Horace Grant inks 5-year deal with Orlando

Jet, Oct 10, 1994

After three months of legal complications and lengthy negotiation sessions, former Chicago Bulls All-Star power forward Horace Grant recently signed a new deal with the Orlando Magic.

Grant, 29, a free-agent who spent his first seven seasons with the Bulls and was a key member of the team's three consecutive championship seasons, signed a five-year deal with a free agent clause after two years with Orlando.

The NBA had rejected Grant's original deal with the Magic in July--a six-year, $22 million contract--saying the deal's one-year escape clause was an attempt to bypass the NBA salary cap policy.

"My mind was made up the first time," Grant said. "I thought I made myself clear, but I guess the NBA had other ideas."

Grant turned down a five-year, $20 million offer from the Bulls to sign with Orlando and play next to the league's most popular player, Shaquille O'Neal.