MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Bonzi Wells is no longer Jerry West's headache.
ESPN.com has confirmed that the
Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to exercise an $8 million option
and send the disgruntled swingman to the Sacramento Kings in a
three-way deal with the Utah Jazz.
The trade was first reported by the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The deal cannot be announced until the NBA finalizes its
collective bargaining agreement.
The Kings will send guard Bobby Jackson
to the Grizzlies -- a moved Jackson also confirmed to SportsTicker --
and center Greg Ostertag back to Utah for a second tour of duty
with the Jazz.
Utah also would send guard Raul Lopez and Kirk Snyder and
forward Curtis Borchardt to Memphis.
Utah vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor was asked about the reported deal while attending the Jazz's summer league game in Salt Lake City on Friday night. He told The
Associated Press that there's been "agreement in principle about some things." But, he said, no trade has been completed.
West, the Grizzlies' president, had been trying to deal the 6-foot-7
Wells since he was removed from the squad during this past
season's playoffs. The 29-year-old Wells averaged 10.4 points --
his lowest mark since the 1999-2000 campaign with the Portland
Trail Blazers -- in 69 games for the Grizzlies last season.
The 32-year-old Jackson had been a valuable contributor off the
Kings' bench in recent seasons but, slowed by numerous injuries,
averaged just 12.0 points in 25 games this past campaign.
Information from SportsTicker and The Associated Press was used in this report.