Former Magic G Arroyo bolts for Israel

Aug 4, 2008 - 4:23 AM BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Former Orlando Magic point guard Carlos Arroyo signed a three-year contract with Israel giant Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Sunday, according to a report by ESPN.

In a growing trend, Arroyo is the eighth free agent to leave the NBA for foreign riches this offseason, although most have been role players who are more valuable to foreign teams.

According to the report, the 29-year-old will receive an estimated $2.5 million next season -- roughly the equivalent of a $5 million NBA salary after taxes. The deal includes an opt-out provision that will enable Arroyo to return to the NBA after each of the next two seasons.

Arroyo averaged 6.9 points and 3.5 assists in 62 regular season games, but fell out of favor and appeared in just four of the Magic's 10 postseason games. Arroyo has career averages of 7.0 points and 3.3 assists in parts of seven seasons with Denver, Toronto, Utah, Detroit and Orlando.

He joins former NBA players Josh Childress (Greece), Nenad Krstic (Russia), Bostjan Nachbar (Russia) Juan Carlos Navarro (Spain), Jorge Garbajosa (Russia) and Primoz Brezec (Italy) and Carlos Delfino (Russia) as players who left their NBA teams for foreign clubs since free agency began on July 1.