Carter signs
deal with SpursThe Hawaii alumnus joins
the NBA champs to back up
point guard Tony Parker
SAN ANTONIO >> After a contract snafu temporarily left him without a team, former Hawaii guard Anthony Carter landed on his feet by signing with the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs yesterday.
"This is a fresh start for me and a great honor to play for the defending world champions," Carter said on the team's Web site. "It will be a tremendous challenge to return to championship form, but it is a challenge I think we will be up to."
Terms of Carter's deal were not released by the Spurs.
Carter spent the first four years of his career in Miami, averaging 5.5 points, 4.3 assists and 1.06 steals in 246 games. Last season, he averaged 4.1 points and 4.1 assists in 49 games.
Carter became a free agent when his representatives mistakenly failed to exercise a player option that would have allowed him to make $4.1 million with the Heat next season.
In San Antonio, Carter is expected to replace Speedy Claxton as Tony Parker's backup at point guard. Claxton signed a free-agent deal with Golden State.
"Anthony Carter is a proven NBA player who has experience as both a starter and a reserve," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said.
"He is a good defensive player and will fit well into our system."
Guard Devin Brown, a former standout at Texas-San Antonio, also signed with the Spurs yesterday. Brown played briefly with the Spurs last season. He averaged 1.7 points and 1.0 rebound in seven games.
Afterward, he joined Fayetteville in the National Basketball Development League, finishing as the league's MVP and Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.9 points.
He later averaged 6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in three games with Denver following the NBDL season.
