The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Dikembe Mutombo signed a multiyear contract with the New York Knicks on Thursday, two days after he accepted a buyout and was waived by the New Jersey Nets.

"I know Dikembe very well through the years and there is no question he'll fit right into our system and thrive," Knicks coach Don Chaney said.

The eight-time All-Star has been on the decline the past two seasons, but he provides the Knicks a much-needed defensive presence at center - a void that has gone unfilled since Patrick Ewing was traded before the 2000-01 season.

The Knicks were the worst shot-blocking team in the NBA last season when they missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

Mutombo is expected to join New York today.

Mutombo, a four-time NBA defensive player of the year, played in only 24 games last season because of a wrist injury that required surgery in late November. The 37-year-old did not return to action until late in the regular season and was on the bench for most of the Nets' run to the NBA Finals.

The Nets, currently for sale, cited financial concerns for the buyout of the final two years of Mutombo's contract, which had $37 million remaining on it. Mutombo's deal with the Knicks, guaranteed for two years, will pay him approximately $8.5 million.

PACERS: It took only one exhibition game for new coach Rick Carlisle to face first hand the troubles of Ron Artest. After a season in which he was suspended for 12 games for bad behavior, the technical foul whistle against Artest came quickly during Wednesday's game with Chicago - midway through the third quarter when Artest acted as if he were going to hand the ball to referee Scott Foster and then snatched it back.

Carlisle quickly pulled Artest from the game.

Artest reacted by not joining his teammates on the bench immediately, deciding to sit in a seat on the end line nearest the Pacers bench. He later rejoined his teammates and during a timeout, he went to midcourt and apologized to Foster.

• Forward Austin Croshere will miss two to four weeks with a pulled left hamstring.

TIMBERWOLVES: A sore Achilles' tendon probably will keep Minnesota's Latrell Sprewell out of the lineup when he returns to New York for an exhibition game Saturday against his former team.

"We'll see how he is, if he practices tomorrow," Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said. "I'd say right now he's probably doubtful."

CAVALIERS: LeBron James has shown flashes of brilliance and moments of mediocrity in his first two preseason games with Cleveland.

"He's not really caught up in all the hoopla - that he's got to go out and show everybody that he can score at will," coach Paul Silas said. "He just played within himself."

James' statistics through two games: 14 points, 7 of 19 (37 percent) shooting, six rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, two blocks and six turnovers in 56 minutes.

Silas said James needs to be more consistent with his outside shooting, and James took extra shots following practice.

"It shows me that he's willing to work," Silas said.

EUROPE-BOUND? Some NBA teams could have training camps in Europe as soon as 2005. NBA commissioner David Stern said preseason workouts and exhibition games could help increase the league's appeal on the continent.