PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns Tuesday announced the signing of unrestricted free-agent forward Tom Chambers to a five-year contract, the first such signing under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement.
Chambers, 29, averaged 20.4 points and six rebounds a game for the Seattle SuperSonics last season. The 6-foot-10, 230-pounder is a seven-year NBA veteran, the past five seasons with Seattle.
Under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement between the league and players union, the Suns owe Seattle no compensation, and the SuperSonics have no 'right of first refusal' -- the option of matching the Suns' offer.
Financial details of the contract were not released.
Seattle reportedly offered Chambers a four-year contract worth $5 million -- a 25-percent raise over his 1987 salary -- but the deal hinged on his signing before the June 28 draft.
Recently, Chambers had accused the SuperSonics of lacking interest in negotiating. Seattle's aquisition of forward Michael Cage from the Los Angeles Clippers on draft day drew unkind remarks from Chambers, for which he since had apologized.
July 1 was the first opportunity for teams to approach veteran free agents, and Phoenix wasted no time going after Chambers.
'I went into the negotiations with the intention of signing Tom Chambers, not just talking to him,' said Suns president and chief executive officer Jerry Colangelo, who handled the contract talks for the club. 'Since the season ended, we've been positioning ourselves under the salary cap so we could go into the free-agent market in a big way.
'It is fulfilling that we were able to go in and get exactly what we feel we need to make this team competitive right now.'
NBA clubs cannot exceed a salary cap of $6 million for all players on the roster. Colangelo said the signing makes Chambers the highest paid Suns player.
Chambers was surprised but thrilled with the quick signing.
'It's been shocking, really, my whole life has changed in the space of 48 hours,' Chambers said. 'It's been quick, it was hard to believe at first, but now it's starting to sink in, and I'm really excited about it.
'They expect me to come in and give a little bit of leadership and guidance, and I think they need that with some of the younger people. I'm excited about that, I like the added responsibility and I hope I will be able to fill that role.'
Seattle President Bob Whitsitt met with Chambers after the season, telling him he could try to sign with the SuperSonics before the draft or wait to test the market.
'Tom told us his decision was to stay in Seattle,' said Whitsitt, adding that Chambers told him that before the draft. 'Tom told us he was comitted to Seattle and the SuperSonics.'
Whitsitt met for several hours with Chambers' agent, Howard Slusher, and put a 'very fair offer' on the table.
'I have yet to hear a response to that package,' Whitsitt added, noting the lack of response prompted Seattle to pursue Cage.
Chambers played for the San Diego Clippers for two years before being traded to Seattle in 1983 for James Donaldson, Greg Kelser, Mark Radford and a 1984 first-round draft pick in 1983.
He was named to the All Star team in 1987, and was voted the game's Most Valuable Player after scoring 34 points before his home crowd.
Chambers was drafted in the first round as the eighth overall pick by the Clippers in 1981 after finishing his career at Utah as the second-leading rebounder and sixth-leading scorer in school history. He led the Clippers in scoring as a rookie, averaging 17.2 points per game.
A resident of Ogden, Utah, Chambers is married and has three children.
