SAN ANTONIO Derek Anderson, the best free agent still on the market, signed on Friday night with the San Antonio Spurs, who filled a huge hole at shooting guard.
Terms were not disclosed. However, the Spurs could only offer the former clipper the mid-level exception, which begins at $2.25 million.
Anderson accepted below market value to play for the Spurs, who rode "Twin Towers" Tim Duncan and David Robinson to the 1999 NBA championship.
The 6-foot-5 (1.96 meters) guard was reported to be considering joining the Denver Nuggets via a sign-and-trade but instead opted for the Spurs, where Anderson can start and chase a championship.
Last season, Anderson averaged 16.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 64 games for the Los Angeles Clippers. He blasted teammates and management during the season and vowed he would not return to the club.
Anderson, 26, should step right in as a starter at shooting guard, which was a trouble spot for the spurs last season. Aging Mario Elie moved to small forward to fill in for Sean Elliott and Jaren Jackson and Steve Kerr were plagued by ineffectiveness and injury.
A 1997 first-round pick of Cleveland, Anderson was sent to Los Angeles last year as part of the Lamond Murray sign-and-trade deal. He has career averages of 13.4 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 168 games.
Anderson was seventh in the NBA in foul shooting at 87.7 percent last season.
He was an all-rookie second team selection in 1998.
The addition of Anderson gives the Spurs a legitimate third scorer behind Robinson and Duncan, who re-signed Wednesday for three years and $33 million.
(Reuter)