MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks announced Wednesday they have signed 15-year veteran center Moses Malone to a two-year contract with an option for a third season.
Malone, 36, became an unrestricted free agent July 1 when his former team, the Atlanta Hawks, declined to sign him for the 1991-92 season.
'Moses is an intense competitor with the heart of a lion and the spirit of a thoroughbred,' said Del Harris, Bucks coach and vice president of basketball operations. 'He will give us a big lift in our rebounding and inside game.
'Moses and I go back to the Utah Stars of the ABA after which we spent six seasons together in Houston. I'm looking forward to being back on the same team with him.'
Details of the contract were not released. A report published in Wednesday's USA Today said the Bucks would pay Malone $1.6 million for the first season and $2.08 million for the second.
The Bucks freed $1.6 million from their salary cap July 1 by declining to pick up the option year of Sikma's contract.
Malone started in 15 of Atlanta's 82 regular-season games last season, averaging 23.3 minutes, 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Malone, a three-time NBA MVP (1979, 1982, 1983, has scored 25,737 points (22.1 avg.) and grabbed 15,150 rebounds (13.0 avg.) in his career.
Among NBA centers who recorded 1,800 or more minutes last season, Malone ranked third in rebounding frequency by grabbing one rebound every 2.8 minutes (behind Olajuwon and Parish).
Malone jumped directly into professional basketball in 1974 from Petersburg, Va., High School as an undergraduate selection by Utah of the ABA.
After Utah sold his rights to the St. Louis Spirits, Malone was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the ABA dispersal draft. He was then traded to Buffalo and then to Houston, where he spent more than five seasons.
In 1983, Malone helped the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA championship before he was traded to Washington, where he spent two seasons before he was traded to Atlanta.
