Grant Signs With Magic for $50 Million

The Orlando Magic on Wednesday re-signed free agent Horace Grant to a five-year contract and now await word from Shaquille O’Neal, who is being courted by the Lakers.

Sources close to the deal confirmed it was worth $50 million.

“When I came here two years ago, [Magic owner] Rich DeVos promised me I’d retire here and he’s kept his word,” Grant said. “Now it’s up to me to own up to my responsibility as a player and leader for this team and help them win a championship.”

Grant left the Chicago Bulls for the Magic as a free agent after the 1993-94 season. He averaged 12.8 points and 9.7 rebounds in his first season with the club, leading it to the NBA finals for the first time. Grant averaged 13.4 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Magic last season.

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Ervin Johnson, starting center for the Seattle SuperSonics last season, says he has agreed to a seven-year contract with the Denver Nuggets.

The SuperSonics renounced Johnson, a free agent, on Monday, apparently to go after free-agent Jim McIlvaine, also a center. The Seattle Times said the SuperSonics may offer the 7-foot-1 McIlvaine a seven-year, $35-million contract.

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The Miami Heat made free-agent forward Juwon Howard one of the highest-paid athletes in the history of team sports by signing him to a seven-year deal reported to be worth somewhere between $98 million and $110 million.

“Fans have expectations, and fans are hungry for a win,” he said. “I’m a marked man right now. They look at me as one of those one hundred million-dollar guys that’s out there in the NBA.”

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The Dallas Mavericks announced the addition of free-agent power forward Chris Gatling to a refurbished frontcourt that includes Eric Montross and first-round draft pick Samaki Walker.

Gatling averaged 11.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in part-time roles for Golden State and Miami last season. His contract reportedly is for five years at $21.4 million.

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The Portland Trail Blazers said nothing Wednesday about the reported acquisition of all-star point guard Kenny Anderson.

But a secretary for David Falk, Anderson’s agent, said Falk is leaving the country today and will be gone a month, indicating a deal is imminent.

ESPN reported Tuesday night that Anderson had agreed to a seven-year, $50-million contract with the Trail Blazers.

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An NBA doctor has confirmed that Brad Daugherty’s lingering back problems won’t improve enough for him to resume his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NBA Free-Agent Market

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Player: Chris Childs

95-96 Team: New Jersey

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed with New York Knicks for 6 years, $24 million

Player: Antonio Davis

95-96 Team: Indiana

Pos.: Center

Comment: Re-signed with Pacers for 7 years, $38.5 million

Player: Dale Davis

95-96 Team: Indiana

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Re-signed with Pacers for 7 years, $42 million

Player: Ghris Gatling

95-96 Team: Miami

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Mavericks for 5 years, $22 million

Player: Horace Grant

95-96 Team: Orlando

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Re-signed with Magic for five years, $50 million

Player: Allan Houston

95-96 Team: Detroit

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed by New York Knicks for 7 years, $56 million

Player: Juwan Howard

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Miami Heat for 7 years, $98 million

Player: Michael Jordan

95-96 Team: Chicago

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with Bulls for 1 year, $30 million

Player: Don MacLean

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Philadelphia 76ers for 4 years, $12 million

Player: Tracy Murray

95-96 Team: Toronto

Pos.: Forward

Comment: Signed with Washington Bullets, undisclosed

Player: Dikembe Mutombo

95-96 Team: Denver

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with Atlanta Hawks for 5 years, $50 million

Player: Gary Payton

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Re-signed with SuperSonics for 7 years, $85 million

Player: Sam Perkins

95-96 Team: Seattle

Pos.: Center

Comment: Re-signed with SuperSonics for 2 years, undisclosed

Player: Brent Price

95-96 Team: Washington

Pos.: Guard

Comment: Signed with Houston Rockets for 7 years, $18.2 million

Player: Sean Rooks

95-96 Team: Atlanta

Pos.: Center

Comment: Signed with the Lakers, undisclosed

ALL BUT WRAPPED UP

Player: Kenny Anderson

95-96 Team: Charlotte

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to sign with Portland for 7 years, $50 million

Player: Tim Hardaway

95-96 Team: Miami

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Heat

Player: Ervin Johnson

95-96 Team: Seattle

Position: Center

Comment: Agreed to terms with Denver for 7 years, undisclosed

Player: Reggie Miller

95-96 Team: Indiana

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Pacers

Player: Alonzo Mourning

95-96 Team: Miami

Position: Center

Comment: Agreed to terms with the Heat for 7 years, $122 million

Player: Steve Smith

95-96 Team: Atlanta

Position: Gurard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Hawks

Player: John Stockton

95-96 Team: Utah

Position: Guard

Comment: Expected to re-sign with Jazz

STILL ON THE RACK

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Player Team Pos. Hersey Hawkins Seattle Guard Derek Harper New York Guard Dan Majerle Cleveland Guard Robert Pack Washington Guard Latrell Sprewell Golden State Guard P.J. Brown New Jersey Forward Mario Elie Houston Forward Armon Gilliam New Jersey Forward Brian Grant Sacramento Forward Dennis Rodman Chicago Forward Otis Thorpe Detroit Forward Elden Campbell Lakers Center Jim McIlvane Washington Center Oliver Miller Toronto Center Shaquille O’Neal Orlando Center Brian Williams Clippers Center

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