Lakers Lock Up Sasha Vujacic

LOS ANGELES, July 25 (AP) -- 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.

"We felt Sasha made great progress in this past year, and our coach showed great confidence in playing him the second half of the season,'' Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Friday in confirming the agreement, first reported by the Riverside Press-Enterprise. "Assuming he continues to work as hard during the offseason as he has in the past, I don't see any reason that trend wouldn't continue.''

The 24-year-old Vujacic averaged a career-high 8.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 72 games this season, and 8.1 points 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists while playing in all 21 playoff games.

Vujacic drew national attention June 10, scoring a career playoff high 20 points including a crucial 3-pointer with a little under two minutes remaining in the Lakers' 87-81 victory over the Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA finals.

The Lakers had made Vujacic a $2.6 million qualifying offer, and he reportedly was considering playing in Europe. Kupchak said he didn't know if that sped up negotiations.

"I think in this type of environment with restricted free agency, it could drag on and on,'' he said. "If anything, they needed to know where we stood. There is a real competitive environment outside of the NBA now, and it could be short-lived. We don't know. But we would not have done anything that we didn't think was a prudent business/basketball decision.''

Josh Childress announced earlier this week he was leaving the Atlanta Hawks for Greek club Olympiakos, reversing the course of the many international stars who have signed with the NBA. Agent Jim Tanner said Childress was guaranteed about $20 million after taxes, and that Childress could opt out of the contract after each year.

The Lakers will hold a press conference Monday at team headquarters in suburban El Segundo to officially announce the signing.

The Lakers made Vujacic, a 6-foot-7, 205-pounder from Slovenia, the 27th overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft. Vujacic averaged 2.9 points in 35 games as a rookie, 3.9 points in 82 games in his second professional season, and 4.3 points in 73 games in 2006-07.

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Oklahoma City Signs Miles to Offer Sheet

OKLAHOMA CITY, July 18 (AP) -- Oklahoma City has signed restricted free agent guard C.J. Miles to an offer sheet.

Oklahoma city general manager Sam Presti announced the move on Friday. Under terms of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, Miles' current team, the Utah Jazz, has seven days to match the multiyear offer.

Miles was the 34th player chosen in the 2005 draft, selected by Utah out of Skyline High School in Dallas.

In three seasons, the 21-year old Miles has played in 120 games, averaging 4.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists. He also appeared in eight playoff games for the Jazz.

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Grizzlies' Mayo Hits 69-Footer in Summer League

LAS VEGAS, July 15 (AP) --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.

Mayo converted a desperation three-quarters court shot from 69 feet to beat the first-quarter buzzer against San Antonio. Mayo, who shot it with both hands from straight away, rattled it through the rim.

"I thought it wasn't going to make it to the rim,'' Mayo said. "I was surprised. After practices recently, we have been practicing half-court shots. I made a few there, and now I made one in a game.''

Mayo, the highest draft pick playing at the 21-team Summer League, finished with 18 points on 5-of-17 shooting from the field in a 78-76 loss to the Spurs. Mayo was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and had six rebounds.

The Grizziles and Mayo were playing their fourth game in four days, while the Spurs were making their debut in the their four-game Las Vegas visit.

"My body was a little bit sore,'' Mayo said. "I was getting the shots that I wanted.''

Mayo's last field goal, a 3-pointer from the right arc with 3.1 seconds left in the game, cut the San Antonio lead to 77-76..

Besides Mayo's shot, fellow teammate and first-round pick Darrell Arthur from Kansas, highlighted the Memphis show. Arthur, who was drafted by Houston 27th and then had his rights dealt to the Grizzlies, had 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field.

"He's a good player,'' Mayo said. "He plays hard. He's fresh off the national championship. He brings a winning mentality.''

Ian Mahinmi, from France, led San Antonio with 18 points and seven rebounds, and former IUPUI star George Hill added 17 points - including 12-of-16 from the free-throw line.

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Report: Agent Says Mason, Spurs Reach Deal

SAN ANTONIO, July 10 (AP) - The San Antonio Spurs and unrestricted free agent Roger Mason have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth more than $7 million, Mason's agent said Thursday.

"We've got a deal done,'' Mark Bartelstein told The Associated Press by phone.

