The New York Knicks, searching for more size in the backcourt, have signed Sun Yue, a 6' 9" point guard, to a partly-guaranteed contract, his agent, Charles Bonsignore, said on Sunday.

Sun spent last season as a reserve for the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted him in the second round in 2007.

Sun, 23, is the fifth Chinese player to enter the NBA following Wang Zhizhi, Mengke Bateer, Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.

He is affectionately referred to as the "Chinese Magic Johnson" in reference to his height and playmaking at the point guard position. The Lakers waived Yue earlier this year.

Sun earned a silver medal at last month's FIBA Asia Championships in Tianjin - along with New Jersey Nets player Yi and former Dallas Mavericks player Wang - as a member of the Chinese national team.

Sun averaged six points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists at the competition.

The Knicks also signed two other players to partly-guaranteed deals: point guard Gabe Pruitt, who spent the past two seasons with Boston; and forward Warren Carter, who played overseas the past two years. All three will be invited to training camp, which begins on Sept 29 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

(China Daily September 15, 2009)