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SEATTLE, Sept. 16 — The Seattle SuperSonics have signed Cuban forward Lazaro Borrell to a two-year contract, Sonics President/General Manager Wally Walker announced today.

"We don't see a downside to giving Lazaro a chance to show he can play in the NBA," Sonics Head Coach Paul Westphal said. "No one can tell how he will respond when the competition starts, but he obviously is a very skilled basketball player and we'll give him a very close look."

The 6-8 forward, who defected from the Cuban National Team at the Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July, averaged 20.8 points per game for Obras Sanitarias in the Argentina Basketball League during the 1998-99 season.

"Lazaro was the most skilled player across the board on the Cuban National Team," Sonics Scout David Pendergraft said. "He has the potential to play bigger than his listed height and he has a variety of ways he can hurt an opponent."

Borrell, 26, averaged 21.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in three games for Cuba at the Pre-Olympic Tournament before leaving the team.

"He has a great basketball body, as he is long, gangly and athletic," Pendergraft said. "He is not just a raw talent because with his potential comes maturity and at 26 his best basketball is in front of him."

Borrell also played for Cuba at the Men's World Championships in 1994, averaging 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in five games, and the Central American Championships in 1998.