Mcilvaine Signs With Sonics

Jim McIlvaine, a 7-foot-1 free agent and a backup with the Washington Bullets last season, signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Seattle SuperSonics on Monday.

McIlvaine, 24, who replaces Ervin Johnson, averaged nearly as many blocks (2.08) as points (2.3) last season as Gheorghe Muresan’s back-up with the Bullets.

“Basically, I’m a defender,” McIlvaine said. “That’s what I’m known for. I block shots. Right now, Seattle has enough offensive weapons and they need a defensive center.”

Coach George Karl said McIlvaine, a 265-pounder, would give the Sonics a different dimension than the slender Johnson, whose rights were renounced.

“Ervin didn’t play a physical game,” Karl said. “With Jim, you’ll see more of a body-to-body game.”

Daugherty finally calls it quits

Cleveland Cavaliers center Brad Daugherty confirmed what had long been expected: His NBA career is over.

Daugherty, 30, has not played since February 1994 because of a bad back. He had surgery later that year to remove two herniated discs in his spine that pressed against nerves, but did not recover enough to return.

Daugherty is Cleveland’s all-time leader in points (10,389) and rebounds (5,227).

Around the league

The Golden State Warriors resigned free agent guard Latrell Sprewell to a four-year contract reportedly worth $30 million.

Bryant Stith re-signed with the Denver Nuggets for a reported $22 million over five years.

The Vancouver Grizzlies signed free agent point guard Lee Mayberry to a four-year, $5.7 million deal and waived veteran guard Byron Scott.

Rod Strickland has been given a deadline of 3 p.m. Wednesday to take a physical for the Bullets.