It was a major commitment on the part of the Knicks -- a two-year deal starting at the full mid-level exception. The value of the mid-level exception will be announced on July 9 (when contracts can officially be signed) but it's expected to be about $5.8 million, making Duhon's total contract worth around $12 million.

"I am just excited, I am ready to get to work for the Knicks," Duhon said. "It's a big stage, playing in New York. It's something every player in the NBA wants

Could the Nuggets end up replacing one Anthony with another?

Two sources close to the situation said Thursday the Nuggets aren't immediately targeting re-signing free-agent point guard Anthony Carter. One of the sources said Anthony Johnson is another free-agent point the Nuggets are eyeing as a possible replacement.

But the belief is the Nuggets, deep into the luxury tax, might not make a quick move on a point guard when the signing period starts Wednesday. If they go the free-agent route, they might wait until prices go down.

The Nuggets already are known to be looking at free- agent point guards Jannero Pargo, who is 6-foot-1, and 6-2 Carlos Arroyo. Johnson is 6-3 with long arms and could give the Nuggets some much-needed size at the point.

Johnson, 33, made $2.86 million last season, finishing with Sacramento after a February trade from Atlanta. He averaged 5.6 points and 3.8 assists for the season and has career marks of 5.7 points and 2.9 assists.

Other teams said to be interested in Johnson include Cleveland, New York, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix and Utah.

The Nuggets have another player who is a testicular cancer survivor.

At least they have him for the summer.

The Nuggets announced their roster Wednesday for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The team begins practice July 10, with the first game July 12 against Philadelphia.

Among the invitees is undrafted Tennessee guard Chris Lofton, who recently revealed he had testicular cancer surgery in March 2007. Nuggets forward Nene missed much of last season due to testicular cancer surgery.

The summer roster includes guard Taurean Green and forward Bobby Jones, a pair of Denver players with nonguaranteed contracts who will try to get them guaranteed with a strong summer showing. The Nuggets must make a call on Green by Aug. 1 and on Jones by Aug. 15 or else their minimum deals become guaranteed.

Also on hand will be swingman Sonny Weems, drafted by Chicago in the second round last week and traded to the Nuggets. Weems’ agent, Roger Montgomery, said a contract for Weems for next season won’t be discussed until after the summer league, which concludes for the Nuggets on July 19.

In addition to Green and Jones, four other invitees have NBA experience. They are center Jelani McCoy, an eight-year veteran who played briefly last season with the Nuggets, forward Mike Hall, who played for Washington in 2006-07, guard Keith Langford, who played with San Antonio last season, and guard Dahntay Jones, who has five years NBA experience.

The Nuggets considered last April signing Dahntay Jones to a contract for the remainder of the season with a non-guaranteed deal for next season. Dahntay Jones wasn’t keen on the idea, and the Nuggets ended up signing Bobby Jones to such a contract.

Dahntay Jones is expected to sign a deal for the summer only, and would remain free to sign next season with any team. The only summer roster players the Nuggets currently hold rights on for next season are Green, Jones and Weems.

New Timberwolf Kevin Love and second-year swingman Corey Brewer headline the team's Las Vegas summer-league team, which also includes former Gophers Vincent Grier and Dan Coleman.

Four college players the Wolves brought to Target Center last month for predraft workouts are on the roster: Coleman, Michigan State guard Drew Neitzel, Oregon guard Bryce Taylor and Oklahoma forward Longar Longar, who played at Rochester John Marshall.

So, too, are NBA Developmental League guard Blake Ahearn, the league's Rookie of the Year who played 12 games with Miami at the end of last season, and former University of Portland guard Pooh Jeter.

Second-year Wolves forward Chris Richard, a restricted free agent whose re-signing seems a foregone conclusion, joins Love and Brewer on the team. It begins workouts in Las Vegas on Thursday and plays the first of five games on July 14 against Dallas.

Deron Williams and his representatives have scheduled a meeting with the Jazz next week to discuss a potential $90 million contract extension. Williams' agent, Bob McClaren, would not say when the meeting would take place, though it is expected to be Wednesday or Thursday, after Williams returns from vacation. It will take place in Salt Lake City, with McClaren flying in from Houston. Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor has declined all comment concerning negotiations. Williams could sign an extension as early as Wednesday, after the NBA's July moratorium on free-agent signings expires. McClaren said Williams would attend the meeting. "I think that it's very important," McClaren said. "This is one of the most important decisions of his career, and I think he should be a party to some, if not all, of the discussions."

Shawne Williams stood off to the side of the Indiana Pacers' practice court Thursday, sweat bleeding through his blue jersey.

The object of pointed recent comments from Larry Bird, Williams emphasized he wants to remain a Pacer and harbors no hard feelings toward the team president.

Bird said June 24 Williams would be traded if the Pacers could get enough in return, adding if the second-year player remained he would be on "very thin ice."

