Sheridan: Melo staying away from G-word
Carmelo Anthony isn't guaranteeing anything, even victory against overmatched Canada, writes Chris Sheridan.

Okafor, Bobcats still far apart on new contract
Nearly a month since becoming a restricted free agent, Emeka Okafor is not close to a new deal with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Ex-Sonics owner says Stern told him to drop suit
Former SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz said he was warned by NBA commissioner David Stern that it would be "very expensive" to pursue a lawsuit seeking to return the team to Seattle from Oklahoma City.

Wolves build frontcourt, agree to deal with Gomes
The Minnesota Timberwolves' post-Kevin Garnett frontcourt continued to take shape Friday when they reached terms on a new contract with restricted free agent Ryan Gomes.

Sonics' rebirth: NBA files for six OKC trademarks
The NBA has filed for trademark rights to six nicknames for the league's new Oklahoma City franchise: Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls, Thunder and Wind.

Lakers, Vujacic agree to 3-year, $15 million deal
Lakers restricted free agent guard Sasha Vujacic has agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract after emerging last season as a key member of the Western Conference champions.

Jazz retain Miles after matching OKC offer sheet
The Jazz have matched Oklahoma City's four-year, $15 million offer to restricted free agent guard C.J. Miles.

Ellis scores 6-year, $67 million deal with Warriors
The Warriors re-signed explosive guard Monta Ellis to a multiyear contract Thursday.

Two ex-classmates of Donaghy get prison time
Two former classmates of disgraced referee Tim Donaghy will spend over a year in prison for their roles in the betting scandal that rocked the NBA.

So long, Atlanta: Childress leaves NBA for Greece
Josh Childress has signed a three-year contract with Olympiakos of Greece.

Warriors match Clippers' offer sheet to Azubuike
Kelenna Azubuike will return to the Warriors after the club matched the Clippers' three-year, $9 million contract offer for the shooting guard on Thursday.

Pierce says U.S. team needs to reclaim gold medal
Now that the Boston Celtics are once again NBA champions, American basketball's next great championship hope falls to the men's Olympic team.

Ex-Hornet Andersen inks pact to return to Nuggets
Chris Andersen, who played for the Nuggets from 2001 to '04, is leaving the Hornets to return to Denver.

Knicks sign ex-Gator guard Roberson to contract
The New York Knicks signed guard Anthony Roberson on Friday, giving them 16 players under contract and a crowded backcourt.

Trail Blazers sign French guard-forward Batum
The Trail Blazers signed French guard-forward Nicolas Batum.

Telfair signs deal with Wolves, adds depth at PG
Sebastian Telfair signed his new contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, a two-year deal that includes a player option for a third season.

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Jazz Match Oklahoma City's Offer, Retain Miles
C.J. Miles will stay in Utah after the Jazz matched the deal offered by Oklahoma City to the restricted free agent.

Lakers Lock Up Sasha Vujacic
Lakers restricted free agent guard Sasha Vujacic has agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract after emerging last season as a key member of the Western Conference champions.

U.S.A.'s 'Practice' Near Perfection Against Canada
With two men who symbolize what the American dream is all about – Bill Gates and Warren Buffett – sitting courtside, the latest incarnation of the U.S. Men's Senior National "Dream Team"kicked off its quest for the gold with a dominant 120-65 rout of the Canadian Men's Senior National Team at the Thomas & Mack Center on Friday.

Today in the WNBA: July 25, 2008
Check out Today in the WNBA for a full recap of Friday's action.

Report: Timberwolves Reach Agreement with Ryan Gomes
On ESPN.COM, Marc Stein reports that the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday reached agreement with restricted free agent forward Ryan Gomes on a multi-year deal. Gomes' agent, Bob Myers, told ESPN.com that the deal is expected to be formally signed next week.

Report: Lakers Re-Sign Vujacic to Three-Year Deal
In the LOS ANGELES TIMES, Steve Springer reports that the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers reached a verbal agreement Friday with guard Sasha Vujacic on a three-year contract worth about $15 million. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said, "We are happy to have Sasha back." Vujacic averaged 8.8 points per game last season.

USA Basketball: Casey at the Zone
Former NBA head coach Don Casey once started a blog entry off in 2006 (he was ahead of his time) with the headline "RILEY PLAYS ZONE! I Repeat: RILEY PLAYS ZONE!"Yes, seeing guys in the NBA play an area rather than a man on defense, really gets him going. Like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the sky hook, MJ had the fadeaway and Dikembe Mutombo has the finger wag, Casey has the coaching of zone defense.

Hollins Returns to Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats center-forward Ryan Hollins signed a one-year qualifying offer that will bring him back to the team next season.

Hawks Sign Maurice Evans
Journeyman Maurice Evans has agreed to terms with the Hawks on a three-year deal believed to be worth about $7.5 million, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

Utah Jazz Exercises First Right of Refusal on C.J. Miles
The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has exercised its first right of refusal on guard C.J. Miles's contract. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

Kings Sign Bobby Brown
The Sacramento Kings today signed point guard Bobby Brown to a contract, it was announced by Kings' President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Time Magazine's 100 Olympic Athletes to Watch: No. 1 - LeBron James
In TIME MAGAZINE, Sean Gregory writes "having been to one Olympics, James knows the frenzied forces of national pride that will oppose his team. But hoops is America's gig: the U.S. has won 12 of the 15 Olympic gold medals, excluding the one awarded during the boycotted 1980 Games. James has spent three years prepping for this moment. If this team of supremely gifted, seemingly motivated players loses in Beijing...it will hurt. It should hurt. ‘For us, it's now or never,' says James. ‘It's the gold, or it's failure.' Only 23, James is now the voice of the U.S. team. ‘When you watch us play this summer, you're going to be hearing LeBron on the court, yelling and screaming, talking on defense,' says Wade. ‘There's going to be that leadership that we need.'”

