ESP - Raptors sign Spanish star Garbajosa

TORONTO (NBA) - Toronto Raptors sealed the signing of Spanish forward Jorge Garbajosa on Monday.

Garbajosa has joined on a multi-year contract after helping Unicaja Malaga win last season's Spanish Liga ACB finals, averaging 14.9 points and 6.9 rebounds. Financial details were not disclosed.

The 6-9 Spanish international was MVP in the Liga ACB finals, as he was the previous year, when he also helped Unicaja win the domestic Copa del Rey.

"Jorge Garbajosa has contributed toward winning at every stop in his professional career," said new Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo.

"We anticipate he will bring experience, leadership and toughness to this basketball team."

Garbajosa is the latest European acquisition by Colangelo, who has already traded for Slovenian center Rasho Nesterovic, hired Maurizio Gherardini as his assistant and selected Italian center Andrea Bargnani with the top overall pick in the NBA draft.

Although American, two-time Euroleague MVP Anthony Parker has also come aboard from Maccabi Tel Aviv.

A two-time Olympian for Spain, Garbajosa played for Italian powerhouse Benetton Treviso from 2000-04 under Gherardini and Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.

PA Sport
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