Spurs general manager R.C. Buford confirmed that the Spurs had reached agreement with McDyess. A club spokesperson said McDyess, whose off-season home is in Houston, is expected to sign a contract by week's end.

It's been eight years since McDyess played in his one and only All-Star Game, but he is still regarded as one of the NBA's most reliable post players.

"It's huge for the Spurs ," said former Bulls and Pistons head coach Doug Collins, now a respected TV analyst of NBA games. "He fits them like a glove. He can knock down that 17-footer, and he'll play great alongside Tim. He's a great teammate, one of the veterans I respect so much."

Sources close to McDyess said the contract is for three seasons, starting at the full, mid-level exception to the NBA's salary-cap restrictions, $5.845 million. The third season is believed to be 50 percent guaranteed.

McDyess averaged 9.6 points and 9.8 rebounds as the starting center for the Pistons last season. Though he will turn 35 on Sept. 7, he has played in 109 fewer games, regular season and playoffs, than the 34-year-old Duncan.

McDyess chose the Spurs over the Pistons, who could not match the money the Spurs offered. The Orlando Magic, who played in the NBA Finals in June, also are believed to have offered him full mid-level money. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had the NBA's best record last season, also were bidders.

McDyess enjoyed his most successful run with the Pistons, an Eastern power that reached the conference finals four times in his five seasons there.

He has played in 84 playoff games, including the seven games of the 2005 NBA Finals, when the Spurs defeated the Pistons. Then, he was a key backup, behind Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace, showing his willingness to accept any role for the good of the team.

Glenn Robinson, a two-time All-Star, played nine games for that Spurs championship team, but he wasn't relied upon as McDyess will be.

Fiercely loyal, McDyess' decision to leave the Pistons, and GM Joe Dumars, was difficult for him, despite the difference in money offers. He had returned to Detroit after Pistons general manager Joe Dumars traded him to the Nuggets in November, part of the trade involving Chauncey Billups and Allen Iverson. He was waived after Denver bought out his $6.8 million contract.

The Spurs were one of many teams that tried to sign him then, but after waiting an NBA-mandated 30 days, he re-signed with the Pistons, mostly out of loyalty to Dumars.

Ultimately, the Spurs' position as a prime championship contender impacted his decision. Winning a gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney has been the highlight of his Basketball career. Ironically, he was named to Team USA as a replacement for Duncan, who withdrew because of a knee injury.

Now, he hopes to team with Duncan to achieve another goal: an NBA title.

Additional signings: The Spurs also reached agreement Wednesday with free-agent power forward Marcus Haislip, the 13th selection by Milwaukee in the 2002 NBA draft; and Malik Hairston, a 6-foot-6 swingman who played 15 games with the Spurs last season.

Haislip, 6-10 and 230 pounds, has played in Turkey and Spain since leaving the NBA in 2005. He spent the last two seasons with Unicaja M?laga in the Spanish ACB League and in Euroleague competition. In 35 games in Spanish League play, he averaged 15.8 points and 5.0 rebounds.

In 15 games with the Spurs last season, Hairston averaged 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds. He also appeared in 30 games with the Spurs' Austin Toros NBA Development League team, averaging 22.9 points.

Antonio McDyess

Position: Forward-center

Size: 6-foot-9, 245 pounds

NBA highlights:

* Alabama star drafted second overall by Clippers in 1995, but traded to Denver, where he played for six of next eight seasons

* Knee injuries marred his career from 2001-03, and he hasn't averaged more than 10 ppg in a season since

* Played past five seasons with Detroit, averaging 76.2 games per season

* 13.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 67% FT in NBA career