Wright said her ex-husband left her home at 10:30 p.m. on July 18 with the drugs, returned a short time later, then left again with an unspecified amount of money, said an affidavit for a search warrant by Memphis police Sgt. W.D. Merritt.
Before he left, Sherra Wright said she overheard her ex-husband on the telephone telling someone that he was going to "flip something for $110,000," the document said.
Sherra Wright said Lorenzen Wright left her home in a car with a person she said she could not identify. Hours later, police dispatchers received a 911 call from Wright's cell phone and heard noises like gunshots before the call was dropped.
Wright's body was found July 28 in woods outside Memphis. The 34-year-old had been missing for 10 days. No arrests have been made in the homicide and Memphis police will not discuss whether they have a motive or suspects in the shooting death.
The affidavit said Sherra Wright gave the statements to police in the Memphis suburb of Collierville, where she lives, on July 27 — five days after the former University of Memphis basketball star's mother filed a missing person report.
Sherra Wright also told police that her ex-husband owned a shotgun that he kept at her home and a handgun he kept inside the family van. A search of the home and the van failed to turn up the weapons, the affidavit said.
Police did find shell casings of different caliber bullets at the scene where Wright was shot, but they could not find Wright's cell phone.
The affidavit said police were going to use documents showing ownership of the two weapons to see if they match the bullet shell casings recovered at the crime scene.
Wright, a 6-foot-11 forward-center, played with five teams during his 13-year NBA career. He averaged 8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 778 career NBA games.