Lieberman Plays Nine Minutes in Return for Shock
In NEWSDAY, Marcus Henry reports "the term ‘ageless wonder' can now be applied to women's basketball great Nancy Lieberman. The 50-year-old basketball analyst, regarded by many as the greatest women's basketball player, signed a seven-day contract with the Detroit Shock, becoming the oldest player in the WNBA history, the team announced yesterday. Lieberman last played for the Phoenix Mercury in 1997 at age 39. Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer had vowed before last night's game against the Houston Comets to ‘throw her in the fire.' Lieberman, once known as ‘Lady Magic,' saw some action, recording two assists, two turnovers and going 0-1 from the field in nine-plus minutes. Her Shock lost, 79-61.”

The Stars Are Aligned for Olympics
In the WASHINGTON POST, Michael Lee writes "for Jerry Colangelo to assemble a dozen players willing to buy into his concept of a national program, it required confidence, organization and what Colangelo considers one of his greatest strengths -- salesmanship. Two months after taking on the responsibility of restoring the United States' reputation as the best in the world in April 2005, Colangelo sought out the advice of 20 former Olympic players and coaches at a gathering in Chicago. He began his recruitment efforts in the fall, offering the same sales pitch to almost all of the 33 the players who chose to participate, including Washington Wizards Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas. ‘No one has really done it the way I did it,' said Colangelo, ‘But after all these years, I have a passion for this game. I love this game.'”

James Isn't Likely to Play Today vs. Canada
In the LOS ANGELES TIMES, Greg Johnson reports "injured forward LeBron James is a ‘95% no-go' for Friday's exhibition game in Las Vegas against Canada, U.S. men's basketball team coach Mike Krzyzewski said earlier today. James, who sustained a mild right ankle sprain during a Tuesday practice, was held out of a scrimmage for the second straight day, although the Associated Press reports that he did participate in some drills. ‘He hasn't had contact,' Krzyzewski said. ‘We're better off giving him a few days.' ”

Team USA's Golden Oldie Brings Leadership, Experience
On ESPN.COM, Chris Sheridan writes, "Jason Kidd asked back into the U.S. national program in the fall of 2006 following the Americans' third-place finish at the World Championship in Japan, where the play of the point guards -- Kirk Hinrich and Chris Paul -- was one of the team's biggest weaknesses. Both had trouble defending the pick-and-roll, and Paul's greatest strength -- his quickness -- was negated by the opponents' ability to keep a defender in the lane as a second line of defense. Kidd offered an option that Team USA saw in many of its opponents but didn't itself possess -- a steady floor general with experience playing the international game. Kidd has never lost as a member of the senior national team, going 38-0, and his presence garners nothing but respect from the other members of the team."

Lakers' Bynum Healthy, Agent Says
In the LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS, Ramona Shelburne reports "Lakers center Andrew Bynum was in Los Angeles earlier this week, working for the Lakers team doctors and was cleared for everything, according to his agent David Lee. Bynum is now down in Atlanta working out with his personal trainer. The Lakers, Lee said, have a standing invitation to drop in on Bynum down in Atlanta and see his progress. ‘He's absolutely fine, he's going to come in as a beast,' Lee said. ‘He's got no atrophy anywhere. The kid's in great shape. Maybe it comes with being 20 years of age.'"

USA Blog: Emptying the Notebook
An extensive look on the news and notes gathered throughout the week as U.S.A. Basketball prepares for the Beijing Olympics in Las Vegas.

Warriors Re-Sign Guard Monta Ellis To Multi-Year Contract
The Golden State Warriors have re-signed free agent guard Monta Ellis to a multi-year contract, it was announced Thursday by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin. "We are absolutely thrilled to have Monta under contract for the next several years,"said Mullin.

Knicks Sign Free Agent Anthony Roberson
The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent guard Anthony Roberson has been signed to a contract.

Warriors Match Clippers' Offer for Kelenna Azubuike
The Golden State Warriors have matched the contract offer submitted to restricted free agent guard Kelenna Azubuike by the Los Angeles Clippers, it was announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin. The Warriors had seven (7) days from receipt of the contract – Friday, July 18 - to match the offer from Los Angeles. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

Nuggets Sign Chris Andersen
The Denver Nuggets have signed forward/center Chris Andersen, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released. Andersen, 6-10, 228, returns to the Nuggets, the team he began his NBA career with as the first-ever "call-up"from the NBA Development League in 2001. He averaged 4.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 1.31 bpg in three seasons with Denver from 2001-2004.

WNBA Announces Penalties From Shock-Sparks Game
In response to the events at Tuesday's game between the Detroit Shock and the Los Angeles Sparks, WNBA President Donna Orender issued the following statement: "The WNBA and its players represent all that is good about sports: passion, hard work and sacrifice. On a nightly basis our players display extraordinary skill, athleticism and competitive fire. The events Tuesday, however, were inexcusable and in no way indicative of what the league stands for. We hold our players to a very high standard and these suspensions should serve notice that the behavior exhibited at the end of Tuesday's game will not be tolerated.”

Detroit Shock Sign Nancy Lieberman
Detroit Shock Head Coach and General Manager Bill Laimbeer announced today that the team has signed basketball Hall of Famer, former Detroit Shock head coach and current ESPN broadcaster Nancy Lieberman to a seven-day contract. "At last year's WNBA All-Star Game, our coaching staff watched Nancy run through the skills test. She was very impressive,"said Laimbeer. "We talked after that if the opportunity ever arose to sign her to a seven-day contract we might give her a call. There is no question she is in great shape. I approached her two weeks ago, but the timing was not right."

Good as Gold: LeBron Guarantees Olympic Title
In USA TODAY, The Associated Press reports, "no more bronze medals for LeBron James. This time he's coming home with gold - and that's a guarantee. So he says, anyway. James made his guarantee in a Time magazine story that hits newsstands Friday. The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is featured on one of the covers of the Olympic preview issue. After comparing the feeling of receiving a gold medal on the podium to opening a prized gift on Christmas morning, James was asked if that meant he would lead the Americans to the title. 'Absolutely,' James responded.”

