Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith could become the third player to win consecutive NBA slam dunk contests when he participates in the event during All-Star weekend.

Michael Jordan won back-to-back competitions in 1987-88 and Jason Richardson did it in 2002-03.

Joining Smith in contest this year will be Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks 5-foot-9 guard Nate Robinson and Hakim Warrick of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright has changed agents, having recently hired Andy Miller after the veteran center severed ties with longtime representative Robert Fayne.

Wright interviewed agents last month and selected Miller, who handles teammates Bobby Jackson and Chucky Atkins, and signed former teammate Stromile Swift during the offseason. Miller also represents Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves, whom the Griz faced Wednesday night in FedExForum.

"It was time for a change," Wright said. "I've been with (Fayne) since I've been in the league, and I just felt that after the things that went on last summer, I just felt like it was time for me to make a change."

Wright demanded a trade through Fayne, a Memphis native based in New York, once the Grizzlies decided against entering negotiations for a contract extension. Wright is in the final year of a deal that pays $7.7 million this season.

"I'm really good friends with (Fayne). He's a great guy," Wright said. "This is a business decision."

Miller now has the challenge of talking to the Grizzlies about Wright, Jackson and Atkins -- each of whom are in the final year of their respective contracts.

Wright said he is impressed by Miller's record.

"I like his attitude," Wright said of Miller. "He's proven. He has a plan. He's got a lot of guys in the NBA that he's working with and that he's done great things for."

Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today the team has signed free agent guard Chucky Atkins to a contract.  Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released. He will join the team today in Miami.  

Atkins, now in his seventh NBA season, joins the Grizzlies after spending the first part of 2005-06 with the Washington Wizards.  In 28 games with the Wizards, Atkins averaged 6.7 points and 2.5 assists in 19.7 minutes before Washington agreed to buyout the remainder of his contract on January 18.

Last season with the Lakers, Atkins played and started in a career-high 82 games and posted career-high averages of 13.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 35.4 minutes.  He was also one of only five players in the NBA ranked in the top 35 in both assists per game and three-point field goal percentage.

?Chucky is a veteran point guard, and he fills our need [with Damon?s injury] for an added leader in the backcourt,? said West.  ?He will be a great addition to our team, and we are happy he was available and eager  to come to Memphis.?

Free-agent point guard Chucky Atkins cleared waivers last Friday but whether he joins the Grizzlies isn't a scenario that is as cut and dry, according to a Washington Post report.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Griz were in a holding pattern. They were circling the land of free agency, waiting to see if they could land Atkins for help at point guard.

That's because a source told the newspaper where Atkins last played (the Washington Wizards agreed to buy out his contract and waive him) that Atkins is waiting to see if Detroit is an option.

The Grizzlies remain interested but Atkins can go anywhere he chooses now that no team has claimed him off waivers. It still is possible that the seven-year veteran signs with the Griz as soon as today.

Atkins' agent, Andy Miller, told The Commercial Appeal last Thursday that Memphis "is under serious consideration."

Still, Atkins apparently wants to wait to see if the Pistons would create room for him. He spent four seasons with the Pistons and was popular in Detroit, where he could join a championship-caliber team.

The Memphis Grizzlies, who have played without point guard Damon Stoudamire since he suffered a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 30, have expressed interest in signing former Washington Wizards guard Chucky Atkins. But Atkins has yet to decide where he wants to play.

The Wizards and Atkins agreed to a contract buyout Wednesday and Atkins cleared waivers on Friday. Several Memphis players, including guard Bobby Jackson and forward Pau Gasol, have said they would welcome the addition of Atkins, who averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 assists and 19.7 minutes for Washington.

According to a source close to Atkins, the veteran guard is closely weighing his options and could be waiting to see what moves are made by the Detroit Pistons with the idea of possibly signing there. Atkins spent four seasons with the Pistons and was popular in Detroit, as evidenced by the ovation he received when he made six three-pointers and scored 20 points in Washington's 120-114 double-overtime victory at Detroit on Nov. 25.

Veteran point guard Chucky Atkins cleared waivers Friday, keeping alive the good possibility that he'll sign with the Grizzlies.

Atkins, who agreed to a buyout of his contract with the Washington Wizards, is expected to sign for the veteran's minimum salary. Atkins' agent, Andy Miller, described the Grizzlies as being under "strong consideration" by his client.

The Grizzlies have been searching for veteran help at point guard since Damon Stoudamire's season-ending knee injury. Before Friday's game with the 76ers at the Wachovia Center, starting point guard Bobby Jackson and forward Pau Gasol both said they would welcome the addition of Atkins to the team, which was 23-14 going into Friday's action.

"You gotta look at it as helping the team," said Jackson, 32, who has been playing a lot of minutes. "We're all trying to do one thing -- get to the playoffs and win a championship."

Said Gasol: "With the veterans we got this year, that's a big part of our success."

Atkins has postseason experience. He was playing sparingly with the Wizards and wanted a change of venue.

"You look at a guy like this and what he brings to the table and how he fits," Jackson said. "Hopefully, it's a good fit. He didn't do too well in Washington, so hopefully he can come back and resurrect his career and help this team. He's a great shooter. Hopefully, he can come in and help this team out."

The Knicks have been shopping for a backup point guard and would have been interested in Chucky Atkins, whose contract was bought out by Washington yesterday, but he is expected to sign with Memphis.

That means the Grizzlies' efforts to trade for Denver's Earl Watson have ended, but the Knicks' pursuit of Watson continues.

According to the New York Post, the Knicks made an inquiry into PG Chucky Atkins, bought out by the Wizards yesterday. However, sources said he'll be signing with Memphis in a prearranged deal.

Like the Knicks, Memphis was searching for a backup PG.

According to two league sources, a deal that would send Mark Blount to Minnesota or Memphis could be completed soon. One source described a deal as ''imminent." The most likely scenario would have the Celtics shipping Blount to Minnesota for 7-foot, 270-pound center Michael Olowokandi. The Celtics play the Timberwolves tomorrow night at the TD Banknorth Garden.

It is less clear whom the Celtics would receive from the Grizzlies for Blount, if they went that route. Lorenzen Wright, a 6-11 center, might be one possibility because he is in the last year of his contract. Although the salary numbers work, one source said 6-8 Memphis forward Brian Cardinal is not a candidate.

The Celtics reportedly tried to deal Blount to Memphis last offseason. Memphis was one of the teams that aggressively pursued Blount when he was a free agent.

After an extremely disappointing 2004-05 season, Blount and his agent Mark Bartelstein talked with coach Doc Rivers and executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge last summer. Blount arrived at training camp determined to reclaim the form he showed when playing for his current six-year, $40 million contract -- a contract with a 15 percent trade kicker.

The Grizzlies were going "nowhere" down trade avenues to replace injured guard Damon Stoudamire as of Wednesday afternoon, according to league sources.

Serious dialogue with Washington for the services of point guard Chucky Atkins yielded nothing. The Grizzlies, according to sources, were heavily interested in Atkins but eventually balked at going deeper into expected luxury tax debt.

Salary-cap implications may dictate how soon, if ever, the Griz consummate any deal for a veteran to shore up the point guard position.

Atkins is in the final year of a deal that pays $4.5 million this season. To acquire Atkins, the Griz considered using trade exceptions totaling about $5 million ($4.4 million and $671,748) they received Aug. 2, 2005 in the five-team transaction that sent Jason Williams, James Posey and Andre Emmett to Miami for Eddie Jones.

Those trade exceptions expire Aug. 2, 2006.