CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 16 -- Derrick Coleman reportedly will sign a multi-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets as early as Tuesday. The Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal said Saturday that Coleman, a forward who spent the last two-plus seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, will sign a deal with the Hornets that spans five or six years and is worth between $36-$50 million.
The Hornets declined to comment on the story while Coleman's agent, Harold McDonald, told the newspaper, 'Nobody can have an agreement with anybody right now, because the new collective bargaining agreement hasn't been signed.' The signing of Coleman could mean that Charlotte will not re-sign free agent centers Vlade Divac and Matt Geiger. Divac is said to be asking for a contract averaging more than $10 million per season, while Geiger is rumored to want a deal that averages at least $8 million. Coleman, the 1991 Rookie of the Year with the New Jersey Nets, has averaged 19.2 points and 10.4 rebounds over his career. He averaged 17.6 points and 9.9 rebounds in 59 games with the 76ers last season, but has failed to play more than 60 games in any of the last four campaigns.
