After a series of trades fell through this week, the Trail Blazers have settled on their next target: Utah power forward Paul Millsap.

Although Millsap is a restricted free agent, meaning the Jazz can match any offer, the Blazers are preparing what one source called a "toxic" offer designed to exterminate interest from other teams.

Millsap, 24, is a bruising and active player who excels at rebounding. Despite being only 6-foot-8, Millsap last season used his 250-pound frame to average 13.5 points and 8.6 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game. His 3.3 offensive rebounds per game ranked fourth in the NBA and his 251 offensive rebounds ranked sixth.

Though the New Orleans Hornets were interested, guard Jannero Pargo signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. One of the first calls Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower made last week during the start of free agency was to Pargo's Chicago-based agent, Mark Bartelstein.

But Bartelstein said they never made progress during discussions, which initially began last month. Pargo was one of the Hornets' top bench players during the 2007-08 season but when a contract agreement could not be reached last summer, he played last season in Russia.

"He has played for Chicago before and they really like him a lot,'' Bartelstein said. "They lost Ben Gordon, so they needed some scoring off the bench and Jannero is one of the best at filling that.''

The Atlanta Hawks are making another move to keep their playoff roster together by reaching an agreement to re-sign center Zaza Pachulia.

The Hawks and Pachulia have agreed on a four-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been announced.

Hawks general manager Rick Sund declined comment.

Point guard Mike Bibby's agent said Tuesday that Bibby, an unrestricted free agent, has agreed to a three-year deal to remain in Atlanta.

But that was the case. The Pistons introduced their two free-agent acquisitions at the practice facility on the first day that free agents could sign deals after the one-week moratorium on signings and trades.

Gordon, 26, and Villanueva, 24, gave verbal commitments to join the Pistons on July 1, the first day players and teams could begin negotiations. They both said they were impressed by Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars and wanted to come to an organization that was accustomed to winning.

Dumars was unavailable for formal interviews but said in a text: “We feel really good about adding these two young guys to our team.”

Gordon agreed to what is believed to be a five-year, $55-million deal while Villanueva’s is for five years and $35 million.

Rookie guard Jodie Meeks has agreed to a three-year contract with the Bucks, sources confirmed Wednesday.

Meeks, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Kentucky, was the 41st overall pick in the June draft.

"I'm excited about it and relieved to have it done," Meeks said. "I know they have a lot of confidence in me. I've got to continue to come in here and work hard and show what I can do."

Meeks and his teammates continued workouts at the Cousins Center on Wednesday, in preparation for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The Bucks will play five games, beginning Friday night against Dallas.

The Mavericks weren't kidding when they said first-round draft pick Roddy Beaubois would not be going back to Europe next season.

Beaubois signed his rookie contract Tuesday, meaning he is guaranteed nearly $1.9 million over the next two seasons. He will earn $896,000 this season.

With the Jazz's efforts to trade Carlos Boozer or Andrei Kirilenko still apparently ongoing, negotiations between the franchise and backup power forward Paul Millsap press on as well.

"I know (general manager) Kevin O'Connor is continuing to have dialogue with Paul and Paul's agent," Jazz president Randy Rigby said Tuesday, "and I know we're continuing to express an interest on our part to have Paul a part of our team.

"It's then just a matter," Rigby added, "of coming to an agreement."

We've invited and encouraged them (Millsap's representatives) to look at the market and do what they feel like they need to do," he said, "and we're doing what we think is best for us, which is coming up with what we feel is a fair value for Paul and ourselves.

"We feel strong," Rigby added, "about what our position is."

Millsap's camp initially was seeking a multiyear deal starting at $10 million or more, but there were no known takers when the negotiating period opened and no known offers as of Tuesday night.

Matt Barnes, who lost his starting job to Hill in December and got it back when Amare Stoudemire went down, likely will be taking his wares elsewhere. He came to Phoenix on a one-year minimum contract in hopes of bumping up his value and could be facing a similar situation after his best statistical season. Barnes, at 29, is hoping for a two- or three-year deal for more money and still would like it to be in Phoenix, where he bought a home.

Barnes' agent, Aaron Goodwin, told him that Dallas, Cleveland, Orlando and the Lakers (pre-Artest) were the first teams showing interest in him but nothing about the Suns. The silence probably has more to do with Jared Dudley's emergence and hopes of re-signing Hill than anything about Barnes.

