Jamaal Magloire signs with NJ Nets/Darko Milicic signs with Memphis Grizzlies...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Magloire agrees to contract with Nets

7/14/2007 2:50:56 PM

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - A day after losing centre Mikki Moore to free agency, the New Jersey Nets reached an agreement in principle Saturday with former all-star Jamaal Magloire of Toronto.

The deal is contingent on Magloire passing a physical. Contract terms were not immediately available.

The Nets also announced that they had requested waivers on guard Hassan Adams.

Magloire averaged 6.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 81 games last season with the Portland Trail Blazers. The seven-year veteran averaged 8.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 23 starts.

''We are very pleased to add Jamaal to our roster,'' Nets president Rod Thorn said. ''He is an experienced low-post player who will add depth to our frontcourt rotation.''

An all-star in 2004, Magloire has career averages of 9.0 points and 7.5 rebounds. The 19th pick in the 2000 draft, he also has played with Charlotte and Milwaukee.

Moore signed a US$18-million, three-year contract with Sacramento on Friday. The seven-footer averaged career highs of 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds last season while leading the NBA in field-goal percentage at nearly 61 per cent. He started 55 games while Nenad Krstic was out with an injury.

Adams, who played at Arizona, was the 54th selection in the 2006 NBA draft. He played in 61 games for the Nets, averaging 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds.


PG Jason Kidd...Marcus Williams/Eddie House
SG Vince Carter...Bernard Robinson
SF Richard Jefferson...Bostjan Nachbar/Antoine Wright
PF Jamaal Magloire...Josh Boone/Sean Williams
C Nenad Krstic...Jason Collins/Mile Ilic


If the Nets can stay healthy all season, they're a powerhouse in the east...



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Griz, Milicic come to terms

By Ronald Tillery
Contact
July 12, 2007

LAS VEGAS -- Four years after losing the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft because of an ill-advised trade, the Grizzlies are hoping they can make up for lost time with smart money on the player chosen that year.
Darko Milicic, an unrestricted free agent forward/center, will become a Grizzly after agreeing in principle Wednesday to a three-year deal, according to an NBA source. The contract will pay Milicic a starting salary in the range of $6 million-$7 million.


Memphis had slightly more than $8 million to spend under the salary cap. Wednesday was the first day teams could officially sign or trade players after the NBA lifted an offseason moratorium.
He was originally taken by Detroit with the second pick in the 2003 draft. The Grizzlies lost that pick to the Pistons as final payment for a trade involving Otis Thorpe several years earlier.

The Griz courted Milicic through his agent, Marc Cornstein, while in Las Vegas for summer league games. Milicic, 22, is in Serbia, where he's been since the Orlando Magic rescinded a qualifying offer after agreeing to a maximum contract with Seattle free agent Rashard Lewis.

Milicic didn't receive the $9 million-$10 million per year he reportedly sought. But the 7-foot, 275-pound frontline player got an early commitment from the Griz, who figured to exercise great patience in free-agent shopping.

The Griz, though, view Milicic as a solid complement to franchise player Pau Gasol. They also didn't want to wait to see how another restricted free agent's scenario would play out.

After losing out on Chicago's Andres Nocioni, the Griz expressed interest in Anderson Varejao. But he is restricted and Cleveland can match any offers.

Milicic, who was free to sign anywhere, enticed the Griz because of his youth, size, mobility and defensive ability.

A source close to the negotiations said that Milicic is determined to make a name for himself in Memphis.

He averaged eight points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 23 minutes per game for the Magic last season. Milicic averaged 12.3 points in the playoffs.

Milicic is described as someone who can also run the floor well, which would fit head coach Marc Iavaroni's plans to play up-tempo. He's not a prototypical banger, but Milicic has a solid frame.

There still is room for growth given Milicic is described as a decent rebounder and a weak-side shot-blocker.

Still, the Griz have satisfied two of the three needs they identified heading into the draft.

They wanted to shore up the backcourt, add size up front and perimeter shooting.

After drafting point guard Mike Conley, the Griz added Milicic -- someone who they hope gives new meaning to blast from the past.



PG Mike Conley...Damon Stoudaire/Kyle Lowry
SG Mike Miller...Tarence Kinsey/Junor Harrington
SF Rudy Gay...Dahntay Jones
PF Hakim Warrick...Stromile Swift/Lawrence Roberts
C Pau Gasol...Darko Milicic/Brian Cardinal



Nice up-and-coming roster...Playoffs are far away though.

[floatin_above_everything]

I'm not sold on Darko yet, I thought he had a great position open in Orlando, and he didn't deliver. Hopefully they can work him into the system at Memphis.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Darko is a solid defender with inconsistant offense... not worth the money, but still not as bad as the 2nd pick he was taken with.

[Antonio_]

I don't like them both. I think both teams overpaid them.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Magloire for 4 million at one year isn't THAT bad...Milicic definitely shouldn't be getting any more than the MLE though.

[Antonio_]

Yeah. I used to like him 2-3 years ago, but he didn't reach the potential i thought he could have reached.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Dude reached his peak in his mid-20s...It's not so uncommon with bigs.