Team USA Knows Its Achilles' Heel
In the LAS VEGAS SUN, Rob Miech writes "the pick-and-roll, those are the three dirty little words to Team USA. ‘They've hurt us pretty bad,' Kobe Bryant says. ‘We're looking forward to the challenge, to see if we can negate that problem.' Foreign squads have picked U.S. teams apart and rolled them aside, keeping the Americans from playing in the past three international finals — two world championships and an Olympics. That's a record for futility for Team USA. ‘That's the bread-and-butter play for many countries,' Jason Kidd says. ‘In the past, that's something that has hurt us. We haven't communicated as well as we should have.'”

Size Isn't an Issue for U.S. Gold Medal Favorites
In the USA TODAY, Tim Dahlberg, a sports columnist for THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, writes "size seems to have become an issue for the Olympic basketball team, if only because every other issue has long since been settled. This is a team so deep and talented and full of superstars that winning the gold medal seems assured even if Kobe Bryant and LeBron James never pass the ball to anyone. Chris Paul laughed because he's seen the intensity. He knows the desire. ‘I don't care if they put me at center, it will be fine,' Paul said. ‘We've got 12 of the best players in the world on this team and they all know a lot about how to win.'”

Scott Likes Options N.O. Has With Posey
In the NEW ORLEANS TIMES-PICAYUNE, John Reid writes "James Posey, a 6-foot-8 swingman, gives Scott and the Hornets plenty of options with his versatility. ‘I just think James can play three positions (shooting guard, small forward and power forward),' Scott said. ‘Offensively, he just doesn't make mistakes. He takes great shots and does all the things he can do, and he doesn't try to go overboard. But that's what you get when you have a veteran guy. ‘Right now, we're looking at him as our sixth man, probably our first guy off the bench. We're fortunate and very blessed to have him. You look at his track record, he's won everywhere he's been. I think we are a better basketball team.'”

Spanish Hope Rest on Gasol's Shoulders
In a Reuters story posted in the PENNISULA QATAR, "Spanish hopes of adding an Olympic men's basketball title to their world title rest largely on the shoulders of Pau Gasol. The versatile seven-footer will be a marked man in Beijing with Los Angeles Lakers team mate Kobe Bryant declaring his aim was to ‘stop Pau winning gold'. Able to play power forward or centre, the Barcelona-born Gasol averaged 18.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in helping the Lakers reach the NBA finals this year. LA's defeat by the Boston Celtics could help Gasol's motivation in Beijing as will the memory of Spain's 60-59 upset loss to Russia in last year's European championship final in Madrid. "

Celtics Re-Sign Eddie House
The Boston Celtics announced Wednesday that they have re-signed guard Eddie House. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Jazz Acquires Brevin Knight from Clippers for Jason Hart
The Utah Jazz announced Wednesday that the team has acquired veteran point guard Brevin Knight from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard Jason Hart.

Nets Introduce New Guard Dooling
The New Jersey Nets has acquired Keyon Dooling from the Orlando agic in a sign-and-trade transaction last week for the $3 million contract exemption the Nets owned from the Jason Kidd deal last season.

Hawks GM Rick Sund's Statement on Josh Childress
"We were informed this morning by Josh Childress' representatives that he has signed with Olympiakos in Greece, and we want to wish him the absolute best with his future career in FIBA. "We have a great deal of respect for Josh and appreciate his contributions to our franchise. We were very comfortable when we began this process that if Josh were to play in the NBA, he would remain with the Hawks. This is a unique situation with Greece, and to my knowledge it is believed to be the highest contract ever awarded in Euroleague history.

Spurs Sign Anthony Tolliver
The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they signed forward Anthony Tolliver. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed. The 6-8, 240-pound Tolliver played on the Spurs summer league teams in Las Vegas and at the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in 23.0 minutes while shooting .571 (12-21) from the field and .615 (8-13) from beyond the arc in three games in Las Vegas. At the Rocky Mountain Revue Tolliver appeared in all four games, averaging 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 26.5 minutes while knocking down 53.3 percent (8-15) of his shots form beyond the arc.

Hornets Bring in Two-Time Champ Posey
The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed free agent guard/forward James Posey. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released. "I am excited to be a Hornet, it was a coveted destination for me and I am glad that we were able to come to terms,"Posey said. "I can not wait to play alongside Chris Paul, David West, Tyson Chandler and so many other great players on this team.”

Celtics Bring Back Tony Allen
The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed guard Tony Allen. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Allen, a 6'4", 213lb guard, has spent his entire four year career with the Celtics after being drafted with the 25th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy recorded career highs in minutes (1373), assists (114) and points (494) in 75 games last season as he worked to return from his January 2007 knee injury.

Childress to Leave Hawks for Greece
According to a report on ESPN.com, "Josh Childress signed a reported three-year deal worth $20 million with the Greek club Olympiakos after leaving the Atlanta Hawks. Olympiakos announced the deal Wednesday. The guard was a restricted free agent, but the Hawks do not have the ability to match an offer from a European team."

Kidd Still Has Youthful Energy
In the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, Rusty Simmons reports "nobody on Team USA is going to tell Jason Kidd to act his age. Especially when he's having so much fun playing basketball -- and playing at such a high level. This is the 35-year-old Kidd's last hurrah playing for his country. He already has a gold medal from the 2000 Olympics, and he fully expects to earn a second gold next month when the 2008 Games get under way in Beijing. ‘As long as I can play at a high level and give something to the team, I want to be out there," he said Tuesday after Team USA's training camp session at Valley High School. "It's always a great honor to represent your country, and it's always a thrill to play with guys this talented.'”

Wizards Expect Arenas to Lead Them to NBA Championship
In the WASHINGTON POST, Ivan Carter writes "Gilbert Arenas has been the face of the Washington Wizards franchise for several seasons. But the moment he signed his name to a six-year contract on July 12, he became a franchise player. The difference is that Arenas, who is entering his eighth NBA season and sixth with the Wizards, not only will be asked to put up big numbers, hit game-winning shots and sell tickets, he also will be expected to carry owner Abe Pollin's team to its first NBA championship since Wes Unseld led the Bullets to the title in 1978.”

