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TORONTO -- Antonio Davis and the Toronto Raptors have agreed
to a five-year deal worth more than $60 million, his agent said.
The agreement, which cannot be signed until July 18, allows the
team to hang on to a coveted free agent after a string of
high-profile defections. It also should help the Raptors re-sign
superstar Vince Carter, who will be a free agent after next season,
agent Bill Duffy said.
"It came down to Toronto putting it all together," Davis told
the Toronto Sun from his home in Orlando, Fla. "All I can do is
hope that in the long run I've made the best decision for my
family.
"Right now I feel that I have."
Re-signing Davis would be important for a franchise that has
been unable to keep such stars as Damon Stoudamire and Tracy
McGrady or attract big-name free agents.
On Thursday, the Raptors signed free agent forward Jerome Williams to a seven-year deal his agent said was worth $40.8
million.
The 6-foot-9 Davis had been wooed by Orlando, Chicago, Seattle,
Golden State and Houston, among others.
Davis was a force for the Raptors in the playoffs, despite being
hampered by an injured arm. Toronto was a shot away from making the
Eastern Conference finals, losing to Philadelphia by a point in
Game 7 of the semifinals.
Davis, 32, spent six seasons with Indiana before coming to
Toronto in a deal before the 1999-00 season for the rights to
forward Jonathan Bender. He had his best season in 2000-01,
averaging 13.7 points and 10.1 rebounds in the regular season.
Duffy, in a conference call from California, said Raptors
general manager Glen Grunwald caused a "huge turn of events" late
Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. The Raptors did not
immediately confirm the deal.
"Glen Grunwald stepped up and on behalf of the ownership made a
significant increase in his proposal, not just in the monetary
aspect, but in terms of things they wanted to do," Duffy said.
"It was very appealing to Antonio, and it was the turning
point, and the momentum carried over to where we reached an
agreement."
Davis had two years left on a seven-year, $35 million contract,
but he had a clause that allowed him to become a free agent on July
1.
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