The Pistons are banking on their history after agreeing to terms with the enigma known as Kwame Brown, the No. 1 pick in the 2001 NBA draft.
Brown's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed Monday that the Pistons had OK'd a deal, which had not been signed yet. The two-year deal is for $4 million per season with a player option for a second year, meaning the 6-foot-11 power forward can opt out of the deal after one season.
"He is a tremendous talent, and we think this can be a kind of a rebirth for his career,"
Bartelstein said. "He's very excited about this."
The courtship has been in the works for a couple of weeks, and the move would appear to mean that no other major signings are in the works as the Pistons are already over the $59-million salary cap.
But the team is still well under the luxury cap of $70 million. A major trade could still occur, but that appears to be less likely.
Brown was taken by the Wizards with the No. 1 selection in 2001 -- Washington was attracted to the athleticism of the 6-foot-11 high schooler out of Glynn (Ga.) Academy.
Bulls great Michael Jordan, then the Wizards' team president, fell in love with Brown's potential during predraft workouts.
But Brown quickly found himself in the doghouse with charges of inconsistency and a poor work ethic.
In 2004, he was shipped to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he displayed some flashes of greatness, but the inconsistency remained and he struggled with injuries.
The Lakers traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies late last season as a part of the blockbuster Pau Gasol deal, but Brown's expiring contract was the main attraction for the Grizzlies.
The Pistons, who have a history of developing lottery picks who didn't pan out with their original teams, such as Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton, jumped at Brown's bargain price.
Also appealing to the Pistons was Brown's age -- at 26 he can provide some much-needed youth and energy to the team's aging frontline of Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess.