Mason, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged a career-high 9.1 points and 1.7 assists in 80 games last season with the Washington Wizards. He played in a reserve role for all but nine games. In his previous season with the Wizards, Mason averaged 2.7 points.

Bartelstein said the deal would pay Mason "just a little less than'' $8 million. He said he expected Mason, 27, to sign with the team on Friday.

Spurs spokesman Cliff Puchalski said the team had no comment.

Mason averaged 8 points and 1 assist in the playoffs.

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New-Look Morrison Happy to Return to the Court

LAS VEGAS, July 9 (AP) --Adam Morrison still has the shaggy, long hair, but it's wrapped in a ponytail. He still has the signature thin mustache, but now it's connected to a scraggly goatee.

Yet 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.

"It felt good to be out here and be a basketball player again,'' Morrison said.

Morrison isn't completely back from the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in his left knee in an exhibition game on Oct. 20. He didn't participate in contact drills in new coach Larry Brown's first workout. He won't play in the team's summer league games starting Saturday. Brown targeted Labor Day for when Morrison will be without limitations.

And Morrison has a long way to go to disprove the critics who contend Bobcats managing partner Michael Jordan made a bad decision taking him with the third pick in the 2006 draft.

"He's got a high basketball IQ. He's a gym rat, which I love,'' Brown said after watching Morrison consistently hit jumpers in drills at UNLV's Cox Pavilion. "We have just got to coach him up.''

Morrison's role is one of the many issues Brown must tackle as he begins his record ninth NBA head coaching job. Morrison averaged 11.8 points as a rookie in 2006-07, but the former Gonzaga star shot just 38 percent, struggled defensively and acknowledged he felt enormous pressure from fans after Jordan selected him ahead of Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay.

Morrison was more relaxed in the preseason last year before he felt his knee pop while playing defense against the Los Angeles Lakers, wiping out his season.

"I had a good camp and felt comfortable with what my role was going to be,'' Morrison said. "It was disappointing. It was boring. Going to games and stuff, it's fun supporting your teammates, but it's tough knowing you're not going to have a chance to play any time soon.''

With fellow wing players Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace, Matt Carroll and Jared Dudley, Morrison faces plenty of competition for playing time. Plus, Morrison's biggest weakness, defense, is one of Brown's top priorities.

Before flying to Las Vegas, Morrison spent nearly every day rehabbing his knee at the team's training center. He said he feels little pain, but is still fighting the psychological effect. Despite having diabetes, Morrison never missed a game in high school or college and played in 78 of 82 games as an NBA rookie.

"That's the biggest thing for me, to trust the knee,'' Morrison said. "It's healthy, it's there. The doctors did a great job, I rehabbed right. It's just all up here.''

Morrison pointed to his head, which is perhaps where Brown has been aiming, too. When Brown was introduced as coach in April, he was asked if he had met any players. He listed a few names before bringing up Morrison.

"And the kid with the long hair, I didn't know his name,'' Brown deadpanned. "He wasn't dressed like a basketball player.''

Brown didn't mention the hair Tuesday, but did comment on Morrison's slim physique, compounded by the time spent on crutches following surgery.

"He even got a little calf muscle now,'' said Brown, who shouted instructions and criticism in his first full practice since getting fired by the New York Knicks in 2006. "When I first saw him, he had none.''

Sounds like Morrison has some work to do to win over the Hall of Fame coach.

"He's got a great basketball mind and he loves to teach,'' Morrison said. "That just plays right into the hands of a young team. I think that's something we need - somebody to teach. I think it's going to be great for us.''

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Jefferson Says He Likes Trade to Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, July 7 (AP) -- 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 Bobby Simmons and the young Chinese star, who was the No. 6 pick last year.

The second-leading scorer in Nets history was surprised by the trade.

"I didn't know anything was going on and then the next thing I know my phone didn't stop ringing for about a week,'' he said. "When this happened I was upset, but after calming down and evaluating everything I became excited.''

Jefferson said he has nothing against the city that Yi was reluctant to play in.

"It was nothing about Milwaukee,'' he said. "I could've been traded to Boston. I could've been traded to L.A. I could've been traded anywhere.

"It wasn't about the city. It was about that feeling of rejection by the team that traded for you on draft day seven years ago. But when that happened, I didn't want to go to New Jersey either.''

