CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -The Charlotte Bobcats found their backup point guard Wednesday when they re-signed Jeff McInnis to a one-year, $1.2 million contract.
McInnis, who was an unrestricted free agent, averaged 4.3 points and 3.3 assists in 38 games last season as the No. 3 point guard behind starter Raymond Felton and Brevin Knight.
McInnis, who turns 33 in October, will take on a bigger role as Felton’s main backup next season after the Bobcats bought out the final year of Knight’s contract.
Bobcats vice president of basketball operations Bernie Bickerstaff said McInnis and new coach Sam Vincent hit it off during offseason workouts.
“Jeff did a nice job for us last year and he’s certainly a veteran backup,” Bickerstaff said. “He and Sam were on the same page. Sam was really impressed with Jeff. They’ve been working together this summer and communicating.”
McInnis’ agent, Steve Kauffman, said at least five teams expressed interest in his client, including Detroit, Miami and Boston. But McInnis, who grew up in Charlotte and played in college at North Carolina, wanted to play for the hometown team.
“There were other teams interested at the same salary level, but there was never any question that Jeff wanted to be in Charlotte,” Kauffman said.
Charlotte acquired McInnis from New Jersey in January for swingman Bernard Robinson. McInnis sat out the final 48 games of the 2005-06 season after undergoing knee surgery and had a falling out with Nets coach Lawrence Frank during his rehabilitation.
McInnis claimed he was completely healthy by the end of the summer, but wasn’t allowed to attend New Jersey’s training camp. He hadn’t played in almost a year when the Bobcats acquired him.
McInnis has averaged 9.9 points and 4.4 assists in his 10-year career.
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