Ginobili, Belinelli give Spurs 1-2 punch

Manu Ginobili has signed his contract with the Spurs and will be joined in San Antonio next season by Marco Belinelli.

Ginobili posted a picture of himself with his paperwork on Twitter on Thursday, writing: "Now it's official. I've just signed my fourth contract with the Spurs for two more years."

The 36-year-old guard from Argentina has won three titles with the Spurs and helped them reach the NBA Finals last season.

General manager RC Buford called Ginobili "an integral part of the Spurs family and the San Antonio community for the past decade."

Belinelli, a shooting guard who also signed with San Antonio on Thursday, averaged 9.6 points in 73 games last season for Chicago.

Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Nets ink Kirilenko

The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a contract with forward Andrei Kirilenko, another strong addition for a team that has loaded up on talent this offseason.

Kirilenko accepted the taxpayer's mid-level exception worth about $3.2 million next season. The contract includes a player option for the second year.

The Russian forward opted out of his $10.2 million deal for next season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and found a home with the Nets - owned by fellow Russian and former CSKA Moscow owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

No Peace for Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers waived Metta World Peace on Thursday under the NBA's amnesty provision, which will save the team about $15 million in luxury tax.

Peace was set to earn $7.7 million next season, which the Lakers still must pay.

He averaged 12.4 points and 5 rebounds in 75 games last season, having joined the Lakers in 2009.

The 33-year-old tore knee cartilage in March and clearly wasn't the same player afterward. He didn't play in the last game of San Antonio's four-game sweep of the Lakers in the first round.

Formerly known as Ron Artest, Peace legally changed his name during his tenure with the Lakers.

Calderon a Maverick

The Dallas Mavericks have signed free-agent point guard Jose Calderon.

The deal was announced on Thursday.

Agent Mark Bartelstein said last week the contract was worth $29 million over four seasons.

The 6-foot-3 Spaniard led the NBA in 3-point shooting at 46 percent last season.

Calderon had spent his entire eight-year career with the Toronto Raptors before going to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team deal that included Rudy Gay from the Memphis Grizzlies.

The 31-year-old Calderon played professionally in Spain for six seasons before coming to the NBA.

He has career averages of 10.1 points and 7.2 assists and is a 40 percent shooter from 3-point range.

(China Daily 07/13/2013 page16)