Anthony Parker, a swingman who has spent half of his 12-year pro career in the NBA, signed to serve as a backup to LeBron James next season. Parker signed a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers that will see him serve as a top reserve behind James, the NBA Most Valuable Player, or guards Delonte West and Mo Williams. The Cavaliers had the NBA's best regular-season record last season but were defeated by Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals. Since then, Cleveland added 37-year-old superstar center Shaquille O'Neal in a trade with Phoenix. Magic retain Gortat The Orlando Magic have retained Polish center Marcin Gortat, matching the $34 million, five-year deal offered by the Dallas Mavericks to the restricted free agent. The Magic surprised - and disappointed - Gortat and the Mavericks on Monday, matching an offer sheet to keep him. Gortat's agent, Guy Zucker, said the center “was definitely very disappointed today.” He said Gortat was back in his native Poland, where he'd already been telling everyone he was headed to the Mavericks. Gortat, 25, was hoping to play alongside Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki and, most of all, compete with Erick Dampier for the starting job. Dampier is going into the final year of his contract. Gortat averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game last season. Gortat's return solidifies the Magic frontcourt for next season, with the team signing former Mavericks power forward Brandon Bass last week. Nuggets acquire duo The Denver Nuggets have acquired guard Arron Afflalo and forward Walter Sharpe from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the team said on Monday. Afflalo, a 2007 first-round pick by the Pistons, started eight games for Detroit last season and played in 74. He averaged 4.9 points. Sharpe, a rookie with the Pistons last season, appeared in eight games. Bulls sign Pargo Jannero Pargo, a shooting guard who spent last season playing in Greece and Russia, signed a one-year deal to return to the NBA's giants Chicago Bulls, the club announced on Monday. Pargo, who played with the Bulls from 2003 through 2006, has also had spells with the New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers in a six-year NBA career. The move adds depth in the backcourt for Chicago after the loss of scoring leader Ben Gordon to the Detroit Pistons.