Dwyane Wade Sees a Big Difference From 2004 U.S. Olympic Team
In the LOS ANGELES TIMES, Steve Springer writes "Frustrating. Disappointing. Comical. Which of those words best describes the U.S. men's basketball team in the 2004 Olympics? For Dwyane Wade, it's all of the above. "It was very comical," said Wade, a member of that team and the 2008 squad. ‘You just had to shake your head. Everybody on that team was a good individual player, but when you tried to put it together, it didn't work. It was like a bad mix of food.' ‘Now I look at the team we have now, look at the mix. Look at everything we are doing. We are getting along so well. I think it's because we understand we need each other to make this work. It's not going to be five guys. It's going to be 12 guys who are going to get this done.'”

Warriors Get Guard Help in Marcus Williams
In the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, Julia Garcia reports "the Nets aren't scheduled to move to Brooklyn for at least two more years, but their identity continues to change dramatically. The team continued its extreme makeover Tuesday, trading backup point guard Marcus Williams to Golden State for a possible future first-round draft pick. If the Warriors make the playoffs in 2011, the Nets will get Golden State's first-round pick that year. If not, the Nets get Golden State's pick in 2012, as long as it is not 1 through 11, or the Warriors' pick in 2013, as long as it is not 1 through 10. If the Nets are not awarded any of those picks, they will instead acquire Golden State's second-round picks in 2013 and 2015.”

For U.S. Women's Basketball, It's Gold or Nothing
In the ARIZONA REPUBLIC, Scott Fowler writes "for Anne Donovan in these Olympics, there is No. 1. There really is nothing else. An unhealthy attitude? In most cases, yes. You wouldn't want your kids to think that way. But Donovan, a Charlotte resident since 2001 and now the coach of the U.S. women's Olympic basketball team, believes it is a realistic attitude, given her current job. ‘It's funny,' Donovan said. ‘When I see some athlete get a silver medal and say he won't even wear it because it's not gold, I think, 'That's sad.' But we've got a history in U.S. women's basketball. Anything less than gold will be looked at as a failure by a lot of people, including myself.'”

Dwight Howard: Inside Presence
Dwight Howard is excited about competing against NBA teammate Hedo Turkoglu in an Olympic exhibition, his return trip to China and more.

Suns Sign Matt Barnes to One-Year Contract
Well-traveled sharpshooter Matt Barnes signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

LeBron Leaves Team USA Practice with Mild Sprain
As Team USA's practice ended, LeBron James reclined on a table with trainers tending to his sprained right ankle. It occurred Tuesday when James landed on Kevin Durant's foot during a scrimmage between Team USA and a select squad of young NBA players.

Trail Blazers sign Nicolas Batum
The Portland Trail Blazers signed rookie forward/guard Nicolas Batum, general manager Kevin Pritchard announced Monday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The Trail Blazers acquired the rights to Batum, the 25th overall pick in this year's draft, from Houston in a Draft Day trade in exchange for the draft rights to Darrell Arthur (27th overall pick) and Joey Dorsey (33rd overall).

Warriors Acquire Marcus Williams From Nets
The Golden State Warriors have acquired guard Marcus Williams from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for a conditional first round draft choice, it was announced Monday by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin.

Wolves and Telfair Agree in Principle on New Contract
The Minnesota Timberwolves and guard Sebastian Telfair have agreed in principle on the terms of a new contract. Telfair is expected to be in Minneapolis tomorrow and will meet with Twin Cities media at Target Center.

Dan Gross: Sir Charles? To One Lucky Busboy, He's Saint Charles
In the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, Dan Gross writes "Christian Abate majored in education at Temple, but put his studies on hold for a few years while having financial hardship. He's worked as a busboy for eight years at Saloon (750 S. 7th), where he struck up a friendship with one generous regular at the Italian restaurant who volunteered to pay his Temple tuition. During a visit to Saloon last summer, Charles Barkley asked Abate how he was enjoying teaching, and was disappointed to learn that Abate had still not returned to Temple because of problems securing financial aid. Abate, 28, of South Philly, started at Temple in 1997, months after graduating from St. John Neumann High."

USA Basketball: The (Defensive) Pressure Is On
Following the Lakers' loss to the Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant tried to make sense of the series that his team just dropped 4-2 and was able to glean a little bit of wisdom from what transpired. "I think if we're going to learn anything from this series is that we can't expect to win a championship by focusing on the offensive end,"Bryant said. "We have to be able to hold people down as well."

2008 Beijing Primer
The world will be watching when the men's basketball competition tips off at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing on Aug. 10. We give you a preview of what to look for.

Spurs Re-Sign Big Man Kurt Thomas
The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have re-signed forward/center Kurt Thomas. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

LeBron James Receives Community Assist Award for June
Cleveland Cavaliers forward and 2008 USA Basketball Senior National Team member LeBron James has been named the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award for June, in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the community.

China Defeats Russia to Finish Second at Stankovic Cup
CCTV INTERNATIONAL reports "Angola defeated Serbia 68-60 in Hangzhou on Sunday to win the Stankovic Continental Cup. China finished second after beating Russia 72-50 late in the night. Yao Ming started for the first time in the three matches of the tournament, scoring 6 points in two quarters. Russia at one point created a 9-point run. But Wang Zhizhi scored 13 points in the second quarter to lead China to a 12 point advantage at the break. Russia posed no threats to China in the second half. Chinese substitute Wang Lei was the focus of attention as he knocked down 13 points, and China comfortably won the match. With two wins and one loss, China finished as runners-up of the tournament."

U.S. Men's Team Resumes Quest to End its Bronze Age
On ESPN.COM, Chris Sheridan writes "they were equal parts wary and confident, a split-yet-evolving personality that showed not only how some of them have matured, but also how they've come to grips with who they are and where they stand in the global basketball equation. Yes, they're the favorites. No, they don't expect to be crowned Dream Team 2.0 without having earned it. The bar is set pretty high when anything other than gold is unacceptable, but that's the deal for the 2008 version of Team USA -- and the players know it."

