PHILADELPHIA, July 25 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia 76ers Thursday fortified their bench by signing guard Greg Buckner and forward Monty Williams, a pair of free agent reserves.
Terms of the deals were not disclosed. However, according to reports, Buckner agreed to a six-year contract worth $18 million and Williams signed a two-year deal.
Buckner's signing means the 76ers will have used more than $2 million of their $4.5 million mid-level exception, making it unlikely they will pursue coveted free agents Rashard Lewis or Keon Clark.
Known more for his defense, Buckner spent the last three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. Last season, he averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists while starting 19 of 44 games.
The 76ers were negotiating with Dallas for a possible sign-and-trade for Buckner, but the two sides could not reach an agreement and they ended up using part of their exception to sign him.
Williams has played eight seasons in the NBA, the last three with the Orlando Magic. In 68 contests last season, he averaged 7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds.
A first-round draft choice of the New York Knicks in 1994, Williams has career marks of 6.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 435 games for the Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and Magic.
