Spurs sign Tracy McGrady

Tracy McGrady will join the Spurs for the playoffs. (Dan Lippitt/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Spurs announced Tuesday the signing of veteran free-agent forward Tracy McGrady for the rest of the season.

McGrady, who spent this season playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, will step into the open roster spot created by the release of Stephen Jackson last week. Because McGrady was not previously on an NBA roster, he is playoff-eligible.

McGrady, 33, last played in the NBA as a member of the Hawks in 2011-12, when he averaged 5.3 points, 3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 16.1 minutes per game. Playing for the Qingdao Eagles in China, McGrady averaged 25 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

The 15-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists but saw his productivity start to dip significantly at the age of 29 because of knee injuries. The No. 9 pick in the 1997 draft, McGrady was selected for seven All-Star Games during a career that has included stops with the Raptors, Magic, Rockets, Knicks, Pistons and Hawks.