DALLAS, July 31 (AP) -- Free agent Danny Manning has agreed to sign a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks, team owner Mark Cuban told The Dallas Morning News.
Manning, a 13-year pro, played for the Utah Jazz last season. The 6-foot-10 center-forward was a backup for the Jazz, averaging 7.4 points in 16 minutes a game. He will have a similar role in Dallas.
The Jazz had hoped to re-sign Manning, but Kevin O'Connor, Utah's vice president for basketball operations, said Manning was close to signing with Dallas.
The Deseret News in Salt Lake City, citing a Jazz source, said Manning's signing with the Mavericks was "imminent."
Cuban told the Dallas Morning News in a story on the newspaper's Web site late Tuesday afternoon that Manning was expected to sign the deal Thursday. No financial terms were given.