Hawks official on missing Wright: ‘Don't know what to make of it'

By Larry Hartstein and Chelsea Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Before he went missing a week ago, former Atlanta Hawks power forward Lorenzen Wright split his time between Atlanta and Memphis.

He attended a couple Hawks playoff games this spring, supporting his friend Josh Smith.

In January, Wright ran into Hawks vice president of public relations Arthur Triche at a restaurant, where they watched the BCS championship game.

"He was still the same outgoing, gregarious individual he always was," Triche told the AJC. "Nothing would have led us to believe something like this would happen."

Wright spoke then of catching on with another NBA team. But he did not play at all last season, ending a 13-year career that included two stints with the Hawks.

Triche said he was unaware of Wright's alleged financial problems: the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported his custom-built 17-room home in Eads, Tenn., was repossessed in May for $1.3 million, and that his Atlanta house was repossessed in January for $1.1 million.

"We don't know what to make of it," Triche said. "We just hope the situation turns out positive for him and his family."

Police are stumped by Wright's disappearance.

On July 22, Wright's mother flagged down a police car in Collierville (Tenn.), about 20 miles east of Memphis, and filed the missing person report.

Wright was at his ex-wife's house in Collierville the night of July 18.

"He went to [Collierville to] check on his kids," Lt. Norm Dixon of the Collierville police said.

Wright apparently left while his ex-wife was asleep -- at 2 a.m. Police assume he was picked up by someone. Dixon said the ex-wife's neighborhood was "very safe and affluent."

Adriane Harris, Wright's sister, told the Commercial Appeal that Wright was seen the following morning at a Memphis barbershop.

"There is nothing on his phone records, no bank transactions, his vehicles are still at his house in Smyrna," Dixon said. "It's like he literally dropped off the face of the earth."

Police do not suspect foul play.

"There's just no information to make us draw that conclusion," Dixon said.

But Harris told the Memphis newspaper her family does suspect foul play.

“If he did go somewhere, someone could get in touch with him,” Harris said. “No one can.”

Dixon agreed the disappearance was out of character for Wright.

"The whole thing is not like him," Dixon said. "All of his friends said he's never done anything like this."

Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Marietta said a prayer for Wright on Sunday morning, a church member said.

"It was just well-wishes to him, his family, his safe return," member Henry Pash said.

Pash said Wright's aunt is a member of Turner Chapel AME.

The 6-11 Wright starred at the University of Memphis before being drafted No. 7 overall in 1996 by the L.A. Clippers. He played for the Hawks from 1999-2001, spent the next five seasons with Memphis, and returned to Atlanta for two more years in 2006-08. He last played for Cleveland in 2008-09.

Wright's best season as a Hawk was 2000-01, when he averaged 12.4 points and 7.5 rebounds.

"I'm real troubled by this," Triche said. "It just seems so out of character."