Childress Explores Options -- in Greece
In the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, Sekou Smith reports "Hawks restricted free agent swingman Josh Childress spent Monday in Athens, Greece, not Georgia, exploring his options beyond the NBA. Childress and at least one of his agents, Jim Tanner, were in Greece to visit officials from European power Olympiakos and discuss the possibility of Childress playing the upcoming season there rather than with the Hawks or any other NBA team. Just how serious Childress is about blazing that trail remains to be seen and can only be answered if and when he makes a decision about that offer. With no salary cap for European teams, Olympiakos can offer whatever they'd like to entice Childress to leave the NBA for a stint in the international game. The Hawks also lose the right to match any offers made to Childress, a condition of his restricted free agency, because they wouldn't be competing against another NBA team.”

High Expectations Push China for Breakthrough
In XINHUA, Shan Lei writes "one of the hottest topics among Chinese basketball reporters recently is what is the real target of the national men's basketball team at the Beijing Olympic Games. Li Yuanwei, vice president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and director of the Chinese Basketball Management Center, said the goal at the Olympics is to advance to the quarterfinals. It would have been the fourth time that China enter the top eight after they finished eighth at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2004 Athens Olympics as well as the 1994 World Championships, if they could fulfill the goal.”

James Posey: Move Was Tough Deal
In the BOSTON HERALD, Rich Thompson writes "James Posey is a member of the New Orleans Hornets because his practical side trumped his emotional side. Posey was the Celtics sixth man and designated defender during the run to their 17th NBA championship, and his contributions drew acclaim from the players and management alike. But Posey and the Celts were unable to reach an agreement on a contract, and the 31-year-old forward inked a four-year, $25 million deal with the Hornets on July 16. 'From a personal and professional standpoint, leaving the Celtics was one of the toughest things I've ever had to do,' Posey said yesterday from his home in Houston."

Sixers in Talks on New Contract for Lou Williams
In the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, Phil Jasner writes "It took several days for the news to filter back, but the 76ers last week had their first face-to-face meeting with agent Merle Scott concerning the possibility of a new contract for Sixers restricted free-agent guard Lou Williams. Stefanski has said repeatedly that he intends to re-sign Williams and Andre Iguodala, who is also restricted. Iguodala is training with the Select Team that is helping prepare the U.S. Olympic team for the competition in Beijing, but will not participate in scrimmages because of his contractual status."

Nets Acquire Keyon Dooling From Magic
The New Jersey Nets have acquired guard Keyon Dooling from the Orlando Magic in exchange for cash considerations, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

Celtics to Re-Sign Tony Allen and Eddie House
The Boston Celtics have re-signed guards Eddie House and Tony Allen, two role players from their title-winning team. General manager Danny Ainge confirmed the deals Monday.

NBA Restructures Referee Operations Department
The NBA today announced that it has restructured the league's Referee Operations department, appointing Bernie Fryer to the position of Vice President and Director of Officials, Joe Borgia to the position of Vice President, Referee Operations, and Ronnie Nunn to the position of Director of Development.

George's Return to Dallas Mavericks More Unlikely
In the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, Brandon Geogre writes "The probability of swingman Devean George returning to the Mavericks next season appears to be decreasing every day. George, a free agent, has at least a half dozen other teams interested in signing him. The Mavericks, however, only have two open roster spots left with little money to work with after signing center DeSagana Diop. 'I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope right now,' Donnie Nelson said. 'We're pretty far apart as far as the numbers go.' George, a 6-8 guard/forward, averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 53 games last season. George, who will turn 31 years old in late August, has averaged 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds over nine NBA seasons (the first seven with the Los Angeles Lakers). "

Knicks Have Gallinari Doubts
In the NEW YORK POST, Marc Berman writes "The Knicks ended the Las Vegas summer-league yesterday the way they came in - unsure if 19-year-old rookie Danilo Gallinari will contribute this season. After suffering a back injury in Monday's opener against Cleveland, the Italian Stallion missed the final four games, including yesterday's 111-91 loss to Minnesota in the finale at UNLV's Cox Pavilion to finish 2-3. A team source said the Knicks are considering resting Gallinari the remainder of the summer and request he not play for the Italian national team that gets together in two weeks. The decision could be out of Gallinari's hands as the Italian players are threatening a strike. In his lone game, Gallinari had an impressive seven minutes in the second half when he scored 14 points after going scoreless in the first 2½ quarters. "

U.S., Greece Basketball Grouped
In the ARIZONA REPUBLIC, the Associated Press reports "Greece, which stunned the United States in basketball two years ago, will join the Americans at the Olympics in a strong Group B, which now includes all three medalists from the last world championships. Germany also was drawn into Group B after clinching the last available spot in Beijing by beating Puerto Rico 96-82 Sunday behind 32 points from Dallas Mavericks All-Star Dirk Nowitzki in the third-place game at the Olympic qualifying tournament. Greece locked up its spot Saturday by beating Puerto Rico in the semifinals. The Greeks knocked off the Americans 101-95 in the semifinals of the 2006 world championships before losing to Spain in the finals."

Nowitzki Carries Germany to Olympic Berth
In the FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, Jennifer Floyd Engel writes "Dirk Nowitzki did not do any interviews immediately after propelling Germany to its first Olympic berth since 1992. He couldn't. The Dallas Mavericks' best player was in the locker room in Greece bawling Sunday, like a baby or newlywed or player who has finally delivered on a promise to his country, his coach and himself.He had been thinking of this moment long before he dreamed of MVPs and NBA championships.”

Iranian Basketball Team Making First Olympic Appearance Since 1948
In the INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, the Associated Press reports "Normally basketball is an afterthought for Iranian sports fans, given the popularity of soccer, weightlifting and wrestling. But with Iran's national basketball team preparing for its first Olympic appearance in 60 years, that has changed. ‘For every athlete, it is like a dream to participate in the Olympic Games — especially for us because basketball in Iran is not that ... important," captain and forward Samad Bahrami said. "Everyone is looking for you and taking care of you.'”

