THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Bobcats came to terms late Thursday with free agent guard Ronald (Flip) Murray on a US$1.99-million, one-year deal.
Agent Mark Termini said Murray chose the Bobcats after also having discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 12.2 points last season coming off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks, and gives coach Larry Brown more options in the backcourt.
Termini said the six-foot-three Murray will sign with the Bobcats this weekend for the NBA’s biannual exception and be at training camp next week.
The move gives the Bobcats a versatile veteran who can play both guard positions. Brown was looking for someone who could play point guard behind Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin and could also score off the bench. Charlotte ranked last in the league in scoring last season.
The agreement comes a day after Felton signed a $5.5-million, one-year qualifying offer after talks on a long-term contract broke off. Felton is expected to start the season as the top point guard. Augustin, the No. 9 pick in the 2008 draft, is his backup..
Murray, the first free agent signed by Charlotte this off-season, could also spell shooting guard Raja Bell, who was slowed by injuries late last season. The 30-year-old Murray has averaged 9.9 points in seven previous NBA seasons with Milwaukee, Seattle, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana and Atlanta.
He’s a career 42 per cent shooter and last year shot 36 per cent from three-point range.
Murray will join a team that went 35-47 last season in Brown’s first year in Charlotte. The Bobcats’ biggest off-season move was to trade Emeka Okafor to New Orleans for centre Tyson Chandler.