"I just hope the thin ice don't break," Williams said. "I'm going to do everything in my power to keep it thin and try to thicken it up a little bit."

In February, a man wanted on murder charges in Memphis, Tenn., was arrested after leaving Williams' home in a truck registered to Williams. The man, Gary Bohannon, also was with Williams when Williams was stopped for driving without a license Sept. 11, 2007. Bohannon was found guilty of marijuana possession from that traffic stop.

Williams said he understood Bird's comments.

"He's got a job to do, and I've got a job to do. I didn't lose no respect for Larry," Williams said. "He's just doing his job. And he's right."

Williams played college basketball at Memphis, his hometown. Bohannon also is from Memphis.

The 17th pick in the 2006 draft, Williams said he has tried to streamline his life to playing basketball, working out and going home, away from trouble. He said he no longer associates with some people in his life, even relatives.

"It's hard to cut family out because that's your blood, but some things, you've just go to do. You have to make some sacrifices," said Williams, a 6-9 forward who averaged 6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds last season.

"I feel like, if family members and people around you love you and want you to succeed, they'll step back after so much."

After a week of talking about what it would be like to put on a Bulls uniform, Derrick Rose finally got the opportunity Thursday -- albeit a reversible black-and-white practice jersey.

Rose took the court at the Berto Center for the first time since the Bulls made him the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft for the start of summer-league minicamp.

''It feels great,'' he said of getting his first practice under his belt. ''It's a learning process I have to go through.''

Most of the 17 players on the summer-league roster have virtually no chance of making the team in the fall, but Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah and Aaron Gray are three experienced players who can aid Rose's learning process.

Not surprisingly, the three were teamed with Rose during a scrimmage late in the session.

''I felt comfortable with the players,'' the 19-year-old Rose said. ''They're real nice men.''

Rose got a crash course on the offense of new coach Vinny Del Negro before the practice, and Del Negro said his star pupil's first practice went ''very well.''

''We shouted out the plays, and his voice was right after mine,'' Del Negro said. ''His quickness and his athleticism are impressive.''

One thing Rose said he struggled with was running the pick-and-roll.

''We never really ran the pick-and-roll at Memphis,'' he said. ''I have to get comfortable with running the pick-and-roll a little more.''

First-round draft pick Robin Lopez and last year's two Suns rookies - Alando Tucker and D.J. Strawberry - will headline Phoenix's entry in the Vegas Summer League, which will be conducted July 14-20 at the Thomas & Mack Center and nearby Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.

New Suns assistant Dan Majerle will be the head coach, assisted by Igor Kokoskov.

None of the other nine players on the roster are expected to make the Suns, but one or two could earn an invitation to training camp in Tucson with a strong showing. It's an important time for both Tucker and Strawberry to show their stuff against the top rookie and second-year players around the NBA.

Three other players on the team have a taste of NBA experience. Guard Marcus Vinicius has played 26 games over the past two seasons with the New Orleans Hornets; forward Ivan McFarlin spent part of the 2006-07 season with Philadelphia (11 games); and guard Jared Jordan played three exhibition games with the New York Knicks last season before spending the year in Lithuania.

The Suns aren't going to bowl over any players with money, so moving into an attractive point guard's top three choices on Day 2 of free-agency contact is promising.

Tyronn Lue, a 10-year NBA veteran, said Wednesday that the Suns, the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks are his favorites. Boston might not make a big offer, either. Lue finished last season with Dallas, for which he played two minutes during the playoffs.

Lue would start some games with the Suns to rest starter Steve Nash. "I feel really good about the Suns," Lue said. "I want to go to a winning team and a good organization. They have both those things. I'd love to play with Nash and with Shaq (O'Neal) again. Hopefully we can work something out."

Suns General Manager Steve Kerr has been in contact with Lue and his agent this week.

Lue, 31, said other teams have offered more money and that he hopes to land a two-year deal. The cost of a free agent is double for the Suns because of the luxury tax. They can be reimbursed for a portion of a one-year minimum deal, which would be worth $1.26 million for Lue. He made $3.5 million in each of the past two seasons.

"I could be a big help," Lue said. "If you put me with a great team, it makes me a lot better."

Andrew Bynum, who has been out for nearly seven months because of a knee injury, received medical clearance Thursday, putting his comeback on track.

Bynum saw doctors in New York in the morning and was given the green light to start conditioning, his agent, David Lee, said.

Lee reported Bynum doesn't have pain or swelling in the knee and doctors told him there was no need for follow-up visits. The 7-foot center will stay in the New York area for another two weeks to continue his rehabilitation then head to Atlanta, where he will work with his trainer, Sean Zarzana.

Bynum missed the final 46 regular-season games after he suffered a partially dislocated left knee cap in January. He had arthroscopic surgery May 21 to remove cartilage debris and smooth a few rough patches.

