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"The Spurs have reached an agreement with free agent power forward Drew Gooden that will add the 6-foot-10 veteran to the team's roster by the end of the week.
Gooden, in his seventh NBA season, negotiated a buyout of his contract with the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, in time to be eligible for any team's playoff roster this season.
Gooden can't officially sign with the Spurs until today, when the league verifies he has cleared waivers. Since they have 15 players on their roster, they will first have to create a spot, most likely by waiving Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who signed a 10-day contract last Wednesday.
Mensah-Bonsu was on the inactive list for Monday's game in Los Angeles against the Clippers.
Gooden has been hampered by injuries this season, playing in only 32 games, but in his most recent outing, on Feb. 25, he scored 12 points and had 13 rebounds for the Kings in 26 minutes against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Most recently, Gooden has battled a groin strain, and he left the game against the Bobcats after experiencing some discomfort. He did not play in Sacramento's next two games.
The Spurs have been trying to add a veteran big man for several weeks. In the final hours before the NBA's trade deadline on Feb. 19, they were close to a deal for Marcus Camby, but it could not be finalized.
In Gooden, the Spurs will get a proven inside player with playoff experience that includes the 2007 NBA Finals, when he was a starter for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Spurs.
Gooden's experience playing for Cavs coach Mike Brown, a former assistant under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich who employs essentially the same defensive scheme, should give him an important advantage in making the transition."
Gooden, in his seventh NBA season, negotiated a buyout of his contract with the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, in time to be eligible for any team's playoff roster this season.
Gooden can't officially sign with the Spurs until today, when the league verifies he has cleared waivers. Since they have 15 players on their roster, they will first have to create a spot, most likely by waiving Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who signed a 10-day contract last Wednesday.
Mensah-Bonsu was on the inactive list for Monday's game in Los Angeles against the Clippers.
Gooden has been hampered by injuries this season, playing in only 32 games, but in his most recent outing, on Feb. 25, he scored 12 points and had 13 rebounds for the Kings in 26 minutes against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Most recently, Gooden has battled a groin strain, and he left the game against the Bobcats after experiencing some discomfort. He did not play in Sacramento's next two games.
The Spurs have been trying to add a veteran big man for several weeks. In the final hours before the NBA's trade deadline on Feb. 19, they were close to a deal for Marcus Camby, but it could not be finalized.
In Gooden, the Spurs will get a proven inside player with playoff experience that includes the 2007 NBA Finals, when he was a starter for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Spurs.
Gooden's experience playing for Cavs coach Mike Brown, a former assistant under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich who employs essentially the same defensive scheme, should give him an important advantage in making the transition."
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