Nets lock up Carter until 2011

Guard averaged 25.2 points last season

The New Jersey Nets signed a deal with guard Vince Carter on Friday that will keep the eight-time All-Star with the Nets at least through the 2010-11 season.

The framework for the deal was first reported on July 1.

Carter recently became a free agent when he opted out of the final year of a contract with the Nets that would have paid him $16.3 million next season.

Though New Jersey announced the opt-out at the end of June, speculation over Carter's future was a constant undercurrent during a season in which the Nets struggled to maintain consistency before finishing 41-41. New Jersey reached the second round of the playoffs, losing to Cleveland.

Carter said all along that he would address the situation after the season, and on Friday he acknowledged that he had difficulty envisioning himself in a uniform other than New Jersey's.

Carter was the only Nets player to play in all 82 games last season and averaged 25.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists.

GRIZZLIES SIGN FREE AGENT MILICIC: The Memphis Grizzlies on Friday signed forward-center Darko Milicic, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 draft who is joining his third team.

Milicic put up disappointing numbers in his 1 1/2 seasons with the Orlando Magic after being drafted by Detroit. But he averaged 12.3 points in the playoffs for the Magic against the Pistons.

"Darko is just 22 years old but already has been in the NBA for four seasons," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "He has been blessed with tremendous basketball skills, excellent size and impressive athletic ability."

Milicic averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 110 games for the Magic, but the team allowed him to leave to clear room to sign Rashard Lewis.

BLAKE RETURNS TO BLAZERS: Steve Blake is coming back to Portland, even though in one sense he never left.

The free-agent point guard who played for the Denver Nuggets last season signed a reported two-year deal with an option. The Trail Blazers, who confirmed his return late Friday, did not disclose terms.

Blake, a four-year veteran, averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 assists in 49 games with Denver last season.

It is Blake's second stint with the Blazers. He played for the team in 2005-06, averaging 8.2 points and 4.5 assists. He still has an offseason home in the area.

MOORE SIGNS WITH KINGS: Mikki Moore signed with the Sacramento Kings on Friday night, leaving the New Jersey Nets to join his eighth NBA team.

The 7-foot Moore had a breakthrough campaign with the Nets last season, averaging career highs of 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while making nearly 61 percent of his shots, leading the NBA. He started 55 games for New Jersey while filling in for injured Nenad Krstic.

STAVERMAN DIES: Larry Staverman, who was the first coach of the Indiana Pacers when they started as an ABA franchise, died Wednesday after a long illness. He was 70.

The Pacers hired Staverman in 1967 before their inaugural season after he had played in the NBA for five seasons. The Pacers finished 38-40 in their first season, but Staverman was fired and replaced by Bobby "Slick" Leonard after a 2-7 start the following year.