"The knee looks wonderful and we are anticipating that within a short period of time, he will start training," Lee said. "The doctors told him the knee was doing better than expected."

Bynum previously said he would be ready to start workouts in July and in shape when training camp opens in October.

Bynum is under contract for next season, but he is seeking a five-year, $80 million extension beyond that. If the sides do not come to an agreement by Oct. 31, Bynum becomes a restricted free agent after next season and the Lakers will have to match any offer sheet he signs.

Clippers center Chris Kaman could be headed to Beijing to compete in this summer's Olympics -- as a German.

The 26-year-old Michigan native obtained German citizenship and will play for Germany's national basketball team alongside Dallas Mavericks forward and German native Dirk Nowitzki in an Olympic qualifying tournament later this month, according to reports.

"We'll be stronger under the baskets with Chris," Nowitzki told the Associated Press.

Kaman, whose great-grandparents were German, first talked about playing for Germany during the winter.

Kaman, a 7-footer who played three seasons at Central Michigan, averaged 15.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.8 blocked shots and 1.9 assists last season for the Clippers -- all career bests.

Whether or not the Warriors can pry Elton Brand away from the Los Angeles Clippers, they might not be done attempting to extract talent from Hollywood's second team. A source close to free-agent small forward Corey Maggette said Thursday that the Warriors have expressed interest in Maggette and are looking to start negotiations.

The Warriors don't publicly comment on negotiations.

Like Brand, Maggette exercised the early termination option on his contract before the June 30 deadline, forgoing the $7 million he was due. The buzz among NBA insiders is that Brand - by all accounts a class act - will honor his word and remain with the Clippers.

Maggette's departure is all but official with the Clippers agreeing to terms on a six-year contract with former Warriors point guard Baron Davis and expected to sign Brand, who forfeited the $16.4 million left on his contract.

San Antonio, Boston and Cleveland are among teams reportedly interested in Maggette. But Golden State and Philadelphia - both still waiting on an official decision from Brand - have significant room under the salary cap and can offer Maggette more money than other teams, which are limited to the mid-level exception ($5.36 million last season). According to the source, the Warriors last season tried to trade for Maggette, a nine-year NBA veteran who reportedly is seeking $10 million per year.

The Warriors became players in free-agent negotiations after Baron Davis opted out of his contract Monday, and they could be the chief challengers to the Sixers, not only for Elton Brand but also for Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala.

The Warriors have big offers on the table for two unrestricted free agents, Brand and guard Gilbert Arenas, who has been given a sizable contract proposal by his old team, the Washington Wizards. An NBA source said that, should both players spurn Golden State, the Warriors would go after who they feel are the best restricted free agents on the market: Smith and Iguodala.

Dyke acknowledged that there was interest throughout the league in Smith, but would not comment on which teams.

The Sixers can match any offer made to Iguodala, who apparently is standing by to see how the team fares with Smith before he begins talks with the team.

On other player fronts yesterday, an NBA source said the Sixers had made contact with unrestricted free agent Corey Maggette and hope to speak with him next week. The Sixers also are expected to bring in restricted free agent Josh Childress, a teammate of Smith's with the Hawks, for a visit on Monday.

The Josh Smith tour of Philadelphia ended yesterday, with the power forward of the Atlanta Hawks being impressed by the presentation of the 76ers and reactions of the people of the city toward him. But did the restricted free agent leave with an offer sheet from the Sixers?

"Um, not yet," Smith said in an interview with Comcast SportsNet. "We've got to wait and see what goes on with the revenue and stuff."

Smith was referring to the NBA salary cap. The Sixers have about $11.5 million in cap space to woo Smith from the Hawks, but they are evidently waiting to see how much more will be available when the league sets the cap figure for the 2008-09 season, probably next week.

When asked directly if an offer sheet was delivered to his client, agent Brian Dyke would not say.

"I'm not getting into that," Dyke said in a telephone interview. "I have no comment. I don't want to play this thing out through the media."

Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski was not available for comment.

The Sixers could offer the 6-foot-9 Smith a maximum five-year deal. If $11.5 million is the salary for the first year, the total worth of the contract would be about $66.7 million, but that could grow depending on how much more money the team would have at its disposal with the new cap.

The Hawks would have the right to match any offer made to Smith, who turned down a $45 million proposal before the start of last season. The team would weigh the heavy financial commitment against the need to show Hawks fans it will do whatever it takes to keep a young, promising team together.

Marcus Williams, who has been on the trading block since February, is going to stay home from Orlando. But he'll join his teammates for the Rocky Mountain Revue in Utah (July 18-25), then go on to Vegas to attend Tim Grgurich's annual camp.

The Nets are pursuing trades as well, with Andres Nocioni being one of their primary targets. The veteran forward is available, GMs throughout the league confirm, for one reason: Chicago needs to slash payroll in order to give Luol Deng the $55-60 million to re-sign.