Down To Business: Team USA Puts Plan in Action
In the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, Steve Carp writes "from the moment the United States finished third in men's basketball in the 2004 Athens Olympics, all of USA Basketball's attention and energy have been devoted to putting America back on top. A new philosophy was introduced. A new management team and coaching staff were brought in. Thirty-three players were chosen to compete for 12 spots. Will it pay off? The Beijing Olympics are three weeks away and the quest for gold begins in earnest today as Team USA's Las Vegas training camp begins at Valley High School. ‘We've spent 2 1/2, almost three years getting ready and if we were to take an accounting right now, today, I'd say we're on target,' said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball managing director for the senior men's national team. ‘All the preliminaries are out of the way. Now we're ready for the final push.'"

Q&A with the Las Vegas MVP Jerryd Bayless
Bayless was named the T-Mobile NBA Summer League Top Rookie after averaging 29.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in four games out in Las Vegas. Even though he was only competing against rookies for the award, had there been an overall MVP given out, he would have won that too. NBA.com spoke to the 19-year old following the Blazers' last summer league game on Sunday.

The WNBA Weekly Recap: Week 9
Get caught up on the most significant stories and moments from the past week in the WNBA with Josh Cohen.

Suns to Sign Free-Agent Forward Matt Barnes

Rockets Down Kings in Summer League Finale
Donte Greene scored 22 points to lead a three-pronged attack as the Houston Rockets defeated the Sacramento Kings, 98-91, in the final game of the 2008 NBA Summer League.

Pinnock Leads Blazers Past Hornets
J.R. Pinnock scored a game high 30 points and led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 78-63 win over the New Orleans Hornets at the NBA Summer League on Sunday.

Balanced Bucks Crush Cavaliers
An offensively-balanced Milwaukee Bucks squad won their final game of the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 88-72, on Sunday.

Tucker, Strawberry Help Suns Burn Wizards
Alando Tucker scored 25 points Sunday and the Phoenix Suns held the Washington Wizards to just six fourth-quarter points in an 88-69 victory in the finale for both teams of the Las Vegas Summer League.

Timberwolves Finish on a Positive Note
The Minnesota Timberwolves, playing without injured rookie Kevin Love, never trailed as they defeated the New York Knicks, 111-91, in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Liberty Has Its Moment in History, if Not a Victory
History arrived just before sunset Saturday on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, accompanied by summer heat and a soft, swirling breeze that has confounded and crowned more than a few of the world's best tennis players.

Peja Recognized for Helping Disabled Children
New Orleans Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic received an award at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, for making possible a shipment of wheelchairs to hundreds of disabled people in northern Greece through a partnership with International Orthodox Christian Charities.

LeBron James Donates Bikes For Cops
Akron's police department is getting some new wheels, courtesy of Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James.

Saturday Ramblings: Bayless Time
The man of the hour is Jerryd Bayless. Portland's shooting guard dropped 26 of his 36 points in the second half, including scoring 17 of the Trail Blazers' 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead his team to a 74-73 victory after the Suns had led by as many as 14 points.

Rail-Thin Randolph Has Robust Game
Warriors rookie forward Anthony Randolph is all of these things, but he's also proving to be really, really good at basketball. Through his first four games in the Las Vegas summer league, the 6-10, 205-pound Randolph is averaging 20.8 points (fifth best in Vegas), 7.8 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block per night.

Hornets Edge Out Cavaliers
With LeBron James in the audience, the Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the New Orleans Hornets, 79-78, on Saturday during the NBA Summer League at the COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada – Las Vegas.

Bayless Lifts Blazers Past Suns
Jerryd Bayless scored 17 fourth-quarter points and hit the game winning jumper with 18 seconds left to lead the Portland Trial Blazers to a 74-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns at the NBA Summer League on Saturday.

Bucks Take Down Timberwolves
Darius Washington's 19 points led the way for the Milwaukee Bucks, who defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 81-67 in 2008 NBA Summer League action on Saturday.

Nuggets Close Summer League with Win Over Lakers
Bobby Jones and Keith Langford scored 18 points and 17 points, respectively on Saturday, as the Denver Nuggets downed the Los Angeles Lakers 92-79 at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA Sports.

Warriors Hold Off Raptors in Vegas
Anthony Randolph and Anthony Morrow combined for 48 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 95-90 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday at the NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS.

Bobcats' Balanced Scoring Attack Sinks Knicks
Led by Guillermo Diaz's 14 points, the Charlotte Bobcats easily handled the New York Knicks on Saturday, 103-71, in what was Charlotte's final game of the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS.

Warriors Sign Ronny Turiaf

Jones' Last-Second Heroics Lead Nuggets Past Rockets
Dahntay Jones' last-second running layup secured the Nugget's one-point overtime victory 105-104 over the Houston Rockets in Friday's 2008 NBA Summer League presented by EA SPORTS night cap.

Graham, Raptors Clip Lakers

Oklahoma City Signs Miles to Offer Sheet
Oklahoma City has signed restricted free agent guard C.J. Miles to an offer sheet.

Knicks Support Liberty Classic
Current and former New York Knicks have teamed up with the New York Liberty to provide memorable experiences for children and families in-need at the Liberty Outdoor Classic.

Pistons Tame Bobcats in Vegas
The Detroit Pistons finished their NBA Summer League campaign with an impressive 78-67 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats in Las Vegas on Friday. With the win, the Pistons ended their summer league stint with a 3-2 win-loss record.

Chandler Helps Knicks Set Suns

Jamont Gordon's Layup Lifts Sixers Over Raptors
Jamont Gordon's layup with 0.6 seconds left gave the Philadelphia 76ers an 87-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors in the Las Vegas Summer League on Thursday.

Hornets Win in Overtime Against Clippers

Sessions, Bucks Soar Past Nuggets
Ramon Sessions and his Milwaukee Bucks were too much for the Denver as they dismissed the Nuggets 79-67 in the final game on Thursday at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS.

