POSTED: September 29th, 2005

McCarty's versatility should help the Clippers' attack in 2005-06.

The Clippers today agreed to terms with free agent forward Walter McCarty, it was announced by Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released. McCarty is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles tonight, and pending the results of his physical, will sign his contract on Friday.

McCarty has career averages of 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 557 games over nine seasons with New York, Boston and Phoenix. In 38 career postseason games, McCarty has averaged 4.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. The 6’10” McCarty averaged 3.7 points in 44 games with Boston in 2004-05 before being traded on February 8th to Phoenix, where he averaged 3.5 points in 28 games in helping the Suns to the best record in the Western Conference.

“Walter is an experienced player who brings toughness and a defensive presence to our team,” stated Baylor. “He’s a good shooter who plays hard at both ends of the court.”

After leading Kentucky to the 1996 NCAA championship, McCarty was drafted by New York with the 19th overall selection in the 1996 NBA Draft. Following his rookie campaign in 1996-97, McCarty was traded to Boston prior to the start of the 1997-98 campaign. McCarty established himself as a key player in the Celtics rotation over the next seven plus seasons, averaging 5.7 points in 494 games before being dealt to Phoenix.