Though Nocioni has four more years left on his contract, the numbers descend (from $8.0M to $6.6M), and he could be a catalytic practice element the Nets need in their gym.

The Nets' payroll restrictions are a bit more flexible than agents were led to believe when the free-agent market opened.

For example, the Nets believe they still remain in the running for the likes of Eduardo Najera and Keyon Dooling -- two of the very few players they agree deserve three-year commitments -- but not so much for guys they think are worth only two (Mickael Pietrus, etc.).

"I don't think the two years is a hard and fast rule," one agent said yesterday, remaining anonymous so as not to hurt the Nets' ability to compete in the market. "And that's especially true if they can make a trade."

It isn't uncommon for a rookie to be injured in his first NBA scrimmage, but Brook Lopez came away with windburn and whiplash.

Metaphorically, anyway: This is what happens when you're matched up with Sean Williams, who made the Stanford newbie look landlocked a few times -- blow-bys, quick second jumps, tap drills on the glass, the whole gamut.

Yes, the next month might be a challenge for Lopez, as it would be for any rookie.

"It definitely is," the Nets' new center said at the East Rutherford practice facility yesterday, when the team opened camp for the upcoming summer leagues in Orlando and Salt Lake City. "A lot of the guys in the league are really gifted athletes, so it's a huge adjustment coming from college. I just like to relish opportunities to get into guys and play physically."

He received one notable endorsement yesterday, however, from the point guard on the other scrimmage squad.

"He's a big body, he's doing some things in the paint," Marcus Williams said. "He's altering shots. I think if he just learns some things, he'll be awesome. He's so big he just gets in the way."

Big doesn't quite get it done, however, so the 7-foot, 260-pound Lopez has already received his work orders from Lawrence Frank.

"First, just to compete as hard as you can," the coach said. "Second, we're trying to develop a consistent jump hook with both hands, so every day we have a jump-hook routine for him. And third, to be a defensive presence around the basket -- to meet baseline drives outside the box. But you've gotta be felt. Your presence has to be felt out there."

While the Knicks continue to wait for Chris Duhon to accept or reject their offer, another interesting scenario is beginning to surface involving Monta Ellis, the dynamic young guard for the Golden State Warriors.

Ellis, 22, a restricted free agent, is starting to draw a great deal of attention in several sign-and-trade scenarios. A person with knowledge of the situation said nine teams have made inquiries about Ellis. The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have shown the most interest. The Knicks, who are searching for point guard help, are not one of those teams, but a second source said the Knicks have been monitoring the situation. Warriors executive vice president Chris Mullin has maintained he intends to sign Ellis.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh and Mullin are close, so Walsh won't act unless Mullin is ready to deal. The source said the potential of an Ellis-Jamal Crawford backcourt "would be dynamic" in the Mike D'Antoni system. Both players averaged 20 points per game this past season. A person close to Ellis said the lightning-quick guard "would be very interested in the Knicks" and especially playing for D'Antoni.

Ellis' agent, Jeff Fried, would not comment on the interest in his client from other NBA teams and said talks with the Warriors are ongoing. "We are continuing discussions," Fried replied in an e-mail.

In addition, the Celtics have taken a prolonged look at former Knicks center Randolph Morris and former Bulls guard Eddie Basden during this week’s rookie/free agent minicamp in Waltham.

Eddie House, who Bartelstein also represents, has been contacted by New York. The former Celtics guard played for new Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni in Phoenix before being supplanted by, of all people, ex-Celtic Marcus Banks in the Suns rotation.

But D’Antoni, who favors high-energy, offensive-minded players, is said still to be a fan of House’s relentless approach to the game.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have been taking a strong look at backup centers.

They met with Hornets free agent Chris Andersen the past two days before he returned to his offseason home in Denver.

Andersen is still drawing interest from New Orleans, as well as Golden State and Houston. The Celtics are expected to contact his agent, Steve Heumann, early next week. Andersen plans to go to Las Vegas at month's end to work out with renowned trainer Joe Abunassar, who also handles several other NBA players, including Maggette and Kevin Garnett.

The Celtics worked out Pacers free agent center David Harrison and Timberwolves free agent swingman Kirk Snyder yesterday. The 7-foot, 280-pound Harrison averaged 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 12.8 minutes per game last season. Snyder averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists with Houston and Minnesota.

"It's a great opportunity when the world champs call you to work out," Harrison said in a telephone interview. "They see something in me. It's an honor to work out for them."

Today, Boston is scheduled to work out Golden State free agent center Patrick O'Bryant, who recently met with the Heat. The 7-foot, 260-pounder was the ninth pick in the 2006 NBA draft and averaged 1.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks in 4.1 minutes per game last season.

An NBA source said the Celtics surprisingly worked out Blazers free agent small forward Darius Miles yesterday and he had an impressive workout. Miles missed last season while recovering from knee surgery.

