WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Washington Wizards have signed Bryon Russell to a two-year contract after failing to work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Russell, an athletic small forward, averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest in his nine-year career, all with the Jazz, and was a
starter on both Western Conference championship teams in 1997 and '98.
However, those Jazz teams lost twice in six games to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. Perhaps the most enduring image of the 1998 Finals came in Game Six, when Jordan hit a game-winning jump shot over Russell in the final seconds to give the Bulls their sixth NBA title.
Jordan came out of retirement last season and added injury to insult for Russell. In the first meeting between the two since the memorable shot, Russell suffered a hairline fracture in his
pelvis while guarding Jordan and missed the next 18 games of the season.
Ironically, the Wizards signed Russell, 31, to replace Jordan at small forward. Coach Doug Collins plans to use Jordan at shooting guard off the bench unless Jordan opts to retire.
"Bryon not only fills our need for an athletic small forward, but he also provides us with veteran experience that includes nine trips to the playoffs and two NBA Finals," said General
Manager Wes Unseld. "In addition to helping us win games, we are also confident that he will help in the development of our younger players."
The Wizards were hoping to obtain Russell in a sign-and-trade for salary cap purposes. They reportedly were to receive Russell and center Greg Ostertag from the Jazz for forward Christian Laettner, point guard Tyronn Lue and shooting guard Hubert Davis, but could not work out the deal.
Russell is projected to start at small forward with Brendan Haywood at center and either Kwame Brown or Etan Thomas at power forward. Hamilton will be joined in the backcourt by either Larry Hughes or Chris Whitney.
Russell averaged a career-high 14.1 points in the 1999-2000 campaign, but slipped to 9.6 points last season.
