CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday announced the signing of free-agent center Wayne 'Tree' Rollins to a two-year contract.
Rollins, a member of the Atlanta Hawks the past 11 seasons, was an unrestricted free agent. The Cavaliers therefore are not required to compensate the Hawks.
The 7-foot-1 Rollins, second to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 2,283 career blocked shots, will relieve Cleveland's Brad Daugherty and should provide needed rebounding coming off the bench.
'I've been an admirer of Tree for many years,' Cleveland general manager Wayne Embry said. 'I admire that he has played on a 50-plus win team for a number of years. He possesses leadership qualities we feel will help our young team.'
Rollins, 33, averages 7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots per game. He made the all-defensive team in 1983-84 and the second-team in 1982-83.
'I was hoping I could finish my career there, but it wasn't working out for me,' Rollins said. 'I don't have any hard feelings toward Atlanta.'
Rollins said he should have no problems providing Cleveland with what they ask of him on the court.
'One thing I've been able to do the last 11 years is to adapt to roles,' he said. 'Cleveland already has a great team. We are young, we really have a chance to do some great things.'
The two-year pact with the Cavaliers is believed to be worth about $2 million, about the same amount Rollins was offered from the New Jersey Nets. He also contacted six other teams.
'The bottom line is they (the Cavaliers) had a better team than New Jersey right now, and I won't be around much longer,' Rollins said.
With the signing of Rollins, the Cavaliers likelywill have three new players this season. They drafted forward Randolph Keys in the first round of the college draft and traded for guard Darnell Valentine from the Miami Heat.