A day after talking with Celtics coach Doc Rivers, a longtime family friend, Clippers free agent forward Corey Maggette said he is seriously considering an offer to join the NBA champions.

Maggette said he is still in awe about being contacted by the Celtics and has been mulling over their contract offer as well as interest from several other teams.

An NBA source said the Celtics offered Magette the full midlevel exception, expected to be worth $5.8 million.

The Celtics have made offers to their own forward, James Posey, and Maggette, but it's doubtful they can accommodate both. While there is no news regarding Posey, Maggette said he could be coming to Boston in the near future to visit with the Celtics. Free agents can't sign until Wednesday.

"I don't want to hold the Celtics up or [general manager] Danny Ainge," said Maggette in a telephone interview. "I talked to Doc . . . I'm not going to hold them up. I know they are still looking at James Posey. But I'm still weighing my options."

On the James Posey front, agent Mark Bartelstein and the Celtics have declined to go into detail about contract terms.

The Lakers, Washington, New Orleans, Cleveland, and Orlando are among the teams expected to be interested in Posey.

An NBA source said the Celtics offered Posey a three-year, $12 million contract, but a team official denied it.

"There is a lot of interest," Bartelstein said. "We'll work through it and get to a conclusion."

As Maggette mulls his options, the Spurs continue to look at other free-agent possibilities.

They have inquired about Washington forward Roger Mason, Detroit guard Jarvis Hayes and Denver forward Eduardo Najera, none of whom are likely to command the full mid-level exception.

Denver guard J.R. Smith and Toronto guard Carlos Delfino remain possibilities as well. Both are restricted free agents, affording their current teams the right to match any offer they receive.

The Spurs’ ongoing pursuit of Maggette could affect what happens with a pair of their own unrestricted free agents — Brent Barry and Michael Finley, who split time at the same position Maggette might soon occupy.

Since opting out of his contract on Monday night, Barry has talked to Houston, Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the Spurs.

The Spurs have also expressed interest in bringing back Finley, but his agent, Henry Thomas, says talks have not gone much further than that.

Though Finley’s preference is to remain in San Antonio, where he has spent the past three seasons, Thomas said he expects to field inquiries from other teams.

“We’ll be talking to other teams,” Thomas said. “I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if we didn’t.”

Three days into the NBA’s free agency period, Corey Maggette is still talking to teams and weighing his options. It appears the free-agent swingman is heading into the holiday weekend a little bit closer to becoming a Spur than he was before the week began.

A source close to the negotiations said Thursday that, though no deal is imminent, talks between the Spurs and Maggette are serious and the interest is mutual.

The Spurs are believed to have offered Maggette a multi-year deal, starting with their $5.8 million mid-level exception. Maggette became an unrestricted free agent this week when he opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Meanwhile, published reports out of Orlando suggest the team perceived to be the Spurs’ stiffest competition for Maggette might be near dropping out of the race altogether.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic are formalizing a contract offer for free-agent point guard Chris Duhon, perhaps by the end of the week. In that event, Orlando would be all but forced to abandon courtship of Maggette.

The Spurs’ most significant challenger for Maggette’s services might now be the new NBA champions.

The Boston Celtics have made an offer to Maggette as well, one he told the Boston Globe on Thursday he is seriously considering. The most the Celtics could offer Maggette is the mid-level exception, same as the Spurs.

Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul agreed to a three-year contract extension with a player option for a fourth year, his agent, Lance Young, said Thursday.

The deal is estimated at $68 million. Starting in 2009-10, when the deal goes into effect, Paul will average about $15 million per season for the first three years before earning $23 million in the fourth year if he does not opt out of the contract to become a free agent. Under league rules, Paul cannot sign the deal until Wednesday.

"The deal is done," said Young, who declined to go into more specifics regarding it.

Signing Paul to an extension was the biggest uncertainty the Hornets had heading into the free-agency period. It was to their advantage to sign him to a possible five-year, $80 million contract so they would not face the potential he could become a free agent during the span of the contract.

But it did not happen. Paul took the same extension deal Cleveland All-Star LeBron James did in 2006 with a chance to become a free agent after the third year of his deal. Paul has one year remaining on his rookie-scaled contract that will pay him $4.5 million this season.

Initially, Young said Paul would decide between a four- or five-year deal after agreeing in principle on the extension Tuesday, the first day teams could began contacting free agents and players who are seeking to sign extensions.

It was apparent Paul was struggling to decide which offer to take. He wanted to be assured Hornets core players such as Tyson Chandler and David West could be re-signed once their contracts expire. Chandler has two years remaining on his deal, West three.

Devean George, whom the Mavs have placed a high priority on re-signing, is receiving considerable attention from about a half dozen teams.

A league source said keen interest from Phoenix, San Antonio, Minnesota, Cleveland and New Orleans is making George seriously contemplate his next move.

