Lue Reportedly Off to Wizards

Former Laker guard Tyronn Lue, who made his reputation with his dogged defense of Allen Iverson in the NBA Finals, has agreed to a multiyear deal with the Washington Wizards, according to reports from Washington.

The deal, believed to be worth about $3.6 million over two years, is expected to be announced Wednesday, the first day of the free-agent signing period.

Lue’s expected departure is a product of the Lakers’ desire to stay below the luxury-tax threshold and to fortify their backcourt with shooters.

The signing cannot be official for five days, but Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak sounded resigned to losing Lue, who averaged 3.4 points in 38 regular-season games.

“I recognize he played so well in the Finals, he’s probably going to get [a contract] that’s substantial,” Kupchak said. “For us, he was such a luxury to have, we might not be able to compete like other teams could.”

Lue earned a place on the playoff roster over J.R. Rider and Mike Penberthy and played sparingly in the early rounds. He averaged nearly 20 minutes per game against Philadelphia in the Finals, however, once telling Iverson that if the all-star guard didn’t approve of his defense, he ought to spend more time in the weight room.

“The timing was so good in the playoffs,” Kupchak said. “He was in the right place at the right time, he was ready, and he took advantage of it.”

As Lue appeared to leave, another Laker free agent readied for the same. Horace Grant called “premature” reports that he has reached an agreement with the Orlando Magic, but said he would not return to the Lakers for the $1.3-million salary-cap exception.

Grant, however, did not dismiss the possibility that he and Patrick Ewing would split the Magic’s $4.5 million exception. Grant’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, has been in Orlando for the last few days.

“If the Lakers are dead set on that $1.3 million,” Grant said Thursday, “it’d be in my best interest to play somewhere else. But I’m not going to rush into everything.”

Grant has been in contact with the Milwaukee Bucks and, in case Chris Webber does not return, the Sacramento Kings. In what appears to be his lone season with the Lakers, Grant averaged 8.5 points and 7.1 rebounds. More importantly, he defended the great power forwards of the Western Conference, a job he leaves to Robert Horry, Mark Madsen, Slava Medvedenko and whomever the Lakers can acquire. Samaki Walker visited the Laker training facility Thursday.

“I would have loved to have come back there and tried to win another championship,” Grant said. “But I’m not too bummed about it. I understand the business. I had a great year there.”

Free-agent guard Mitch Richmond is expected to visit the Lakers next week. The club will bring in “several others” as well, Kupchak said. . . . Kupchak said he hopes to talk to free-agent guard Ron Harper in the next week. The two have not spoken since the end of the season.