Jazz Re-Sign Hornacek

As expected, the Utah Jazz have re-signed free agent guard Jeff Hornacek to a two-year contract.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Hornacek, 34, reportedly earned $2.4 million last season.

Hornacek’s signing keeps the Western Conference champions essentially intact. Although six Utah players became free agents at the end of last season, only 12th man Stephen Howard left the NBA team.

In addition to 11 returnees, Utah has draft picks Jacque Vaughn and Nate Erdmann under contract. The Orlando Magic signed journeyman forward-center Tim Kempton, 33, who has played with seven teams during his eight-year NBA career.

The Boston Celtics signed Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer, their top selections in the 1997 draft.

Although financial terms of the contracts weren’t disclosed, the league’s rookie pay scale limits Billups to $8.2 million over three years, and Mercer to $6 million over that same time period.

Veteran center Bill Wennington re-signed with the Chicago Bulls, agreeing to a one-year deal for “significantly more” than $1 million, a Bulls source said.

Wennington and recently acquired Joe Kleine will be the backup centers behind starter Luc Longley.

The Indiana Pacers signed veteran free agent Mark West and rookie Mark Pope.

West, 37, a second-round draft pick out of Villanova by Dallas in 1983, played 70 games last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 3.2 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Pope, a 6-foot-10 forward, played at Kentucky and Washington. He led the Pacers’ summer league team in scoring.

The Houston Rockets re-signed seven-year forward Matt Bullard, 30. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.