The good news for the Mavericks is that small forwards and shooting guards are plentiful in this free-agent market.

A few names that make sense for the Mavericks are Matt Barnes, Maurice Evans, Bonzi Wells, Flip Murray and, for those with a sense of nostalgia, Michael Finley, although a reunion between Finley and his former team is unlikely.

Most likely, the available free agents are going to wait as long as they can to try to pry away big dollars from teams that still have their mid-level exception. The Mavericks have committed their exception to DeSagana Diop.

J.J. Barea, who proved to be a reliable sparkplug throughout last season, said he is closing in on a three-year deal worth about $4.8 million to return to the Dallas Mavericks.

The third year would be at the team’s option and the first would pay him $1.5 million next season. He said he’ll likely sign the deal Wednesday when the league’s moratorium on signings and trades expires.

"I’m happy to be back," the 5-foot-11 Barea said Thursday.

Barea will become the Mavs’ third free-agent pickup this week and the first of their own to come to terms. Gerald Green, a fourth-year, 6-foot-8 swingman who agreed to a deal Tuesday, signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract Thursday.

Green was able to sign early because he did not finish last season on an NBA roster. Houston cut him in March.

Barea heads into his third season after averaging 4.3 points and 1.3 assists in 10.5 minutes a game last season. He saw action in 44 games.

"I’m going [into training camp] thinking I’m going to get more minutes than last year," Barea said. "I have the mind-set that I’m going to be the second point guard."

Depending on the exact figures of Arenas's contract, the Wizards should have most of their mid-level exception (expected to be about $5.8 million or $5.9 million) to add a player. The team will also have its biannual exception (roughly $1.9 million). The team could attempt to re-sign shooting guard Roger Mason Jr., who is coming off a career season and has drawn interest from several teams, or it could go after one of several free agents.

Possible targets include small forward James Posey, who was a valuable role player on the Boston Celtics' NBA championship team, and guard-forward Matt Barnes, who has been a valuable player -- particularly as a defender -- for the Golden State Warriors.

But even if Arenas's decision doesn't make a major impact on the roster next season, it should pay off later when his cap figure grows along with that of Jamison, who signed a four-year, $50 million extension Monday.

Magic general manager Otis Smith and Van Gundy met with Chicago Bulls free agent point guard Chris Duhon on Wednesday in Orlando. Signing Duhon -- likely to a contract averaging $3 million a season -- would end the Magic's pursuit of Maggette, who is seeking the full Mid-Level Exception (starting at approximately $5.8 million). Duhon, who has yet to receive an offer, has listened to pitches from Orlando and New York.

The possible addition of Duhon could spell the end of Keyon Dooling and Carlos Arroyo in Orlando. Dooling, Orlando's top reserve off the bench this past season, has value to the Magic because of his ability to play both point and shooting guard. But Duhon is considered the better playmaking point guard of the two.

Arroyo, a fan favorite because of his Puerto Rican heritage, has likely played his last game in Orlando. He fell out of favor late in the season and played only sparingly in the playoffs.

On the free-agent front, the Magic are awaiting word from point guard Chris Duhon. Duhon visited with the Magic on Wednesday, and supposedly will agree to sign with either the Magic or the New York Knicks as early as today. Magic General Manager Otis Smith did not return messages seeking comment.

Magic forward Brian Cook also was working out Thursday at the sportsplex and said he has recovered fully after breaking his right hand in early April. He missed the entire postseason.

Orlando Magic all-star center Dwight Howard didn't wait long to start bonding with rookie shooting guard Courtney Lee -- even if it was through modern technology.

A co-captain along with Jameer Nelson, Howard began text-messaging Lee as soon as the Magic selected him in the first round last Thursday night of the NBA draft.

Their exchanges went on for hours.

"He was welcoming me and taking me under his wing," said Lee, after officially signing his four-year, $6 million rookie contract before Thursday's summer-league practice. Lee, 6 feet 5, said he's still walking on the clouds.

Talking at length with Howard, seeing himself in an Orlando Magic practice uniform and signing his contract. . . . it's all telling him that he isn't in Bowling Green, Ky. (home of Western Kentucky) anymore.

"It's kind of sinking in . . . I'm an NBA player for the Orlando Magic," Lee said. "It probably really won't sink in until that first game when I get on the floor and see the crowd.

"This is like your dream, and it drives you. To come and be a part of it -- that's Disney's motto, isn't it? Making dreams come true?"

Lee, 22, will receive major playing time on the Magic's summer-league squad. "My role will be more of a scorer, but I'll also be setting people up," he said.

He practiced under the watchful eye of Magic assistant Patrick Ewing, who will coach the team. Games will begin at RDV Sportsplex on Monday.

Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said he was impressed with some of the passes Lee made during the practice.

The Heat does not only plan to be frugal during free agency. The team also will be flexible, general manager Randy Pfund said.

