Wizards deal Brown to Lakers in four-player swap

Washington, DC (Basketball News) - The Wizards and Lakers completed a trade Tuesday which sends forward Kwame Brown and guard Laron Profit to Los Angeles and guard Chucky Atkins and swingman Caron Butler to Washington.

Brown, a restricted free agent, has never lived up to expectations since being chosen out of high school by the Wizards with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft.

In four years with Washington the 6-foot-11 Brown, who was the first high school player ever taken with the top pick, has averaged just 7.7 points with 5.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks. His best season came in 2003-04 when the 23- year-old South Carolina native scored 10.9 points and grabbed 7.4 boards in 74 games.

Brown, who rejected a multi-year contract extension last fall from the Wizards, endured an injury-plagued campaign last season and averaged 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 regular-season games. He was then suspended by the team in the playoffs after complaining about playing time and missing a practice.

Profit, a three-year NBA veteran out of Maryland, averaged 10.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10 games after signing with Washington as a free agent at the start of the 2004-05 season.

The Wizards, meanwhile, receive two players that will help an up-and-coming squad that reached the postseason in 2005 for the first time in eight years.

"I’m pleased that we’ve added two talented players to our rotation, said Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan in a release. "Caron is a proven scorer in this league, and Chucky will really stretch the defense for us. They also bring playoff experience to our roster."

Butler had his best season as a pro in 2004-05, averaging 15.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 77 games. It was his only season with the Lakers, who acquired him from Miami as part of the Shaquille O’Neal deal.

In three NBA seasons, the former University of Connecticut star has averaged 13.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He was the 10th overall pick of the 2002 draft, and is expected to take over the role vacated by Larry Hughes, who signed as a free agent with Cleveland.

Atkins started all 82 regular-season games for the Lakers last season and averaged career highs with 13.6 points and 2.4 rebounds. He also doled out 4.4 assists per game and finished the season ranked ninth in the NBA with 176 three-pointers made.

"Chucky has experience as a starter in this league, and also has been a valuable contributor off the bench," said Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld. "He is a good three-point shooter and a tough defender."

Entering his seventh NBA season, Atkins, who will play for his fifth team, has averaged 10.7 points and 3.7 assists. He began his career with Orlando in 1999 and has also played for Detroit and Boston before his trade to the Lakers last August.