ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks re-signed Bremerton native Marvin Williams on Friday, their last bit of unfinished offseason business.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the restricted free-agent forward agreed to a five-year, $37.5 million deal, with incentives that could raise the package to as much as $43 million.
“A big priority this summer was to retain as many of our free agents as possible and keep our nucleus intact, so Marvin’s return is significant for us,” general manager Rick Sund said.
Williams averaged 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds during his fourth season with the Hawks. He was the second overall pick of the 2005 draft after spending one season at North Carolina.
“Marvin is an important part of our core, and we’re very pleased to keep him in a Hawks uniform,” Sund said. “As one of our talented and versatile young veterans, he’s shown improvement every year in the league.”
Williams could have accepted the Hawks’ qualifying offer of $7.5 million and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Instead, like Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia, he decided on a long-term commitment to the Hawks.
Pistons, Wallace agree to deal
DETROIT — A person with knowledge of the deal says Ben Wallace is coming back to the Detroit Pistons.
Wallace will receive a $1.3 million, one-year deal, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed. Wallace is expected to do that early next week.
The four-time defensive player of the year helped the Pistons win the 2004 NBA title. He left as a free agent to play for the Chicago Bulls, signing a four-year, $60 million deal.
Nuggets make cap room by swaping Hunter, pick to Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Denver Nuggets swapped Steven Hunter, a protected 2010 first-round pick and cash to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a future conditional second rounder.
The Nuggets made the move to reduce their luxury tax penalty this season. The Nuggets are slated to be $6.7 million over the league’s dollar-for-dollar tax threshold. Removing Hunter’s $3.7 million dollar salary will save the team $7.4 million next year.
The trade could give Memphis three first-round selections in the 2010 draft. The Grizzlies already are owed the Lakers’ 2010 pick to complete the February 2008 trade that sent Pau Gasol to Los Angeles.
Pistons sign draft picks
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Detroit Pistons have signed 2009 draft selections Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers and Jonas Jerebko to contracts.
Daye was drafted by Detroit with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the draft. The 6-foot-11 sophomore forward from Gonzaga averaged 12.7 points and 6.8 rebounds in 34 games last season.
Summers was selected with the 35th overall pick in the second round. He started 98 of his 101 games at Georgetown and finished his collegiate career with averages of 11.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Jerebko was selected with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the draft. He played professionally in Italy the last two seasons.
Celtics sign Williams
BOSTON — The Boston Celtics have signed free agent center/forward Shelden Williams to a contract. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Williams was originally drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 draft. The former Duke Blue Devil has posted career averages of 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game.
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