Ewing Remains a Knick With Four-Year Deal

One day after becoming a free agent, center Patrick Ewing signed a new four-year contract with the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Terms were not available but there had been speculation that Ewing--one of the most prominent players in the free-agent market--wanted to end his career in New York.

Salary cap constraints limited Ewing’s options. Only a few teams such as Detroit and Cleveland had room under the cap for a player with a Ewing-sized contract. Agent David Falk had been expected to demand between $65 and $70 million for four years. Miami center Alonzo Mourning, a close friend of Ewing’s and also a Falk client, makes $16 million per season and Shaquille O’Neal of the Lakers is the league’s highest-paid center at $17.1 million.

Ewing, who will be 35 next month, has been the anchor of the franchise since the team made him the No. 1 pick in the NBA’s first lottery draft in 1985.

“We had some unfinished business we’ve got to take care of,” Ewing said. “We didn’t get to our final goal last year. I’ve been here a long time and I want to be here when we win the championship. I’m glad I’ll finish my career here in New York. These fans deserve a championship, and I hope to get one while I’m here.”

“We really didn’t talk to any other teams,” Falk said. “There were no other offers, there was no need to have another offer, because Patrick wanted to stay here.”

“We’re happy to keep him here, where he belongs in a Knick uniform,” Knick President and General Manager Ernie Grunfeld said. “He’s very special, we think he’ll end his career here.”

Grunfeld said Ewing could be productive for some time to come.

“There are several players that won championships at 38, 39,” Grunfeld said. “Patrick keeps himself in great shape. He’s never had a major injury and he continues to play between 78 and 82 games every year.”

Ewing played 78 games last season and led the Knicks with a 22.4 point average, passing the 20,000-point plateau for his career. He has never averaged less than 20 points as a Knick.

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Austin Croshere, the 12th pick in last week’s draft, will sign a contract today with the Indiana Pacers.

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 17.9 points last season as a senior and helped Providence reach the regional finals of the NCAA tournament.

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A year ago Walt Williams signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Raptors at the NBA’s minimum salary, hoping to prove his worth in the league. The gamble paid off when the Raptors signed the high-scoring swingman to a five-year deal reportedly worth $20 million. Williams made $247,500 last season, averaging 16.4 points in 73 appearances. . . . The Phoenix Suns re-signed free-agent forward Mark Bryant to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.