Pfund and team president Pat Riley have not ruled out using the entire midlevel exception on one player but still prefer to split it between two players. The Heat also could use its veteran's exception ($1.9 million) to entice a third player. The team's primary needs, in order, are for a point guard, defensive-minded center and three-point shooter.

''We're active,'' Pfund said. ``There are some names we're talking to who could command a pretty good portion of the midlevel, not all of it.

``Some are eliminating themselves because they want long-term, high-number deals. So you're always trying to put the puzzle together.''

At other positions, the Heat has had conversations about former University of Miami small forward James Jones and Memphis power forward/center Kwame Brown.

The Miami Heat, continuing to search for point guard help, has ''expressed great interest'' in Orlando Magic unrestricted free agent and former Heat backup Keyon Dooling, agent Rob Pelinka said Thursday.

Pelinka declined to say if Miami has made an offer but said the sides ``will continue to have a dialogue.''

The Heat hopes to acquire a point guard either through trade or with part of its midlevel exception, which is expected to be in the range of $5.8 million to $6 million.

The Heat also has inquired about several other veteran free agent point guards, including Sebastian Telfair, Tyronn Lue and Jannero Pargo. Other veteran free agent point guards available include Carlos Arroyo, Eddie House, Anthony Johnson and Anthony Carter.

As it is, free agents cannot sign and trades cannot be completed until the July 9 end of the NBA's personnel moratorium. Only rookie contracts can be signed. That's it.

For the Heat, that leaves little use in trying to work out a trade for Shawn Marion at this stage, since all it would do is create bad blood if something were to fall apart during the moratorium.

As for free agency, opposing teams know the Heat is unwilling to go beyond two years, so they simply offer three. None of these second-tier players are worth endangering the Heat's cap position for 2010 (no Chris Bosh then because of a rash move for Kwame Brown now?).

And with its own free agents, the Heat might as well sit back and see what teams have the greatest needs, before offering sign-and-trade options that just might allow Pat Riley to offload the likes of Mark Blount or Marcus Banks as part of any package.

Dwyane Wade is willing to share the load when it comes to the Heat's search for answers at point guard.

But he insists he is not the solution.

Despite starting his NBA career as a point guard, Wade reiterated he has no desire to return to the position.

"Do I want to set up the offense every time? No, I don't want to do that," he said, as his basketball camp wound down at Florida International University. "I would love to get somebody else in that can handle the ball, as well, at times, and make plays."

Wade said that was why he hinted at a preference for Memphis point guard Derrick Rose before the NBA Draft and also spoke of the virtues of Southern Cal guard O.J. Mayo.

Rose went No. 1 overall to Chicago, with Kansas State forward Michael Beasley taken at No. 2 by the Heat and Mayo No. 3 by Minnesota before being dealt to Memphis.

"Last year, and maybe even the year before, where I was kind of the only one who was penetrating and making plays, it gets to the point where teams sag," Wade said. "It makes it easy on them. That's why they're able to zone, because they know I'm the only one that's going to penetrate. So we have to get somebody else that's going to break the defense down."

Wade said voicing a desire for such a lineup component in no way should be taken as a slap at Beasley.

"It's good that we got somebody like Beasley at the three position, even four, who can put the ball on the floor, at least drive to the basket and make plays," he said.

After an elbow to the chest sidelined first-round draft choice Michael Beasley for almost all of the first day of the Miami Heat's summer camp, the No. 2 pick out of Kansas State was back on the court today at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Beasley was held out of this morning's session, before returning to the court for non-contact drills during the late-afternoon session of the two-a-day practices.

The Heat is also scheduled to practice twice Friday, as it continues preparations for its weeklong summer league in Orlando.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday he believed the elbow to Beasley's chest came from free-agent Anthony Washington, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound center out of Portland State. Beasley was injured just over a half-hour into Wednesday's camp-opening practice.

Sean May has been cleared to start on-court basketball activity and says he'll be ready when Charlotte Bobcats training camp begins in October.

In his first extended comments this summer, following micro-fracture surgery on his right knee in October, May said he's experiencing some pain but no swelling in the joint that has troubled him since before he was drafted by the Bobcats in 2005.

“I'm full-go now,” May said Wednesday after working out with North Carolina strength and conditioning coach Jonas Sahratian. “But again, after eight months, I'm not going to just jump out here, get it all back in one day.”

May has been attending summer school classes while continuing to rehabilitate his knee. To avoid pounding the joint, he worked out in a swimming pool, exercised on a stationary bike and ran on a trampoline. He's also done a lot of stationary shooting.

He plans to fly to Las Vegas next week to attend Bobcats practices leading up to summer-league games. Although May won't play games in Las Vegas, he hopes to participate in some drills, as the team becomes acclimated to coach Larry Brown.

Although he has been cleared medically for basketball activity, May said he probably won't run or participate in any pick-up games right away.

