DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks signed free agent forward Alex English, the eighth-leading scorer in NBA history, to a one-year contract Wednesday worth more than $1.5 million per year.
English, a 14-year veteran, had spent 10 seasons with the Denver Nuggets, and was the club's leading scorer.
Dallas General Manager Norm Sonju finalized an agreement with English's agent, Ted Steinberg, that the Dallas Times Herald reported will pay the forward $1.5 to $2 million during the 1990-91 season.
Dallas has the option of signing English for another year, but the forward has indicated he will retire after the season.
The team reportedly outbid an offer from the Utah Jazz that would have paid English $1.6 million, including incentives, over one year.
English will be reunited with former Denver teammate Fat Lever, who the Mavericks obtained in a June trade.
The Mavericks were pressed into obtaining a forward after unrestricted free agent Sam Perkins signed a six-year, $19 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers Aug. 6.
'We're all excited to have Alex English join the Mavericks,' Sonju said. 'Alex is a prolific scorer who has proven historically that he performs even better under pressure situations like the playoffs.'
English agreed to contract terms with the Mavericks last week and visited Dallas Thursday to meet with the team's owner Donald Carter. He also flew to Los Angeles Thursday to meet with Mavericks coach Richie Adubato.
English, 36, an eight-time NBA All-Star, has averaged 22.3 points per game through his professional career with the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and Denver.
The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 17.9 points per game last year with the Nuggets. He led the NBA in scoring in 1982-83, averaging 28.4 points per game and needs just 150 points to reach the 25,000 mark. English lead active players in games played, field goal attempts and field goals made. He is second on the active all-time scoring list to Moses Malone.
'I'm excited about adding Alex English because he's a veteran player who can definitely score,' Adubato said. 'That's been his forte. We were looking for more scoring to boost our offense and this move will help us to accomplish that.'
Adubato has said English will battle for the starting forward job with Rodney McCray, whom the Mavericks obtained in a trade just prior to the June draft.
'I also think we can get some leadership from Alex,' Adubato said. 'Like our other players, Fat Lever and Rodney McCray, Alex is a quality person who is a skilled player. Those are the type of people you like to add to your team.'
