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Piatkowski Joins Rockets

HOUSTON (July 26, 2003) - The Houston Rockets have signed free agent Eric Piatkowski to a contract, general manager Carroll Dawson announced today. The 6-6, 215-pound guard/forward has averaged 8.6 points with a three-point percentage of .402 in nine NBA seasons with the L.A. Clippers.

"Eric provides excellent outside shooting and lineup flexibility," Dawson said. "His ability to stretch defenses with his shooting will be benefit our guards and our post players. Eric has had equal success providing stability as a starter and supplying instant offense off the bench."

Last season Piatkowski averaged 9.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 62 games, starting 26 times. He led the Clippers with 80 three-pointers made, 201 three-pointers attempted and a three-point percentage of .398. His three-point percentage tied for 14th among NBA leaders. Piatkowski also led all Clippers reserves in scoring average, ranking sixth on the team overall. He ranked second on the Clippers with a free throw percentage of .828 and fifth on the team with a career-high field goal percentage of .471. He scored in double figures 29 times and reached 20 points four times, including a season-high 27 points at Golden State on April 14.

"I am looking forward to working with Eric this upcoming season," Rockets Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "Eric has proven himself to be one of the league's better perimeter shooters and his versatility, as well as his veteran leadership, will be a great asset to our team."

Piatkowski's career three-point percentage of .402 stands tied for 14th in NBA history and tied for seventh among active NBA players. The swingman has averaged 8.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in his NBA career, standing as one of eight players to total 5,000 points with the Clippers. His 616 career games with the Clippers rank as the second-highest total in franchise history and the most since the team moved to California. Piatkowski holds Clippers career franchise records with 738 three-pointers made, 1,835 three-pointers attempted and a three-point percentage of .402. He averaged career highs of 11.3 points and 3.5 rebounds during the 1997-98 season. During the 2001-2002 season, Piatkowski ranked third in the NBA and set a Clippers record with a career-high three-point percentage of .466.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.