Sports Briefs December 20, 2011
Basketball
Baron Davis signed with the New York Knicks on Monday, passing up a chance to join stronger teams because he said he always saw himself playing at Madison Square Garden.
The Cleveland Cavaliers waived Davis last week and designated him as their amnesty player so the $28 million he was owed over the remaining two years of his contract wouldn't count against their salary cap figure. No team claimed him, so he was free to sign with anyone.
Davis played in 58 games last season, averaging 13.1 points and 6.7 assists for the Clippers and Cavaliers. The two-time All-Star has averaged 16.5 points and 7.3 assists since being drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1999 draft.
• The Golden State Warriors completed a trade sending forward Lou Amundson to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for guard Brandon Rush.
Rush averaged 8.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in three seasons for the Pacers.
Amundson has averaged 4.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in five seasons, primarily with Philadelphia, Phoenix and Golden State. He has shot 52 percent from the field for his career.
• Forward Bismack Biyombo signed a rookie contract with the Charlotte Bobcats hours after agreeing to pay a buyout clause to release him from his contract with Spanish club Fuenlabrada.
Fuenlabrada said that Biyombo had agreed to pay the $1.5 million clause that will free him from the remaining two years of his contract. The Bobcats agreed to pay $525,000 of that - the most allowed by international rules - according to Rod Higgins, the Bobcats' director of basketball operations.
• The Bobcats also acquired center Byron Mullens from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a 2013 second-round draft pick.
The 7-foot Mullens was selected by the Mavericks with the 24th pick in the 2009 draft but promptly sent to the Thunder.
• Idaho State men's basketball coach Joe O'Brien resigned after a 2-8 start to the season.
Athletics director Jeff Tingey said assistant coach Deane Martin will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.
Baseball
Jimmy Rollins and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized a $33 million, three-year contract.
The deal includes a vesting option for a fourth year at $11 million. If not vested, that could be a club option at $8 million or a player option at $5 million.
Rollins is a three-time All-Star shortstop and the 2007 NL MVP. He hit .268 with 16 home runs, 63 RBIs and 30 steals this year.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks reached agreement on a two-year, $15 million contract with free agent outfielder Jason Kubel.
• Outfielder Mike Cameron agreed to a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals and an invitation to spring training.
Football
NAIA national champion St. Xavier of Illinois is ranked first and runner-up Carroll College is ranked second in the final football poll of the 2011 season.
• Joe Paterno was released from a State College, Pa., hospital and has shown improvement after being treated for lung cancer, a person close to the former Penn State coach's family said.
Paterno's tumor was showing substantial reduction following radiation and chemotherapy, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press due to the family's desire for privacy. He was released Sunday.
- The Associated Press