PORTLAND— Free-agent guard Jamal Crawford has joined the Portland Trail Blazers.

Crawford, who was reportedly considering Sacramento and the Blazers, announced his choice on Twitter, posting “Rip city!!!”

The Blazers made it official a few hours later on Thursday when they announced they had signed Crawford. The terms of the two-year deal were not released.

In order to make a deal with Crawford, the team used the NBA’s new amnesty clause to waive All-Star guard Brandon Roy, who announced his retirement last week because of ongoing knee problems.

The Blazers also on Thursday agreed to terms with free-agent forward Craig Smith, known as “The Rhino,” who played with the Los Angeles Clippers for the past two seasons.

An 11-year veteran, Crawford played for the Atlanta Hawks the past two seasons. For his career, the 31-year-old has averaged 15.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He won the NBA’s Sixth Man award in 2010.

“We’ve thought highly of Jamal for a long time and think he’s a great fit for our team,” said Chad Buchanan, Portland’s acting general manager. “He brings a scorer’s touch and veteran leadership that will help us immediately.”

By using amnesty to waive Roy, the Blazers freed up salary cap space that allowed the team to use a mid-level exception on Crawford. Roy, who was under a max contract, was set to make $15 million this year.

“Brandon’s announcement that he is leaving the game ultimately shifted our decision to amnesty,” Buchanan said in a statement. “We’re given the immediate option to obtain additional salary cap flexibility as we will no longer be in the Luxury Tax — something that is critical to improving our team and helping us recover from the loss of a player of Brandon’s caliber.”

The Blazers also announced that forward LaMarcus Aldridge had been cleared to return to non-contact practice starting on Saturday.

Aldridge underwent a procedure last Friday to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a condition which causes the ventricles of the heart to contract prematurely.

— The Associated Press