Joe Smith Ends Up Signing With Pistons

Joe Smith, declared a free agent for signing an illegal secret contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, accepted a one-year contract Monday from the Detroit Pistons.

Smith agreed to a $2.25-million deal with Detroit for the rest of the season. Had he re-signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he would have made a maximum of $611,000.

“We are very excited to have Joe Smith choose the Pistons,” General Manager Joe Dumars said. “We are committed to building this team the right way, and to have Smith select Detroit as his home is an endorsement of that.”

Smith rejected overtures from the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat, who each could have offered him more than $3.9 million for this season. He also was courted by the Dallas Mavericks.

Smith was unavailable for comment.

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Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined by the NBA for the second time in a week for making critical comments about the officiating in one of his team’s games.

The billionaire was fined $15,000 for “confronting and verbally abusing” the officials during and after Dallas’ 99-78 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 15.

Cuban was fined $5,000 on Nov. 14 for comments he made during the Mavericks’ 109-84 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 12.

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Phoenix guard Rex Chapman announced his retirement because of injuries. . . . Jason Kidd of Phoenix was fined $5,000 for his criticism of officials after a Nov. 17 loss to the New York Knicks. . . . The Philadelphia 76ers activated center Matt Geiger and put Todd MacCulloch on the injured list because of left ankle tendinitis.