The Portland Trail Blazers have re-signed center Chris Dudley, who became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, to a new contract.
Dudley originally signed with the Trail Blazers on Aug. 3, 1993, and was given a contract that contained an "opt-out" clause, allowing him to become a free agent after one year with the team.A judge denied the NBA's claim that the opt-out provision in his contract violated the league's salary cap. NBA clubs can exceed the salary cap while retaining their own free agents.
The 6-foot-11 Dudley fractured his left ankle in Portland's third game last season and spent 76 games on the injured list.
He said earlier this month that he had turned down a six-year contract from the Sacramento Kings that totaled about $24 million.
His new contract may be challenged by the NBA, which contends that Dudley and the Blazers intentionally circumvented the salary cap with the opt-out clause.