Warriors Sign Jason Caffey

Forward Jason Caffey signed a seven-year contract with the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

Terms of the contract weren't released but newspapers put its value at $35 million.

"We're elated to have resigned Jason -- obviously one of our top offseason priorities -- and make him an integral part of our future, general manager Garry St." Jean said.

"He demonstrated during his brief stint with the Warriors last season that, when presented with the opportunity, he can be a very special player in this league."

Caffey, a free agent, was acquired from Chicago in a trade last February. He averaged 10.9 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Warriors and 7.3 and 4.3 overall, improving in his last five games as a starter to 19.6 points and 7.4 rebounds.

That impressed the Warriors, St. Jean said.

"We thought he was a young, physical talent who played with a lot of heart," he said. "That evaluation kept expanding after he came here."

Caffey, 25, is a former Alabama standout who earned championship rings with the Bulls during his first two years in the NBA.

The 6-foot-8, 256-pound Caffey was traded in exchange for seldom-used David Vaughn, but quickly showed a drive St. Jean said he hoped was infectious.

"If you want to create an identity for your team, he certainly has a lot of the qualities you want people to think you possess," St. Jean said.

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