The Orlando Magic signed free agent forward Horace Grant on Friday night, a move that had been expected for almost a year.
The seven-year veteran was a key member of the Chicago Bulls during their run as three-time NBA champions but had publicly expressed his desire to join the Magic since last season.Earlier Friday, Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said he would no longer try to re-sign Grant, whom he accused of backing out of a handshake deal for a five-year contract worth more than $20 million.
Terms of the deal between Grant and the Magic were not disclosed.
Earlier Friday, to make room for a salary slot, the Magic traded point guard Scott Skiles and a first-round draft pick to the Washington Bullets for a second-round draft pick.
Skiles was the last remaining player from the Magic's original expansion team five years ago. Future considerations from both sides were included in the trade.
"He has been an important piece of the Orlando Magic's foundation, and he always will be," John Gabriel, Orlando's vice president of basketball operations, said of the point guard. "No player has meant more to success to the Orlando Magic since its inception than Scott Skiles."
Skiles, slated to make $2.1 million this season, averaged 9.9 points and 6.1 assists in 1993-94. Anfernee Hardaway replaced Skiles as the starting point guard in February.
"Skiles is a fiery leader who is known around the league for his toughness and ability to run an offense," Bullets general manager John Nash said.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder is known for his work ethic. He was named the 1990-91 NBA Most Improved Player after averaging 17.2 points and 8.4 assists.
He was a first-round draft pick (22nd overall) out of Michigan State in 1986 by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was traded to Indiana in 1987 and came to the Magic in the expansion draft.
Skiles had said Wednesday that he believed he was heading to the Sacramento Kings to create a salary slot to help sign Grant.
"This whole thing is a little unnerving for me," Skiles said. "But now I'll do what I always do: I'll show up for work and give it everything I've got."