Spurs to keep Vaughn; Pacers sign K. Rush

Former Kansas University guard Jacque Vaughn will remain with the San Antonio Spurs.

A free agent, Vaughn has reached agreement with the Spurs on a two-year contract that will pay him about $2.5 million.

Vaughn’s agreement pays him the minimum salary for players with at least 10 seasons of experience.

Vaughn, 32, joined the Spurs last season.

He quickly became the team’s most dependable reserve point guard since Speedy Claxton left after the 2003 championship.

Though Vaughn began the season alternating games on the inactive list with Eric Williams, he eventually replaced Beno Udrih as Tony Parker’s backup.

In 64 games, Vaughn averaged 3.0 points, 2.0 assists and 11.9 minutes.

¢ Also, Kareem Rush, the brother of KU junior Brandon Rush, has signed with the Indiana Pacers.

Rush was Baltic League Final Four MVP last season in Lithuania. A first-round draft pick in 2002, Rush has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte and Seattle.

“He’s a great shooter,” Pacers’ CEO Donnie Walsh said of Rush. “We think he’s at the perfect stage in his career to make a step forward. He’s got a chance to be a very good player.”

Rush helped the Lakers reach the NBA Finals in 2003-04. He averaged a career-best 10.1 points per game for Charlotte in 2005-06 and scored a career-high 35 points against the Pacers on Nov. 16, 2005.

“He certainly showed our coaches and management on our team that he can play. He’s got a very good chance to make the team,” Walsh said.

¢ Former KU point guard Aaron Miles will play for the Washington Wizards, and ex-Jayhawk guard Billy Thomas for the Milwaukee Bucks in the Las Vegas summer league Saturday through July 15.

The 6-foot-1 Miles will be joined by the Wizards’ two draft picks: first round pick Nick Young (Southern California) and second round pick Dominic McGuire (Fresno State). The Wizards’ 2006 first round pick, Oleksiy Pecherov, will make his second consecutive appearance in the Las Vegas Summer League. Former Iowa State forward Jared Homan will also play for the Wizards.

Meanwhile, the 6-5 Thomas will be joined on the Bucks roster by former Texas forward James Thomas and former Missouri center Arthur Johnson.