I know we’ve debated endlessly around here about the Hawks adding another shooter with size their mix but few names have surfaced that anyone confirms the Hawks have actual interest in.

Two names that have come up in conversations I’ve had the past two days that would seem like ideal fits for the Hawks are James Jones and Jarvis Hayes.

Jones is the sharpshooter from Portland (he shot 44 percent from deep last season and save for the 24 games he missed with a left knee injury, was one of the better bench players in the league last season, averaging eight points per game in a tough minutes situation on a talented Portland team).

There’s a good chance Jones signs back with Portland. But if he becomes available, I’d be chasing him down if I were the Hawks, a team that needs outside shooters in the worst way. He ranked third in the league in 3-point shooting this season and has played on winning teams in Indiana and Phoenix during his career.

Most of us are already familiar with Hayes, whose name appeared here frequently two years ago when I was in my “The Hawks should trade for Brendan Haywood and Jarvis Hayes” phase, which was before Al Horford was drafted and the Hawks traded for Mike Bibby (adding the second outside threat needed to take some pressure off of Joe Johnson on the perimeter).

The former Georgia star has the experience, skill-set and price tag that would fit well with what the Hawks are working with. He’s also proved to be a quality player in a reserve role, most recently in Detroit, capable of making a splash when called upon (I watched him stroke seven 3-pointers against the Hornets late in the season on his way to a 29-point outing).

Again, these are guys that make sense to me. I don’t know if the Hawks are interested in them or not and I wouldn’t expect anyone to share that information right now anyway, since those guys won’t be in play until later on during this free agent frenzy.

The line has already formed for Josh Childress, the Hawks other man in the crosshairs these days.

As many as eight different teams have contacted the Hawks about sign-and-trade deals for Childress, per one of my best spies who insists that there are several Western Conference playoff teams desperate to add Childress to their mix (his exact words were that they “need an athletic younger guy who can play without the ball and come off of their bench and give them a boost.”).

That’s nearly a third of the league that’s interested in acquiring one of your players, which should be a clear indicator of that player’s value around the league.

So I asked my scout friend why these guys are so attractive and he made a good point that I think we might have overlooked about both of these guys.

“Somebody else has already done the heavy lifting in terms of developing these kids, and I call them kids only because at 22 [Smith] and 24 or 25 [Childress], they’re still in the early stages of their careers,” he said. “They’ve both played major minutes and had major roles on a team that’s had to operate under some pretty extreme conditions down there with that ownership situation and that shaky coaching situation. They’ve managed to improve year after year through all of that and they played huge roles in helping that team make the playoffs. Not all of these restricted free agents on the market right now have played those kinds of minutes and had those kinds of roles on their teams. You have a huge sample of work to evaluate on those two kids and then you realize that they both have plenty of room to get better and that’s what intrigues people.”

The Philadelphia 76ers spared no expense and pulled out every stunt possible to woo Josh Smith Wednesday (and probably a bit more today).

The only thing left is the offer sheet, which can’t be far behind.

Smith has time to make a decision on what he wants to do. But I can’t imagine it will take him long to sign, not because his heart is in Philadelphia but mostly because NBA players are like the rest of us.

They love to be loved.

And you have to give the 76ers credit, from what the descriptions I’ve heard from at least three different people in Philly about Smith’s visit, it was one home run swing after another - from the moment Smith and his agents stepped off the plane to their evening visit with the Sixers’ brass and coaching staff.

So I called an executive from another team I know and asked him what he thought of this deal and if everyone was putting way too much stock in Philly’s recruiting pitch and not enough in the nuts and bolts of this process and he put on his professor’s hat.

“The bottom line in all of this is the Hawks can match that offer,” he said. “I don’t know if they will. Everything I’ve seen and heard says they will. But you never know until the situation comes up. But they do have that right to match on their side and that’s a powerful weapon when you’re talking about restricted free agents. That’s why you only see a few teams that dive publicly into situations with these restricted free agents. What you don’t see is all the teams working behind the scenes to try and worm their way in there and see if they can’t get in on the action. If the Hawks don’t match and want to try and massage a sign-and-trade deal to keep from losing him outright, there will be a line of teams ready to do business. Since no one will know the exact numbers for the salary cap [and thus the actual figures that can be offered to free agents] until next July 8th, I don’t expect this thing to come a head until then. But that’s when it should be clear to everybody how this thing plays out.”

Gilbert Arenas has decided to return to the Washington Wizards, agreeing today to a six-year, $111-million contract. The deal is slightly less than the maximum contract the Wizards had originally offered, which was worth somewhere between $125- and $127-million.

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

Arenas told the paper that he took less money so that the Wizards would have some payroll available to add more talent in the future. "We have another room to add a piece," Arenas said. "There is a window of opportunity open for us. Adding key pieces leads to championships and that's what we all want."

The Wizards have been eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.

"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."