“We are pleased to add Nazr Mohammed to our roster,” said Dumars. “Nazr is a proven veteran in this league and can help provide stability at the center position. His defensive presence and rebounding will help solidify our front line while his experience and professionalism will provide added value in our locker room.”

Mohammed, who spent the last two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.61 blocks and 17.4 minutes in 80 regular season games a year ago. In eight playoff games, he averaged 4.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.75 blocks. Mohammed was the Spurs’ starting center against Detroit in the 2005 NBA Finals and scored in double-figures six times during the postseason. Originally selected by Utah with the 29th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, Mohammed played his first three NBA seasons with the Philadelphia before spending three-plus seasons in Atlanta and two-plus seasons with the New York Knicks. The 6-10, 250-pound center averaged 18.9 points and 12.9 rebounds over the last nine games of the 2000-01 season with Atlanta. Mohammed averaged career-highs with 9.7 points and 7.9 rebounds in 82 games with Atlanta during the 2001-02 season, including a single-game career-high 30 points at the L.A. Clippers (11/5/01). He grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds at Philadelphia (2/15/06) while with San Antonio last season.

The Chicago native played three seasons of college basketball at Kentucky where the team advanced to the NCAA Championship Game each year. He was a member of both the 1996 and 1998 NCAA Championship teams and recorded the fourth-best single-season field goal percentage in Kentucky basketball history (.597 in 1997-98).