INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers acquired point guard Darren Collison and forward James Posey from the New Orleans Hornets in a four-way trade Tuesday that included the New Jersey Nets and Houston Rockets.
The Pacers also dealt forward Troy Murphy to the Nets, who sent guard Courtney Lee to Houston. To complete the trade, the Rockets shipped swingman Trevor Ariza to New Orleans.
• The Toronto Raptors acquired forward Julian Wright from the Hornets in exchange for guard Marco Belinelli.
• The Philadelphia 76ers hired former Nets president Rod Thorn to a similar position. 76ers president Ed Stefanski will stay on as general manager.
• The ex-wife of slain former NBA player Lorenzen Wright told police she saw him leave her home carrying money and a box of drugs the night he disappeared, according to court documents.
Sherra Wright said her ex-husband left her home at 10:30 p.m. on July 18 with the drugs, returned a short time later, then left again with an unspecified amount of money. Before he left, Wright said she overheard her ex-husband on the telephone telling someone that he was going to “flip something for $110,000,” according to documents.
• Isiah Thomas will not be returning to the New York Knicks after all. Thomas said he was declining a position as a consultant because league personnel are not allowed contact with players who are not eligible for the draft, which Thomas would have in his role as Florida International University coach.
Nebraska loses lineman to injury
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska senior offensive lineman Mike Smith, who started 14 games at left tackle last season but was expected to play a backup role at guard and center this year, is out for the season because of a broken leg.
• Michigan cornerback J.T. Turner asked for and was granted his release from the university.
• Penn State sophomore wide receiver Curtis Drake will miss at least the first two games of the season and possibly more after fracturing his left tibia during practice.
Footnotes.
David Beckham‘s international career appears over after England coach Fabio Capello said the former captain is too old to play for the national team. Capello said the 35-year-old midfielder will have the chance to play in a friendly “farewell game” but will not be part of England’s team in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship.
• Joel Lindpere scored his second goal of the season, set up on a play by newly acquired Thierry Henry in the first half, giving the New York Red Bulls a 1-0 victory over Toronto FC in Harrison, N.J.
• Fabian Espindola scored in the 17th minute to help visiting Real Salt Lake earn a 1-1 draw against the Philadelphia Union.
• Jonathan Horton moved a step closer to defending his national gymnastics title, taking the lead after the first day of the U.S. championships in Hartford, Conn. He leads Danell Leyva by one point.
• Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) is scheduled to fight Sherman Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs) in November.
Denver Post wire services
