Rockets Acquire Short From Warriors; Lucas Accepts Trail Blazer Offer Sheet

The Houston Rockets acquired high-scoring forward Purvis Short from the Golden State Warriors for reserve center Dave Feitl, a first-round draft choice and cash Thursday, and a Portland spokesman said that Maurice Lucas has accepted an offer sheet from the Trail Blazers.

The Warriors will receive Houston’s No. 1 draft pick in 1989, 1990 or 1991, depending upon whether Houston is in the draft lottery in any of those years.

Short, 30, has averaged 19.4 points a game in his nine-year career with the Warriors.

“Purvis is a quality player with a deluxe outside shot,” Houston Coach Bill Fitch said. “We are fortunate to obtain a player of his stature, which is evident from the trading price. Dave Feitl has been a great backup and deserves the chance to play more than afforded here with Akeem (Olajuwon), Ralph (Sampson) and Pete (Jim Petersen) available to us.”

Feitl, 25, a second-year player from Texas El Paso, played in 62 games last season and averaged 3.7 points.

The Trail Blazers released no details about their offer for Lucas, 35, who has played for six teams during his 11 years in the National Basketball Assn., including the Seattle SuperSonics last season. He also played for two American Basketball Assn. clubs.

According to one report, Seattle will receive a second-round draft choice, but it was not certain in which year.

The team said it expects Lucas, a Portland resident in the off-season, to join the Trail Blazers next week.

The 6-foot 9-inch forward averaged 7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 17.8 minutes in 63 games with the SuperSonics last season, serving as the club’s sixth man.