Piatkowski says he will sign with Rockets
(Agencies)
Updated: 2003-07-26 14:32

Free agent forward Eric Piatkowski said Friday that he will sign a three-year deal with the Houston Rockets.

The 6-foot-6 Piatkowski, who has spent his entire nine-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers, told KRIV-TV that he will sign with the Rockets on Saturday.

The Rockets declined to comment on the deal Friday night. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Jeff Austin, Piatkowski's agent, by phone Friday night were unsuccessful.

Piatkowski, the Clippers' career leader in 3-pointers, said his long-range shooting skills will fit in well with a team like the Rockets.

"Going into free agency you go ahead and look at the teams that you think would be a really good fit for yourself," he told the Houston television station. "The type of player I am, being an outside threat, I need players that demand a double team. So to be able to play with Yao Ming and Steve Francis, those two guys demand a double team more than most guys in the entire NBA. So it's going to be fun for me."

Piatkowski said it was a tough decision to leave Los Angeles.

"It's something I had to think long and hard about and talk to my wife," he said. "She knows about all the wonderful things they have going on down there like the brand new arena, the great players, a new great coach."

The Rockets begin play in the $200 million Toyota Center this season under first-year coach Jeff Van Gundy.

He averaged 9.7 points last season, shooting just under 40 percent from 3-point range.