Wizards Part Ways With Atkins

Chucky Atkins and the Wizards agree to a contract buyout and if he clears waivers the veteran guard will be free to sign elsewhere. (Duane Burleson - AP)

ORLANDO, Jan. 18 -- Chucky Atkins's brief and mostly unhappy time as a Washington Wizard is over. The Wizards and Atkins agreed to a buyout of his contract Wednesday, clearing the way for the veteran guard to join another team.

Atkins, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers last summer along with Caron Butler in exchange for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit, was in the final year of a contract scheduled to pay him $4.5 million this season.

Atkins was uncomfortable about his backup role with the Wizards almost from the beginning of the season, when his playing time fluctuated and his once-trusty jump shot too often failed him.

In 28 games (two starts), Atkins averaged 6.7 points on 37.9 percent shooting with 2.5 assists in 19.7 minutes per game. In the first 11 games of the season, Atkins was 9 of 39 from the field, 2 of 18 from three-point range and scored a total of 28 points.

Atkins broke out with a 20-point game, including six three-pointers, in a double-overtime win at Detroit on Nov. 25 but never established the kind of rhythm he had last season with the Lakers, when he started all 82 games and averaged a career-high 13.6 points with 4.4 assists.

The first sign that Atkins was unhappy came following a Nov. 23 loss at Orlando during which Atkins played 13 minutes. In a home loss to Denver the previous night, Atkins didn't play at all.

Following the Orlando game, Atkins questioned his role and offered the first hints that he might request a trade.

Things came to a head last week when Atkins missed five games after leaving the team to be with his wife, who delivered the couple's third child on Jan. 10.

Atkins was prepared to return to the team late last week, but according to a team source he was told to remain at his home in Orlando.

Atkins rejoined the Wizards on Sunday and was prepared to play against Philadelphia on Monday but was placed on the inactive list because Coach Eddie Jordan liked the rotation he has been using in Atkins's absence.

The Wizards went 4-1 without Atkins. Veteran Antonio Daniels, who also struggled early in the season, has received his most extensive playing time as the primary backup to Gilbert Arenas at point guard in the last five games. Rookie Donell Taylor has also played his way into the rotation.

"Chucky was a true professional but it got to a point where he wasn't going to get a lot of time and we thought that it was in our best interest and his best interest for us to do what we did," Jordan said before Wednesday night's game against the Magic. "That combination [Daniels and Taylor] really made the decision for us."

Having his contract bought out by the Wizards will allow Atkins to sign with any team he chooses once he clears the 48-hour waiver period on Friday. If a team claims him it must have space under the salary cap for his contract.

"We appreciate the Wizards providing an opportunity for Chucky to find a role more important for him," said Atkins's agent, Andy Miller. "It really comes down to nothing more than that. There were no grievances or personal problems. It was a case of a good, professional decision for both the team and Chucky."

There is a decent chance that Atkins will wind up with the Memphis Grizzlies, who have been seeking a veteran point guard since starter Damon Stoudamire suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Wizards play host to the Grizzlies on Jan. 22.

The Grizzlies were one of several teams interested in trading for Atkins. Miller declined to go into detail about Atkins's potential destination, but he did say he was taking phone calls from interested teams not long after the Wizards and Atkins agreed to part ways.

"Chucky is a veteran player who is in the last year of his contract," Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement. "He has been a real professional and this will allow him an opportunity to look for a situation that will give him the playing time he desires."

The Wizards are now carrying 14 players, including second-year center Peter John Ramos, who had been assigned to the team's NBA Development League affiliate in Roanoke all season.