Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: McDyess accepts Pistons' four-year, $23M deal

DETROIT (AP) -- Antonio McDyess has accepted the Detroit Pistons' four-year, $23 million contract offer, a source told The Associated Press on Monday.

The NBA champion Pistons will be able to sign the 6-foot-9 forward on Wednesday when a two-week player movement moratorium expires. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a fifth year is included in the deal but it is not guaranteed.

McDyess has averaged 16.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks during his eight-year career, which has been plagued by injuries since the 2000-01 season.

He played 42 games last season -- 24 in Phoenix and 18 with New York -- and averaged 6.9 points and 6.1 rebounds.

McDyess played just 10 games for Denver during the 2001-02 season -- one season after averaging 20.8 points and 12.1 rebounds -- and missed all of the 2002-03 season with knee problems.

He will likely fill the void left by reserve center Mehmet Okur, a restricted free agent who has agreed to sign with the Utah Jazz.

Detroit is not expected to match the offer to Okur because its top priority is signing Rasheed Wallace, who helped the Pistons knock off the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars traveled to Philadelphia last week to speak at Wallace's camp, and to talk to him about returning to Detroit.

McDyess made his regular-season debut last season with the Knicks against Detroit in December, nearly 14 months after fracturing his kneecap in a preseason game.

New York later sent McDyess, a former All-Star and Olympian, to Phoenix as part of the Stephon Marbury trade.