"I guess they're headed in a different direction," Barnes said today. "It was a hectic year. I don't think anyone was at their full potential on the team with the coaching situation (Terry Porter's hiring and firing). After the season, Alvin Gentry told me he wanted me back and that I fit his style and he'd always wanted to coach me. Steve Kerr was honest and said they might not have too much money."

The Cavs may be gaining some momentum on several fronts, in fact. A league source said the team was entering more advanced talks with free-agent guard Anthony Parker. Parker's options changed last week when his team, the Toronto Raptors, decided to sign Hedo Turkoglu. Before that, the Cavs were in some sign-and-trade talks with the Raptors, but now that options appears to be eliminated.

In the wild world of NBA free agency, there's been very little talk about Anderson Varejao over the last week. But that doesn't mean there hasn't been movement.

According to multiple sources, the Cavaliers and Varejao have the ball rolling toward a new contract. The deal isn't done and because of the nature of the business the situation is fragile, but it appears things are lining up for Varejao to remain with the Cavs.

The Cavs may be gaining some momentum on several fronts, in fact. A league source said the team was entering more advanced talks with free-agent guard Anthony Parker. Parker's options changed last week when his team, the Toronto Raptors, decided to sign Hedo Turkoglu. Before that, the Cavs were in some sign-and-trade talks with the Raptors, but now that options appears to be eliminated.

The team also continues to be in touch with free agent forward Antonio McDyess. It is starting to look as if he will not return to the Detroit Pistons. The Cavs are in the running, but Yahoo! Sports reported on Tuesday that McDyess may decide to sign with the San Antonio Spurs in part because it is close to his home in Houston.

As for Varejao, if the two sides can strike a deal it would be a significant move. As is well known, the Cavs and Varejao were unable to come to an agreement after five months of talks in 2007 and it resulted in a nasty holdout. Even then, the Cavs only matched a deal Varejao signed with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Since then, tempers have cooled and Varejao has continued his special brand of energetic and versatile play. Last season was the best of his five-year career, as he became a regular starter at either center and power forward.

Varejao's impact goes beyond his stats, where he averaged 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds last season. His ability to defend multiple positions and his chemistry with LeBron James are both valued assets.

The Nuggets also have interest in the Portland Trail Blazers' Channing Frye, a 6-foot-11 post player who can shoot the ball from the outside and provide depth. However, the Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers are also among the leaders for Frye.

A source close to the discussions said late Tuesday that Denver Nuggets free agent center Chris Andersen has agreed with the team on a five-year, $26 million contract extension.

Andersen was Denver's top offseason priority, and the team moved quickly to re-sign him, meeting with the veteran, who turned 31 Tuesday, and his representatives this past weekend. Because Andersen did not possess his "Larry Bird" rights, which would have allowed the Nuggets to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him, the only way the Nuggets could keep him was to use the mid-level exception. They did not use all of it, though, because they are right at the tax threshold (and above next year's threshold of $69.92 million), and wanted to backload Andersen's deal.

"Everything they said they would do, they did," said a source close to Andersen. "They said he was their priority, and they came out to see him, and they got it done."

A lot of people think that changes made in Cleveland and Boston – getting Shaquille O'Neal via trade and Rasheed Wallace in free agency, respectively – have made the Cavaliers and the Celtics the co-favorites in the Eastern Conference this season.

Vince Carter and Dwight Howard don't believe it.

"I still like us [as favorites],'' Carter said defiantly Tuesday.

"I'm so ready to go. I'll do whatever they need, whatever the coaches ask me to do,'' Carter said. "This is a team with a lot of weapons. It's hard not to like us.''

Second-year forward Ryan Anderson was almost invisible when he joined the Magic alongside All-Star Vince Carter in the trade last month with New Jersey.

He is making his presence felt now.

Anderson has been the early star of the Orlando Pro Summer League, showing why he should fit quite nicely on a team that relies heavily on good shooters surrounding a dominating center like Dwight Howard.

"I wouldn't say I was overlooked because this was a Vince Carter trade. It wasn't made for me,'' he said. "I just hope to fill a void, or a gap, that they have. I know they wanted me. They like me. I may be overlooked on the court because this team has so many weapons, but that's a good thing.''

"He (Anderson) can play,'' said Carter, who has been offering his teammate advice throughout the first two Summer League games. "He shoots. He rebounds. I already told Dwight, it will give him another option, another shooter out there, when he gets double teamed down low.''

