76ers Get Gilliam, Hoppen for Gminski

PHILADELPHIA —  The Philadelphia 76ers traded 11-year veteran Mike Gminski to the Charlotte Hornets Friday for forward Armon Gilliam and center Dave Hoppen.

The trade comes two days after Gminski became the 162nd player in NBA history to score 10,000 points, and gives the Hornets a desperately needed center.

But Gminski, a career 47% shooter, suffered a left elbow injury earlier in the season and has watched his shooting average fall to under 38%. In 30 games, he has averaged 9.1 points and 6.7 rebounds.

Gilliam, 26, a four-year veteran who joined the Hornets in December 1989 from Phoenix, is averaging 19.8 points and 6.7 rebounds.

In his previous three seasons in the NBA, he averaged 15.9 points while shooting 50% from the field and 72% from the free-throw line.

Hoppen, 26, who joined the Hornets in their inaugural 1988-89 season from Golden State, has seen only sporadic action in the NBA. He has played less than six minutes a game this season, averaging 2.3 points.