Rose Re-Signs for $93 Million

Jalen Rose, the NBA’s most improved player last season, re-signed with the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Rose signed a seven-year deal worth $93 million, according to his agent, David Falk.

“My head and heart the entire time was to be an Indiana Pacer,” Rose, 27, said.

The 6-foot-8 Rose, who moved into the Pacers’ starting lineup at small forward last season, displaced Reggie Miller as the team’s leading scorer, averaging 18.2 points.

Austin Croshere (seven years, $51 million) and Sam Perkins (one year, $2.5 million) re-signed Tuesday, and the Pacers expect to re-sign at least two of their three other free agents--Miller, Mark Jackson and Rik Smits. Contract talks with Smits have been delayed while he decides whether he wants to retire.

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Keeping his word, Tim Duncan re-signed with the San Antonio Spurs after turning down an offer to join the Orlando Magic.

Duncan, 24, signed a reported three-year deal worth $32.6 million that includes a fourth-year option that would make it worth $45.9 million.

The Spurs hope to finish deals soon with guards Avery Johnson and Antonio Daniels.

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Veteran forward Danny Manning, 34, was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks after agreeing to a buyout of the final year of his $7.83 million contract, clearing the way for him to sign with another team, most likely the Utah Jazz.

Meanwhile, the Jazz signed free-agent guard John Starks to a two-year, $4.72-million contract to replace the retired Jeff Hornacek.

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Rashard Lewis, a 6-foot-10 forward and occasional starter for Seattle, signed a three-year contract with the SuperSonics worth $13.3 million.

Lewis, who turns 21 next week, was drafted in the second round in 1998 out of high school and averaged 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds last season.

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Guard Cuttino Mobley, runner-up for the sixth man award last season with Houston, reached agreement with the Rockets on a six-year, $31-million contract. Mobley, 25, averaged 15.8 points and 2.6 assists. . . . Free-agent guard Ron Mercer, 24, signed a four-year, $27-million contract to join the Chicago Bulls. . . . Free-agent guard Randy Brown, 32, agreed to leave the Bulls for a three-year, $7.5-million contract with the Boston Celtics. . . . Forward-center Corie Blount, 31, agreed to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns for $3.2 million over two years.