LOS ANGELES, 26 July 2003 — All-Star big man Brad Miller began Thursday by re-signing with the Indiana Pacers but when the day ended he was a King.

Moments after inking a seven-year, $68 million contract, the Pacers dealt the 7-foot forward center to the Sacramento Kings, in a sign-and-trade deal as part of a three-team blockbuster swap.

To get Miller, Sacramento sent backup forward Scot Pollard to the Pacers, and sharpshooter Hedo Turkoglu to the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. Indiana also received 13-year, veteran reserve forward Danny Ferry from San Antonio, in exchange for backup swingman Ron Mercer.

Miller, 27, averaged 13.1 points and a career-best 8.3 rebounds in 73 games last season. The Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets showed interest, offering him multi-year deals, reportedly worth between $49 million and $55 million.

Miller will serve a two-fold purpose with the Kings. He will split time in the middle with veteran Vlade Divac, eventually becoming the starter. Additionally, he will fill in for All-Star forward Chris Webber, who is expected to miss the first two months of the season following off-season knee surgery.

The Pacers sadly parted with two starters in return for Pollard, who averaged 4.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in only 23 games due to injuries. Though Turkoglu had an off-year, averaging just 6.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 67 games, the Spurs like the flexibility of the young Turkish native.

Mercer will be joining his sixth team in as many seasons after averaging 7.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 72 games.

The Spurs weren’t finished though, signing free agent Robert Horry to a two-year deal, reportedly worth $10 million.

Horry helped the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships with dramatic last second game-winning shots. But the 6-foot-10 reserve forward had a poor season, averaging just 6.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in 80 regular-season games, and was a bust in the playoffs.