Trail Blazers Sign Free Agent Guard Jeff Mcinnis

AP

  
 
   

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The Portland Trail Blazers signed free agent guard Jeff McInnis to a three-year contract on Monday.

McInnis, who played the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, will join a backcourt that includes Antonio Daniels and Damon Stoudamire. Terms of the deal were not immediately released.

McInnis, 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists last seasons for the Clippers.

"Since the beginning of the offseason, we have said we wanted to address our size and depth in the backcourt," general manager Bob Whitsitt said. Jeff and Antonio Daniels, who we acquired last week, give us two players who fulfill that need."

Last week, the Blazers sent Erick Barkley, Steve Kerr and a second-round draft pick next year to San Antonio for Daniels, Charles Smith and Amal McCaskill.

"Jeff and Antonio give us two big bodies in our backcourt that make us that much tougher in this area," coach Maurice Cheeks said. "Jeff is a big guard who can defend and run a basketball team, and regardless of who plays, we feel very comfortable with the players we have on the court."

McInnis, 27, played three seasons for Blazers assistant Dan Panaggio in the Continental Basketball Association. He is a friend and former college teammate of Blazers forward Rasheed Wallace.

A five-year veteran out of North Carolina, McInnis has also played for the Washington Wizards and the Denver Nuggets.

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