Love Leads T-Wolves Past Blazers

Suns Outshine Spurs
Alando Tucker and the Phoenix Suns started off hot and never looked back, running over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night in a 98-74 victory at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS.

Mavericks Finish Strong Against Pistons

Thornton Cruising with the Clippers
Al Thornton is taking on the Las Vegas Summer League for the second time and he has only gotten better with age.

Rockets Slide Past Cavaliers in Summer League
Donte Greene and Maarty Leunen scored 17 points apiece Wednesday as the Houston Rockets edged the Cleveland Cavaliers, 73-72, to close the sixth day of action at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA Sports.

Williams, Thornton Power Clippers Past Grizzlies
In their summer league finale, the Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Los Angeles Clippers, 82-74.

Crawford, Lakers Outlast Love's Timberwolves
Los Angeles Lakers 2008 NBA Draft selection Joe Crawford came up big for his new team Wednesday night, scoring the game-winning basket with 2.9 seconds left as his Lakers defeated Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves, 95-93, at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Speights, Smith Lead Sixers Past Wizards
Rookie Marreese Speights and sophomore Jason Smith each scored a game-high 24 points and led the Philadelphia 76ers past the Washington Wizards 86-72 at COX Pavilion on Thursday.

Green Leads Mavericks Past Kings
The Dallas Mavericks, led by Gerald Green's 18 points, defeated the Sacramento Kings, 93-71, the largest margin of victory thus far in the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA Sports.

Spurs Knock Off Knicks
Roger Powell led all scorers with 15 points as the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the New York Knicks, 82-67, in the first of six games Wednesday on the campus of UNLV as part of the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA Sports on Wednesday.

Knicks' Gallinari Out With Sore Lower Back
New York Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari has a sore lower back and is listed as doubtful for the remainder of the Las Vegas summer league.

Blazers Survive Overtime
Jason Thompson's and-one bucket in overtime lifted the Sacramento Kings over the Portland Trail Blazers, 75-74, in the last game of the day inside the COX Pavilion at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS.

Belinelli Helps Warriors Outlast Bobcats
Marco Belinelli went off for 30 points to secure Golden State's 99-93 win over the Charlotte Bobcats in the sixth game of the day at the NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS on the campus of UNLV inside the Thomas & Mack Center.

Hornets Surge Past Spurs
Bobby Brown's 15-point performance led the way as New Orleans defeated the San Antonio Spurs 76-68 in an afternoon NBA Summer League matchup on UNLV's home floor at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Sixers Down Lakers for First Win
The frontline of the Philadelphia 76ers was enough to overcome the Los Angeles Lakers, 81-73, in the second game of the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS.

Warriors Sign First-Round Pick Randolph
The Golden State Warriors signed first-round pick Anthony Randolph to a contract Tuesday.

Bucks Earn Win over Pistons
Ramon Sessions recorded a game high 21 points and led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 73-59 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the opening game of the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS.

Howard Ready for Beijing Olympics
Dwight Howard has been brushing up on his Chinese. He can already say "hello'' and "I love you.'' Soon, he and his Olympic teammates hope, the All-Star center this summer will add "gold'' to that list.

Iranian Olympic Team Invited to Rocky Mountain Revue
The Basketball Federation of I.R. Iran and its FIBA Asia Champion men's national basketball team have been invited by the NBA, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State, to compete against NBA teams and the NBA Development League Ambassadors.

Grizzlies' Mayo Hits 69-Footer in Summer League
O.J. Mayo, the third overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in last month's draft, made the most spectacular shot of his career Monday night at the NBA Summer League.

Magic Sign Anthony Johnson
The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Anthony Johnson, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Spurs Open Summer League Stint with Win Over Grizzlies
Ian Mahinmi's 18-point performance led San Antonio to a 78-76 win Monday night in the team's first game at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS held in the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV.

Mavericks Spoil Love's NBA Debut
The Dallas Mavericks ruined Kevin Love's NBA debut as they crushed the Minnesota Timberwolves 88-74 in the final game of the NBA Summer League at COX Pavilion on Monday night.

Greene Drops 40 as Rockets Eclipse Suns
Donte Greene scored 40 points to lift the Houston Rockets to a 100-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns at the NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS in Las Vegas on Monday.

Bayless Lifts Blazers Past Wizards
Jerryd Bayless scored a game-high 28 points and hit a pair of free-throws with just 12.3 seconds left to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 78-73 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night in Las Vegas

Nuggets Use Balanced Attack to Tame Raptors
Six double-digit scorers for the Denver Nuggets proved to be too much for the Toronto Raptors in the second game of day four of the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS inside UNLV's COX Pavilion.

Chandler Carries Knicks Over Cavaliers
Wilson Chandler's strong performance of 26 points and eight rebounds guided the New York Knicks to a nail-biting three-point victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 97-94, in the Day Four opener of the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS.

Afflalo Propels Pistons Past Clippers

Lakers Hand Grizzlies First Loss

Warriors Corral Mavericks

Washington Wizards Re-Sign Gilbert Arenas

Brown Lifts Hornets Past Bobcats
The third day of competition of the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS opened with the New Orleans Hornets defeating the Charlotte Bobcats 77-75.

Nuggets Crush 76ers
Dahntay Jones tallied a team-high 21-points as the Denver Nuggets routed the Philadelphia 76ers, 99-85, at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Saturday. The win was an impressive debut for the Nuggets in the 10-day hoop classic presented by EA Sports.

Mayo Stars Again; Grizzlies Dominate Bucks
Highly-touted rookie O.J. Mayo erupted for a game-high 26 points as the Memphis Grizzlies improved to 2-0 at the 2008 NBA Summer League presented by EA SPORTS with an 88-79 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

Bobcats’ Balanced Attack Clips Clippers

Kings Tame Raptors at Summer League
The Sacramento Kings defeated the Toronto Raptors 93-86 in the first of four games during the second day of competition at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA Sports at the COX Pavilion on the campus of UNLV.

Gordon and Clippers Defeat Mavericks
The Los Angeles Clippers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as the squad defeated the Dallas Mavericks 86-69 in final game of the first day of competition at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS on the campus of UNLV in the COX Pavilion.

