DALLAS, Oct. 17 -- The Dallas Mavericks added another big man to their lineup Thursday when they signed free agent Oliver Miller to a one-year deal for an undisclosed amount. Mavericks Vice President for Basketball Operations Keith Grant, who had worked hard over the past week to free up enough money to sign Miller, shocked the team's new owners by resigning just as the deal was finalized. The 6-foot-9 310-pound Miller was a first-round draft pick out of Arkansas, who saw extensive playing time as a rookie with the Phoenix Suns. The 26-year-old Miller played in all 24 post-season appearances by the Suns in 1993, when they lost in the NBA Finals to Chicago in six games. A native of Fort Worth, Miller started 72 games last year for the Toronto Raptors, averaging 12.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.88 blocks. 'He brings us some size and another big body,' said new head coach Jim Cleamons. 'For his size, he's a very skilled player who passes well and has very soft hands. He can help us with rebounding, and for his age he has a lot of experience.' Miller accepted substantially less money than he could have made on the open market in order to return to north Texas. In a story that was apparently unrelated to the Miller signing, Grant resigned just three months after taking a job that he described as his 'dream.' 'I'm certain this is the right decision for me and my family,' Grant said in a prepared statement.
'I look forward to spending more time with my wife and three kids.' Grant joined the Mavericks organization in 1980 as an equipment manager and rose through the ranks. When the team changed hands this summer, he was promoted into a role from which he made all operational recommendations to the new ownership group headed by Ross Perot, Jr. Minority owner Frank Zaccanelli said Thursday that he would temporarily step in to run opeations for the team until a replacement can be found. When asked if former Maverick and new Director of Player Development and Scout Mark Aguirre would be offered the job, Zaccanelli said, 'Absolutely not.'