After tumbling to a 26-56 finish last season, the Bucks selected another forward, Joe Alexander, with the No. 8 pick. With Jefferson and Michael Redd, the team should be much improved.

"This was a major move to get two guys that are both in the top 10 in the league in scoring on the same team,'' Jefferson said.

"I played with Vince Carter in New Jersey. He was one of the most amazing players I've ever seen.

"But I think Michael Redd and I can complement each other a little bit more because he's one of the best outside shooters I've ever seen, and I'm more of a slasher inside.''

Jefferson said he's also looking forward to playing for new coach Scott Skiles.

"I'm a cocky little guy, and that's why I think Scott likes me,'' Jefferson said. "Me and Scott are friendly now, but there will probably come a time when he cusses me out.''

"That's a pretty safe bet,'' Skiles interjected, drawing laughter during the news conference at the Bradley Center. "I've been a Richard Jefferson guy for a while. We wanted to add toughness this summer, and there's a lot of things to admire from a coaching standpoint.''

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Heat Rookie Beasley Returns to Contact Drills

MIAMI, July 5 (AP) - 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.

His status Monday for the summer-league opener in Orlando against the Chicago Bulls - and Derrick Rose, who went No. 1 overall in the June 26 draft, one spot ahead of Beasley - remains listed as day-to-day.

Beasley was struck by a teammate's elbow in a defensive drill Wednesday, causing the injury. The former Kansas State star, who averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds in his lone college season, had only participated in non-contact work since.

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Heat Rookie Chalmers a Quick Study

MIAMI, July 5 (AP) - Everywhere Mario Chalmers goes these days, someone asks about The Shot.

You know the one. Down by three, 2.1 seconds left, NCAA title game, Kansas vs. Memphis. Chalmers gets the ball near the top of the key, lets fly over the outstretched arm of Memphis guard Derrick Rose and waits for the crowd to roar. They did, the Jayhawks head to overtime and minutes later, they're the national champions and Chalmers is the hero of the Sunflower State.

"The biggest shot in Kansas history,'' Kansas coach Bill Self said. "It'll never be forgotten.''

Fast forward 2 1/2 months. Somehow, on NBA draft night, Chalmers felt he was forgotten.

Fortunately for him, the Miami Heat remembered.

Now, Chalmers starts anew. Drafted 34th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves and subsequently traded to the Heat for two second-round picks and cash, the boyish-looking 6-foot-1 guard who grew up amid the long winters of Anchorage now heads to sultry South Beach. He expected to be a first-round selection - and so did the Heat, who had him ranked 12th on their draft board - but both sides couldn't be happier with the outcome.

"For them to think that highly of me, it's a great honor,'' Chalmers said.

Chalmers will likely see plenty of minutes this coming week at summer league in Orlando, where the Heat will play five games in five days starting Monday. Sure, most eyes in the stands at Miami's summer games will likely be tuned on No. 2 overall pick Michael Beasley - Chalmers' rival from Kansas State this past season - but the Heat will be paying attention to what Chalmers can do as well.

Upgrading the point guard position is one of Miami's top priorities this summer. Incumbent starter Jason Williams is an unrestricted free agent and isn't a guarantee to return, backup Chris Quinn is a restricted free agent who may be lured elsewhere, and Marcus Banks - whom the Heat got last season in the deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix and brought Shawn Marion to Miami - is still considered to be a bit of an unproven commodity.

Chalmers knows opportunity is knocking.

"We don't want to put too much on his shoulders, but he definitely shows some good leadership qualities out there,'' new Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He's very good at communicating and talking to his teammates. Pays attention, he knows what's going on, you can tell he's a highly intelligent guy.''

Oh, and he can flat-out play, too.

His shot in the NCAA championship game - which immediately began being mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan's jumper for North Carolina against Georgetown in 1982 and Keith Smart's baseline make in the final seconds of Indiana's 1987 title-game win over Syracuse - is hardly the only highlight from Chalmers' three seasons at Kansas.

Chalmers scored 30 points in the Jayhawks' win over Texas in the league title game this past season. But even with a Most Outstanding Player award from the Final Four on his resume, Chalmers' college calling card was defense: He was the 2007 Big 12 defensive player of the year, held Texas star guard D.J. Augustin to 1-for-13 shooting in a regular-season meeting earlier this year, and holds Kansas' single-season record for steals (97, set in each of the last two years).

