[ESPN]Two-year deal for Mutombo? Hold on, agent says

I hope this is sorted out. Maybe they are keeping the terms silent?


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Associated Press


HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo said Thursday he expects to re-sign with the team.


Mutombo




Mutombo, 39, has indicated he will sign a two-year contract with the Rockets, the Houston Chronicle and Houston television station KRIV reported Thursday.


Mutombo's agent, David Falk, told The Associated Press he could not confirm that.

"Dikembe has really enjoyed his tenure in Houston. They've done a good job of making him feel welcome there," he said. "It's his decision to remain in Houston. I'm confident that [Rockets general manager] Carroll Dawson and I will finalize officially a contract for him. It's a great situation for him."


Rockets spokesman Nelson Luis told the AP he could not confirm whether the team is close to re-signing Mutombo.

Mutombo said in a story in the Chronicle's online edition that he would likely not sign his new contract until late next week.


"Money was not that important to me. I feel I made good money in my career. So I'm going to sign a deal and be happy here," he told the newspaper.


"I think I made the best decision for myself, my wife and my kids," Mutombo told KRIV during a telephone interview. "Hopefully I will play two years and hang up my jersey."


Mutombo told the newspaper that he wanted to be in Houston to complete his career and his work to build a hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.


"I have a chance to be in an organization that accepts what I'm doing in the community and embraced it," he told the newspaper. "People came to the games and understand my devotion, my passion, which is helping people. I have a chance to help the team and to be with teammates who have been so good in my life and Jeff [Van Gundy], who I respect so much as such a great coach.


The 7-foot-2 Mutombo is an eight-time All-Star and four-time defensive player of the year who started playing in the NBA in 1991. He was acquired by the Rockets last season in a trade with the Chicago Bulls.