Bulls Sign Mario Bennett

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 31, 1999 / 10:01 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Mario Bennett, who started four games for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, was signed Sunday by the Chicago Bulls.

Bennett, a 6-foot-8 forward from Arizona State, averaged 3.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 41 games for the Lakers. He played in 19 games for the Phoenix Suns as a rookie in 1995-96, then spent two seasons in the CBA.

After winning six championships in eight years, Chicago is going through one of the biggest rebuilding efforts in NBA history. Michael Jordan has retired, Scottie Pippen, Luc Longley and Steve Kerr were traded, Dennis Rodman is expected to sign elsewhere and former coach Phil Jackson is spending a season away from the NBA.

The Bulls have signed several free agents to one-year deals. They also signed guard Brent Barry to a six-year, $27 million deal, making him the cornerstone in the rebuilding plan.

Chicago has 19 players on the its roster.