Knicks Make Mutombo Their Center

Dikembe Mutombo signed a multiyear contract with the New York Knicks on Thursday, two days after he accepted a buyout and was waived by the New Jersey Nets.

The eight-time All-Star has been on the decline the last two seasons, but he provides the Knicks a much-needed defensive presence at center -- a void that has gone unfilled since Patrick Ewing was traded before the 2000-01 season.

The Knicks were the worst shot-blocking team in the NBA last season when they missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

Kurt Thomas, a natural power forward, has been the Knicks’ starting center for most of the last two seasons. New York tried to acquire Mutombo from Philadelphia two summers ago before the 76ers dealt him to the Nets.

Mutombo, 37, played in only 24 games last season because of a wrist injury that required surgery in November. He did not return to action until late in the regular season and saw limited action in the playoffs.

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Indiana Pacer forward Austin Croshere will be sidelined two to four weeks because of a pulled left hamstring.

Croshere was hurt with just under 10 minutes to play in Wednesday night’s exhibition opener against the Chicago Bulls. He said he was bumped by a defender, went up for a shot and “felt a pop.”

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A sore Achilles’ tendon probably will keep Minnesota’s Latrell Sprewell out of the lineup when he returns to New York for an exhibition game Saturday against the Knicks, his former team.

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NBA Commissioner David Stern said some teams could have training camps in Europe as soon as 2005, adding that preseason workouts and exhibition games could help increase basketball’s appeal on the continent. Stern also said that the league could expand to Europe by the end of the decade.