"I take a lot of pride in my defense,'' Chalmers said. "I think that starts with my mom. Growing up, she always instilled in me defense and my dad always instilled offense. I just tried to use them both and that's why I'm the player I am today.''

Somehow, though, he kept slipping on draft night, a fact that wasn't lost in the Heat draft room.

After drafting Beasley, they tried to obtain another first-round pick to take Chalmers, but couldn't close any deals. So then the deal was struck with Minnesota, but before the Timberwolves could actually take Chalmers, there was one more hurdle to clear.

Portland picked 33rd overall. The Trail Blazers' general manager, Kevin Pritchard, was the starting point guard on Kansas' national title team in 1988. Surely he would take Chalmers and dash Miami's hopes, right?

Not quite.

Portland picked Memphis' Joey Dorsey. The same Joey Dorsey who slumped in disbelief when Chalmers' 3-pointer sent the title game to overtime and denied the Tigers a championship.

Talk about irony.

"There's a lot to like about Mario and I don't think we thought we'd be in position to add him to this team,'' Heat general manager Randy Pfund said.

What happens next is up to Chalmers.

He can shoot and he can defend, two things Heat president Pat Riley absolutely craves from his point guards. So even though the first-round dream didn't happen, he could very easily find himself playing alongside Dwyane Wade quite a bit in Miami.

Chalmers clearly likes that notion.

"Anytime you come from a small town like Anchorage, Alaska, and step into the big time at the University of Kansas, it's a great honor but at the same time you're going to be a little nervous,'' Chalmers said. "Right now I'm just trying not to be nervous. I'll just use what I used at Kansas and apply it here.''

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Reports: Arenas Agrees Deal with Wizards

WASHINGTON, July 3 (AP) - Gilbert Arenas is accepting less money from the Washington Wizards, invoking an attitude far, far removed from the world of his working-class fans.

"What can I do for my family with $127 million that I can't do with $111 million?'' he told The Washington Post.

The unpredictable three-time All-Star point guard, in vintage Agent Zero fashion, told the Post and the Washington Times on Thursday that he has agreed to re-sign for $111 million over six years, considerably less than the maximum deal he said the Wizards offered him when the free agency period began on Tuesday.

Arenas negotiated the deal from China, where is traveling as part of promotional tour for a shoe company, and did so without an agent.

"I'm basically giving back $16 million,'' Arenas told the Washington Times. "This is in line with what I've been saying the whole time. You see players take max deals and they financially bind their teams. I don't wanna be one of those players and three years down the road your team is strapped and can't do anything about it.''

Arenas became a free agent after opting out of the final year of his six-year, $65 million contract at the end of last season. He initially said he was opting out to receive a max contract, but he later indicated he would be flexible in negotiations.

Arenas also said that he would not re-sign unless the team retained two-time All-Star forward Antawn Jamison. The Wizards lived up to that part of the bargain Monday by giving Jamison a four-year, $50 million deal.

Arenas has proven to be one of the most dynamic players in the NBA when healthy, but a major knee and an overzealous rehabilitation sidelined him for most of the last season. He had a first surgery on the knee in April 2007, tried to come back too soon and had a second operation in November. He missed 66 games before returning late in the season, but he had to shut himself down again during the first-round playoff series against Cleveland.

Arenas has vowed to be more cautious about his rehab this time, and the state of his knee didn't appear to devalue his worth in talks with the Wizards.

The Wizards cannot comment on talks with Arenas or announce the deal until a league-mandated moratorium expires next week.

Arenas has averaged 22.8 points, 5.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds in his seven-season NBA career. He was known as much for his tantrums as for on-court play when he came to Washington from Golden State in 2003, but he began to display more maturity as he developed into a take-over-the-game player with a knack for hitting buzzer-beating shots. Although he still has his many quirks - yelling "Hibachi!'' after making a big shot is just one of many - he has helped the Wizards became a playoff regular.

Arenas' deal means the Wizards will have room to sign other players - including free agent guard Roger Mason - and still remain under the league's luxury tax.

