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Mavericks sign Maxwell for remainder of season
02/28/2001

By Jodie Valade / The Dallas Morning News

Vernon Maxwell signed with the Mavericks on Wednesday afternoon. He will be paid $294,118 to play for the team for the remainder of the season.

Maxwell was brought in to provide some veteran backup guard abilities. Coach-general manager Don Nelson said he was uncertain how much playing time Maxwell will receive, but called the veteran guard an "insurance policy."

Nelson said he isn't worried about Maxwell's long list of off-court troubles, which includes a community service sentence as recently as January stemming from an assault charge in September 2000.

"He's never had problems in the locker room," Nelson said. "He's been a good teammate."

Off the court, Maxwell served a 90-day jail sentence in 1998 stemming from a conviction for marijuana possession. In January, he was sentenced to 500 hours of community service, two years' probation and was ordered to continue anger-management counseling after pleading no contest to misdemenor assault.

Maxwell, a 15-year veteran, will have the distinction of having played with all three Texas teams, after two stints with San Antonio and helping Houston to back-to-back championships in 1994-95.

"I like Vernon," said Steve Nash, the banged-up point guard for whom Nelson wants to lessen the load. "He defends, he makes the big shots and he's tough. I think this locker room is tight enough to handle anyone new. Let's roll with it."

Source: Mavericks sign Maxwell for remainder of season