Veteran combo-guard Keyon Dooling has signed a two-year, $4.1 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, providing some much-needed depth for a team that expects to continue its rise in the Eastern Conference.Dooling is expected to serve as a backup to both point guard Brandon Jennings and shooting guard Corey Maggette.
"This was a good fit for me,'' Dooling told FanHouse after signing his contract Monday. "It's a team moving up. They've got some good young talent, and I can give them some maturity to go with it.''
The Bucks reached the playoffs last spring for the first time in four years. They also won 46 games, their most since the 2000-2001 season.
The return of center Andrew Bogut, who missed the last two weeks of the regular season and the playoffs, the re-signing of John Salmons, and the addition of Maggette have made the Bucks optimistic about moving up in the East.
Jennings is coming off an outstanding rookie season, averaging 15.5 points and 5.7 assists. Bogut has grown into one of the top centers in the East. The Bucks have improved considerably in two seasons under coach Scott Skiles, a former point guard.
Dooling is one of several veterans who had talked with the Miami Heat, but he never received a firm offer. Several teams had talked to him about signing for the veteran's minimum, which would have been $1.6 million.
Dooling, going into his 11th NBA year, averaged 6.9 points and 2.5 assists in 53 games last season with the lowly New Jersey Nets. He is known as a good perimeter defender and a reliable backup at both guard positions.
"This was a good, fair offer, from a good young team,'' said Dooling from his home in South Florida. "And I like the way they are doing things there under Coach Skiles.''
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