Ex-Hawks player is found dead in Tennessee woods

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--- Relatives and friends of Lorenzen Wright gathered Wednesday and grieved for the former NBA player who has been missing for 10 days, as police investigated the discovery of a man's body outside of Memphis.

• Photos

Mark Weber/Associated Press

Elliot Perry (left) and Penny Hardaway, who like Lorenzen Wright were college stars at Memphis, were among those gathered near the scene where Wright's body was found.

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Wright's uncle, Curtis Wright, told The Associated Press that police called the player's father, Herb Wright, Wednesday afternoon with the news he had died.

Sgt. Alyssa Macon-Moore, of the Memphis Police Department, wrote in an e-mail to the AP that police were investigating the death of an unidentified man in a wooded area about 15 miles south of downtown Memphis. Asked if the man was Wright, she wrote they could not confirm the victim's identity Wednesday night.

The family issued a statement through a cousin of Lorenzen Wright, Camella Logan: "Lorenzen's family has come together to mourn his loss and honor his legacy. We appreciate your thoughts, prayers and condolences as they are comforting at this very difficult time. Additionally, we ask that you please respect our privacy as we try to cope with his sudden loss."

The 34-year-old Wright was last seen July 18 when he was expected to fly out of town. His family filed a missing person report July 22.

Wright played 13 years in the NBA with five different teams: the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and most recently the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 778 career games.

HAWKS: Atlanta coach Larry Drew is adding former New Orleans Hornets assistant Kenny Gattison to his staff as an assistant coach.

Gattison was with the Hornets from 2003-09. He also was an assistant with the New Jersey Nets from 1996-98.

LAKERS: Los Angeles center Andrew Bynum is expected to be limited at the start of training camp after undergoing successful surgery on his right knee. Training camp opens Sept. 25.

WIZARDS: A person familiar with the deal says Josh Howard has agreed to a one-year contract to return to Washington.

BASHED: Chris Bosh's former general manager says the player "checked out" late last season and chose not to play some of Toronto's final games.

Bryan Colangelo said on radio station FAN 590 in Toronto that whether Bosh was "mentally checked out or, you know, just wasn't quite into it down the stretch, he wasn't the same guy. And I think everybody saw that, just no one wanted to acknowledge it."