Stuckey Leads Pistons Past Lakers
The Detroit Pistons cruised to an 84-73 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS in Las Vegas on Friday. The Lakers-Pistons game was the third of the four games scheduled on the NBA Summer League's opening day.

Mayo Shines in Debut
First round draft pick O.J. Mayo and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the New Orleans Hornets 88-75 in the second of 53 games at the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS on Friday, July 11 held at the COX Pavilion on the campus of UNLV.

Randolph Scores 30 in Summer League Debut
The 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA SPORTS tipped off on Friday, July 1,1 with the Golden State Warriors beating the Philadelphia 76ers, 96-89, in Las Vegas. Anthony Randolph, the 14th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, led all scorers with 30 points while Thaddeus Young chipped in 27 points for the Sixers.

T-Wolves Sign First-Round Pick Kevin Love
The Minnesota Timberwolves signed first-round draft pick Kevin Love on Friday. The UCLA power forward signed the contract just in time to participate on Minnesota's Las Vegas summer league team.

Nets Reach Agreements With Eduardo Najera and Jarvis Hayes
The New Jersey Nets have reached agreements in principle with free agent forward Eduardo Najera and guard/forward Jarvis Hayes, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreements were not released.

Report: Agent Says Mason, Spurs Reach Deal
The Associated Press reported Thursday that Mark Bartelstein, the agent for unrestricted free agent guard Roger Mason, said his client has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs. Mason played with the Washington Wizards last season.

Kings C Brad Miller Suspended Five Games by NBA
The NBA announced today that Brad Miller of the Sacramento Kings has been suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.

Bulls F JamesOn Curry Suspended 1 Game by NBA
JamesOn Curry of the Chicago Bulls has been suspended without pay for one game by the NBA.

Heat Sign Chalmers
The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard Mario Chalmers, the 34th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Blazers Sign First-Round Pick Bayless
The Portland Trail Blazers signed rookie guard Jerryd Bayless, it was announced today by general manager Kevin Pritchard. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Bucks Sign Second-Round Pick Mbah A Moute
The Milwaukee Bucks signed Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced Wednesday.

Bogut’s Agent: Center Will Sign 5-year Extension
Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut will sign a five-year, $72.5 million extension later this week, his agent said Wednesday.

Bulls’ Rose Held Out Because of Knee
Derrick Rose has had a rough summer league. Now it might be over.

First-Round Pick McGee Signs with Wizards
First-round draft pick Javale McGee signed a two-year, $2.4 million deal with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Nets Introduce Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons
The New Jersey Nets' acquisition of Yi Jianlian was strictly a basketball decision, not a marketing one aimed at drawing more Chinese fans, Nets owner Bruce Ratner said Wednesday.

New-Look Morrison Happy to Return to the Court
After major knee surgery, Morrison was most proud of his wardrobe change Tuesday. He finally shed the blazers he wore while sitting at the end of the bench last season for shorts and a jersey for the start of the Charlotte Bobcats' summer minicamp.

NBA Salary Cap for 2008-09 Season
The National Basketball Association today announced that the Salary Cap for the 2008-09 season will be $58.680 million. The new Cap goes into effect immediately as the league's "moratorium period"has ended and teams can begin signing free agents and mak

Reports: Warriors to Ink Maggette to 5-Year Deal
The Golden State Warriors will sign high-scoring free agent Corey Maggette to a five-year contract worth around $50 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

Bucks Sign Top Draft Pick Alexander
First-round draft pick Joe Alexander signed a contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Knicks Sign First-Round Pick Gallinari
The Knicks signed first-round draft pick Danilo Gallinari on Tuesday and expect to have him ready to play in summer league games next week in Las Vegas.

Report: Magic to Sign Pietrus to Multiyear Deal
The Orlando Magic will sign Mickael Pietrus to a multiyear deal, Florida Today reported on its Web site Tuesday.

Memphis Signs First-Round Choices Mayo, Arthur
First-round draft pick O.J. Mayo signed a multiyear contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

AP Source: 76ers to Send Carney, Top Pick to Wolves
The 76ers are close to trading forward Rodney Carney and a future No. 1 pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a deal that clears salary cap space for Philadelphia to make a stronger push for free agents, a person in the NBA told The Associated Press on Tu

Jefferson Says He Likes Trade to Milwaukee
Yi Jianlian didn't want to play in Milwaukee. The man he was traded for insists he does. The Bucks introduced Richard Jefferson on Monday after acquiring him from New Jersey on draft day in a trade for the young Chinese star.

Beasley, Rose Set for First Meeting as Pros
Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley will be forever linked. That's an inevitability for players who get chosen No. 1 and No. 2 in an NBA draft.

All's Well That Ends Well in New Delhi

Heat Rookie Chalmers a Quick Study
Somehow, on NBA Draft night, Kansas guard Mario Chalmers felt he was forgotten. Fortunately for him, the Miami Heat remembered.

Heat Rookie Beasley Returns to Contact Drills
Michael Beasley resumed contact drills with the Miami Heat summer league team Saturday afternoon, his first regular basketball activity since slightly cracking his sternum three days earlier.

Reports: Arenas Agrees Deal with Wizards
Both the Washington Post and Washington Times reported Thursday that Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas agreed to re-sign with the team for for $111 million over six years.

Report: Paul, Hornets Agree to New Deal
The Associated Press reported Thursday that Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets reached a contract agreement Thursday that could keep the All-Star point guard with the team for at least the next four seasons.

Magic Sign First-Round Pick Courtney Lee
The Orlando Magic on Thursday signed guard Courtney Lee, their first-round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Suns Announce 2008 NBA Summer League Roster

Elite Players and Local Youth Help Tip-off Basketball without Borders Asia
It was an early start to Basketball without Borders Asia today beginning with an ESS Basketball Clinic run by Dominique Wilkins. Over 250 students watched clips of Wilkins' days as a player that showed exactly why he is the "Human Highlight Film.”

Commissioner David Stern Statemen