Nets Add the X Factor--McDaniel

The New Jersey Nets reached agreement on a one-year contract with forward Xavier McDaniel.

McDaniel, 33, a nine-year NBA veteran, played in Greece last season and averaged 18.5 points and eight rebounds.

*

Toronto Raptor partner Allan Slaight has triggered a battle for control of the team that could result in the ousting of fellow owner John Bitove Jr. Slaight and Bitove each own 39.5% of the expansion team, which cost $125 million two years ago.

On Friday, Slaight exercised a clause that requires Bitove to purchase Slaight’s end of the team by Nov. 14 or else be bought out by Slaight, a broadcasting mogul. There was no price given in Slaight’s two-paragraph release announcing the move.

Four minority owners--vice president and GM Isiah Thomas (9%), the Bank of Nova Scotia (10%) and David Peterson and Phil Granovsky (1% each)--aren’t involved in the takeover bid.