Rockets Sign S. Anderson

Shandon Anderson, spurning a richer deal from Utah, left the Jazz and signed Wednesday with Houston in a move intended to make the Rockets a faster and quicker team.

"I think when you're dealing with athletes, people have a tendency to assume money means everything," said Anderson, a 6-foot-6 free agent. "I don't think money overrules happiness. I think it's a matter of fitting in."

"It's a good fit for me. I come into a good situation, can come right in and hopefully have an impact."

A league source with knowledge of the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Houston offered Anderson a two-year contract worth $2 million this season, with a 10 percent raise the second. The contract also includes a player option for a third year at $2.4 million.

That is the most the Rockets could give Anderson because they are over the $34 million salary cap for this season.

The 25-year-old swingman has played with the Jazz since they selected him in the second round of the 1996 draft.

They offered him more than $3 million a season and a guaranteed spot in the starting lineup. He said he preferred to sign elsewhere, with the Indiana Pacers also expressing interest.

"There's been a great deal of speculation about Shandon not liking Salt Lake City," Anderson's agent, Dan Fegan, said. "That was never the question. It was which place he liked more."

Utah said last week it would refuse to make a sign-and-trade deal, which would bring the Jazz something in return for Anderson. That worked against Indiana.

"Indiana was a very strong situation," Fegan said. "If the sign and trade manifested itself, it was something Shandon would have had to consider."

Anderson, who has averaged 7.6 points and 2.7 rebounds for his career, will join Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen, plus star rookie Steve Francis.

Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said his team will continue to use the post-up offense with Olajuwon and Barkley. But he wants the Rockets to become a better running team with Anderson, Pippen and Francis.

"With new rules coming in with less contact, the league is trying to promote a more attacking type game, slashing, driving to the basket," Tomjanovich said. "I think Shandon is one of the most tenacious drivers in the league and we're going to try to present some situations where we exploit that strength."

Pippen, starting his second season with Houston, has been subject of trade speculation. owever, Tomjanovich said he expected Pippen to be with the Rockets when training camp starts next week.

"I understand rumors are flying all over the place," Tomjanovich said. "Most are not true. It's just part of basketball. A lot of things happening are out of our control and his control."

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