The Houston Rockets have reached an agreement on a three-year contract with Eric Piatkowski, taking the best available long-distance shooter off the open market, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

	Piatkowski

The three-year deal is worth approximately $9 million and confirms that the Rockets won't be matching Memphis' four-year, $24 million offer to restricted free agent James Posey. Houston deemed Piatkowski a more cost-efficient option, given its $55 million payroll and need for a perimeter specialist.

Piatkowski's agent, Jeff Austin, said the longtime Los Angeles Clipper was ready to join a team primed for a playoff appearance.

"He is excited to be joining a team he expects to be in the playoffs," Austin told Houston television station KRIV.

Piatkowski has played in only three playoff games in his nine years with the Clippers.

The formal signing of Piatkowski, 32, is scheduled for Saturday.

The 6-6 swingman, a career 40.2-percent shooter from three-point range, has spent his entire nine-season career with the Los Angeles Clippers.

He said his long-range shooting skills will fit in well with a team like the Rockets.

"Going into free agency, you go ahead and look at the teams that you think would be a really good fit for yourself," he told the Houston television station Friday. "The type of player I am, being an outside threat, I need players that demand a double team. So to be able to play with Yao Ming and Steve Francis, those two guys demand a double team more than most guys in the entire NBA. So it's going to be fun for me."

Piatkowski said it was a tough decision to leave Los Angeles.

"It's something I had to think long and hard about and talk to my wife," he said. "She knows about all the wonderful things they have going on down there like the brand-new arena, the great players, a new great coach."

Piatkowski just completed a five-year, $15 million contract with the Clippers -- the longest deal ever bankrolled by owner Donald T. Sterling before Sterling broke from his thrifty tradition to match Miami's six-year, $82 million offer to Elton Brand.

Although Brand will remain in L.A., Piatkowski's departure means the Clippers lost all three of their unrestricted free agents this offseason. Center Michael Olowokandi accepted a three-year deal with Minnesota and backup center Sean Rooks signed with New Orleans.

The Clippers also are poised to lose free agents Andre Miller and Corey Maggette if they don't match offer sheets made by Denver and Utah.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.