Doug Christie signs with Dallas
DALLAS, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The Dallas Mavericks Friday signed guard Doug Christie.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Dallas Morning News said it was a multi-year deal with only the first season guaranteed, and with both Christie and the Mavericks holding options.
Christie was waived by Orlando last week as part of the NBA's luxury-tax amnesty term.
Christie, 35, who is known more for his defensive prowess, was dealt from Sacramento to the Magic for Cuttino Mobley and Michael Bradley in January. He averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per contest and is a natural swingman who can also play the point.
For his career, Christie has averaged 11.4 points, 3.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per contest while playing for the Lakers, Knicks, Toronto, Sacramento and the Magic. He has been named to the NBA's All-Defensive Team four times.
Dallas also signed seven-foot free agent center DeSagana Diop. In four years, Diop has averaged less than one point and 2.6 rebounds over 193 games.
Hawks get Joe Johnson from Suns
ATLANTA, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Hawks Friday acquired guard Joe Johnson in a trade with the Phoenix Suns.
The announcement finalizes a long-rumored deal that had been in the works and was the source of controversy with Atlanta's ownership group.
The Hawks will send guard Boris Diaw and a pair of conditional first-round picks to the Suns in exchange for Johnson, a restricted free agent who will sign a reported five-year contract for about $70 million. The Arizona Republic reported Johnson likely will get a signing bonus of about $20 million.
"I am extremely excited to add a player of Joe's background to our team," said Hawks coach Mike Woodson on the team's Web site. "He is a great young talent."
Johnson, 24, appeared in all 82 regular-season games last season, helping Phoenix compile a 62-20 record. He averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest.
TNT adds Reggie Miller
ATLANTA, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- TNT has signed recently retired NBA great Reggie Miller as a game analyst.
Miller, who ended his 18-year career in May, signed with the cable network on Thursday. No terms were released.
In his new job, he will join his sister Cheryl, a legendary player in the women's ranks, who has worked for TNT for 10 years.
"It's just going to be a joy to work (with her)," Miller said on NBA.com. "My parents can only turn on one telecast now and hopefully hear both of us, or see me in the studio and see her calling the game. It's going to be unbelievable."
Reggie Miller, who is the NBA's all-time leader in three-point field goals attempted and made, played only for the Indiana Pacers and had a career scoring average of 18.2 points per contest over 1,389 games.
Clijsters rolls on at Toronto
TORONTO, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Kim Clijsters Friday was an easy quarterfinal winner at the $1.3 million Rogers Cup in Toronto.
Clijsters, seeded seventh in this event, trounced No. 14 Flavia Pennetta 6-0, 6-1. The four-time Grand Slam runner-up is fresh off her title at the JPMorgan Chase Open last weekend in Carson, Calif., and will next meet 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina on Saturday.
Myskina beat No. 9 Gisela Dulko 6-4, 7-5. Myskina has now won 13 of her last 16 matches after a slow start this year.
The champion of this tournament will earn a first-prize check of $189,000.
