http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=kingsostertag&prov=st&type=lgns

Kings sign free agent C Ostertag


July 20, 2004
SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) - The Sacramento Kings acted quickly to find a replacement for Vlade Divac.

Hours after Divac left to join the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, the Kings signed free agent center Greg Ostertag.

Terms were not disclosed. The Kings were offering the 36-year-old Divac just $2.5 million, while Ostertag just completed a six-year, $39 million contract.

Ostertag, 31, comes to the Kings after spending his first nine seasons with the Utah Jazz, where he was labeled an underachiever.

"I hope everyone knows that I'm not going to replace Vlade with scoring and passing, but I will be rebounding, blocking shots and taking up space in the middle," Ostertag said. "Hopefully, I'll be able to help these guys reach their ultimate goal of winning a championship."

In Sacramento, Ostertag likely will back up All-Star Brad Miller. In recent seasons, the once-deep Kings have lost Divac, Scot Pollard, Keon Clark and Hedo Turkoglu in their frontcourt.

"We're really excited to add a veteran center with valuable playoff experience to our roster," Kings president of basketballl operations Geoff Petrie said. "By adding Greg, it gives us a chance to improve in some areas where we've been struggling over the past couple of years. This gives us another rebounder and an interior presence at the basket. I think he'll fit in well with Brad and Chris on our front line."

The 7-2, 280-pound Ostertag averaged 6.8 points and 7.4 rebounds in 78 games last season. The former first-round pick has career averages of 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.

Ostertag reached the NBA Finals with Utah in 1997 and 1998.

6 years, $39 million for Ostertag?

They can have him for that price. Yikes, and people say Dampier's overpriced.

he finished that 6 year, 39 million contract.