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Reports: Knicks sign center Jerome James The New York Knicks and free-agent center Jerome James agreed to a five-year deal, according to several media reports. Marc Fleisher, James' agent, confirmed the approximately $29 million deal Wednesday, but the contract can't be signed until the free-agent signing period begins on July 22. "They approached us on the first day of free agency and told us they had a lot of interest," Fleisher told The New York Times for Thursday's editions. "I know there have been a lot of names, but I genuinely believe that's who they wanted most." The signing was also reported by the Daily News, New York Post and Newsday. James, 29, is a 7-foot-1 veteran who averaged 4.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.39 blocks per game in a career-high 80 starts for Seattle last season. He performed well in the first round of the playoffs for the SuperSonics, averaging 17.2 points and 9.4 rebounds in a series win over Sacramento. For his career, James is averaging 4.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.20 blocks. James will become the Knicks' only proven center after trading Nazr Mohammed in February and Kurt Thomas in June. James' presence will also ease some of the burden off rookie center Channing Frye, the Arizona star who the Knicks drafted in the first round last month. "It was clear once they moved Kurt Thomas and moved Nazr that they were in need of a real center, and that's what Jerome is," Fleisher told the Times. "He's looking forward to the challenge."
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