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Grizzlies send Wesley Person and 2004 draft pick in return

Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today the team has acquired guard/forward Bonzi Wells from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for guard Wesley Person, a conditional first round pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and cash considerations. If the Grizzlies’ first round pick in the 2004 Draft is one of the top three picks, the Grizzlies have the option to keep the pick.

“We’re very excited about the opportunity to acquire a player of the caliber of Bonzi Wells. He is a very talented player who is young, and already has quite a bit of experience of being successful in this league,” said West. “We are very hopeful that this opportunity provides a fresh start for Bonzi in Memphis and that he enjoys joining a rising young team in the Grizzlies. We’re very optimistic Bonzi will provide a significant presence in our lineup.”

“Of course, we lost a veteran player in Wesley (Person) who is a true professional and has done a wonderful job for us over the last two seasons,” added West. “We certainly wish the best for Wesley as he continues his successful career in the NBA.”

NOTE – Mr. West is out of town today and is expected to be available for interviews on Thursday. Please contact Grizzlies Media Relations for media availability information on Wells and West.

Wells has averaged 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in his career spanning six seasons. Through 13 games played this season, Wells has averaged 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He also ranks 17th in the NBA with 1.54 steals per game. He scored a season-high 27 points on Nov. 13 vs. the Sacramento Kings.

Against the Grizzlies on November 5, Wells had 17 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds. Last season in two games against Memphis, Wells averaged 19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. In 14 career games against the Grizzlies prior to this season, he averaged 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

Last season, Wells finished second in scoring on the Trail Blazers with 15.2 ppg, and ranked 19th in the NBA in steals per game with 1.64. He scored a career-high 37 points on March 2 against Detroit, and scored 45 points against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the first round of the Playoffs last season, the most points ever scored by a player in a playoff game in Trail Blazers history. Wells was originally selected 11th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, who traded his draft rights to Portland in exchange for the Trail Blazers’ first round pick in the 1999 Draft.

Person averaged 11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 66 games with the Grizzlies last season, and finished third in the NBA with a three-point field goal percentage of .433. Through 16 games this season, Person has averaged 5.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg and 1.4 apg. For his career, Person has averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Person was acquired by the Grizzlies on June 26, 2002 in exchange for Nick Anderson and the Draft rights to Matt Barnes.