PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22 -- The Philadelphia 76ers Thursday traded 6-foot-11 forward Sharone Wright to the Toronto Raptors for forwards Tony Massenburg and Ed Pinckney and a conditional draft choice. Philadelphia will have the option to switch picks with the Raptors in the upcoming NBA draft. If the Sixers choose not to exercise the option, they will get Toronto's second-round pick. Philadelphia will have the option again in 1997 unless the pick is one of the first six. If the Sixers do not exercise the option, they will get Toronto's second-round choice. 'The move frees up room under the salary cap to pursue quality free agents in the offseason,' said Philadelphia head coach and general manager John Lucas. 'In addition, Ed and Tony are quality veteran front court people who can help right now.' The 23-year-old Wright was the sixth overall selection in the 1994 draft and averaged 11.4 points in his rookie season while garnering second team All-Rookie Honors. Wright, who was one of nine 76ers to reach 900 points in his rookie season, is averaging 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 46 games this season. The 6-foot-9 Pinckney is an 11-year NBA veteran, playing with Phoenix, Sacramento, Boston and Milwaukee before being chosen by Toronto in the expansion draft. The 10th overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft, Pinckney has appeared in 47 games this season and is averaging seven points and six rebounds per game. Massenburg will join his seventh NBA team in four seasons.
The 28- year-old Massenburg was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 1990 and played with Charlotte, Boston and Golden State before playing in Spain for two seasons. He returned to play with the Los Angeles Clippers last year and was also chosen in the expansion draft last June. The 6-foot-9 Massenburg missed the first 26 games of the season after recovering from a broken bone in his foot. He has averaged 10.1 points and 6.9 rebounds for Toronto in 26 games.