"It's a relief,'' Arenas told the Washington Times. "It was a burden at the same time. Your whole city is depending on you, wondering if you're going to make the right decision. I'm a franchise player and sometimes franchise players need to make franchise decisions.''

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Report: Paul, Hornets Agree to New Deal

NEW ORLEANS, July 3 (AP) - Chris Paul and the Hornets reached a contract agreement Thursday that could keep the All-Star point guard with the team for at least the next four seasons.

Lance Young, Paul's agent, said Paul agreed to a three-year extension with a player's option for a fourth year. The total value of the deal is $68 million.

Paul, who recently completed his third NBA season and has been selected to play for the United States in the Olympics, has one season remaining on his current contract. Under league rules, the first day the Hornets can formalize Paul's new contract is July 9.

Paul and Young met with Hornets general manager Jeff Bower at the team's training center in suburban New Orleans on Wednesday, but Young, who is based in the Washington, D.C., area with the sports management and marking company Octagon, flew home Thursday morning without the final details nailed down.

Young said he had a conference call with Bower in the afternoon and a final agreement was reached a few hours later.

The Hornets will pay Paul the maximum allowable under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, starting at 25 percent of the salary cap for the first year of the extension, with 10 percent raises thereafter.

Last season, Paul led the NBA with averages of 11.6 assists and 2.7 steals. He was the Hornets' second-leading scorer, averaging 21.1 points in helping the Hornets reach a franchise-record 56 regular season victories.

His performance landed him in his first All-Star game, which was hosted by New Orleans.

Paul's play on the court, combined with his charismatic presence at numerous community events, may have saved pro basketball in a city that was in danger of losing its professional teams after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005.

The New Orleans Arena routinely sold out during the second half of last season and the playoffs.

The Hornets also have sold more than 5,000 new season tickets for next season. The Hornets now have about 10,000 season-ticket holders, the most they've had since moving to New Orleans from Charlotte for the 2002-03 season.

With Paul's future in New Orleans secure, the Hornets expect to be busy in free agency, having traded their only draft choice last week to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for $3 million, which they intend to spend on a proven player.

The hope is that top available players will seize the chance to join Paul, a proven playmaker who has helped teammates David West and Tyson Chandler flourish while leading the Hornets to within one victory of reaching the Western Conference finals.

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Report: Davis on Verge of Signing with Clippers

SAN FRANCISCO, July 1 (AP) --Baron Davis is on the verge of signing a long-term deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, a day after the point guard shocked the Golden State Warriors by opting out of the final season of his contract to become a free agent.

Though Davis refused to directly confirm an ESPN.com report that he has agreed to sign with Golden State's Pacific Division rivals, he left no doubt about his upcoming move to Southern California.

Davis already was speaking about the Warriors in the past tense Tuesday night before attending the private Bay Area premiere of "Made in America,'' a documentary he produced about gang life in his native Los Angeles.

"It's tough, but you have to do what's best,'' said Davis, his usually bushy beard trimmed short. "You have to do what's fair. I'm happy with where I'm going. A big reason is because of the impact and the things that I can do going forward. I knew I could have done them here and created all kinds of good things and positive things in the community, and ultimately, me going home helps me make an impact on young kids.''

The 29-year-old Davis, a former UCLA star who has never made a secret of his desire to play in his hometown, averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds while playing in all 82 games last season for the Warriors, who finished with 48 wins - the best record by a non-playoff team in recent NBA history. A year earlier, Davis was the catalyst for Golden State's trip to the second round of the playoffs, ending a 12-season postseason drought and including a stunning upset of top-seeded Dallas in the first round.

On Monday, Davis surprised the Warriors and most league observers by opting out of the final year of his long-term contract, turning down $17.8 million for next season to become an unrestricted free agent. The Clippers were quick to pounce, offering a long-term deal to the oft-injured, playmaking point guard who helped transform the Warriors' fortunes in just 3 1/2 seasons with the club.

Clippers forward Elton Brand also opted out of his contract on Monday, but Los Angeles is expected to make a strong push to sign the veteran forward. And Brand immediately expressed his desire to stay with the Clippers.

With Davis and Brand, the Clippers would have a talented core - albeit a middle-aged group by NBA standards, and one with significant injury histories.

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