Bucks general manager John Hammond has emphasized that the team will not exceed the luxury tax, even though it is over the cap level with a payroll estimated at $64.9 million. Four players account for more than $40 million of that total - Michael Redd ($17.04 million), Andrew Bogut ($10 million), Dan Gadzuric ($6.75 million) and Luke Ridnour ($6.5 million). Bogut is in the first year of a five-year, $60 million extension he signed last summer.

If the Bucks waive Bruce Bowen, they will realize a $2 million savings and could be between $6 million and $7 million under the tax level.

After trading Richard Jefferson to San Antonio as part of a three-team deal last month, the Bucks were able to gain some flexibility regarding roster moves. They picked up the expiring contracts of Bowen and veteran Kurt Thomas from the Spurs, and they also obtained 22-year-old power forward Amir Johnson from the Detroit Pistons.

Mike Krzyzewski appears set to go for more gold. USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said Tuesday that ''all leads point to Coach K coming back,'' following a report by the Boston Globe that Krzyzewski has agreed to return as U.S. Olympic basketball coach.

The Globe report cited two sources close to the situation.

Krzyzewski led the Americans to the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, their first major championship in eight years. He also guided them to a bronze in the world championships two years earlier.

Colangelo said he was aware of the speculation regarding Krzyzewski, but wouldn't confirm a decision had been reached. However, he hoped the coach he picked in 2005 to guide the program would return.

''With the success that we had, I would do everything in my power to keep everything intact,'' Colangelo told The Associated Press.

There has been little, if any, recent movement between the Sixers and Andy Miller, the agent for Sixers unrestricted free agent Andre Miller. The source said that the two sides "are not in the same ballpark" in terms of money and length of term, and that speculation about a sign-and-trade arrangement with the Portland Trail Blazers "has no legs."

There also seems to be some question as to the level of interest the Blazers might have in Miller, who will turn 34 in March. The Sixers have discussed contract scenarios concerning him, but have not made a formal offer.

Finally, the source indicated that - despite a published report - the Sixers have not made an offer to former Sixer Rodney Carney.

The Mavericks’ talks with Toronto for (Shawn) Marion appear to be stuck on at least two points. An Eastern Conference executive said the deal could hinge on Toronto including Marcus Banks in the equation.

Banks, a 6-foot-2 point guard, is due more than $9 million over the next two seasons, which would impact the Mavericks’ ability to attract free agents next summer.

Another problem is Toronto apparently does not want to take back any salary in exchange for Marion, who is an unrestricted free agent and would come to the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade situation.

If the Raptors won’t take on Stackhouse’s $2 million — the guaranteed portion of his $7 million salary — then a third team would have to be found to make the deal work. It is believed owner Mark Cuban and Dan Fegan, the agent for Stackhouse and Marion, are working on finding a partner to facilitate the trade.

Dionte Christmas, the former Temple guard who is playing for the Sixers in the summer league, will play for the Los Angeles Clippers in a summer league in Las Vegas starting Friday.

Christmas was projected as a second-round pick but went undrafted.

Immediately after the draft, Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski called Christmas to invite him to play summer ball in Orlando.

"Without Stefanski giving me that call, I don't know where my confidence would be," said Christmas, who scored seven points on 3-of-8 shooting last night.

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Ron Artest, making official a deal agreed to last week.

The team announced the signing early Wednesday but did not release the terms.

ESPN.com and the Los Angeles Times have reported that Artest, who was an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a three-year deal worth $18 million when he decided to join the team on Thursday.

The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed free agent reserve guard Shannon Brown.

The Lakers announced the deal early Wednesday, but terms were not released.

The Lakers acquired Brown in February as part of a trade with the Charlotte Bobcats. He played in 18 regular season games for the Lakers and averaged 3.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.6 minutes.

It will take a major offer by a rival team to force the Knicks’ hand, but most franchises are spending conservatively, in deference to the recession. Teams are also wary of (David) Lee’s restricted free-agent status, which allows the Knicks to match any offer within seven days. During that period, the team that signed Lee would have its salary cap space tied up.

(Mark) Bartelstein sounded frustrated at the lack of a deal.

“It’s a shame David’s not done yet,” Bartelstein said. “The Knicks have the ability to get him signed. The other teams don’t, because they don’t know if the Knicks will match or not, or go through a sign-and-trade.”

Bartelstein said he was “working through a number of different scenarios,” but he would not say how long it might take to get Lee signed. He could try to arrange a sign-and-trade deal, but the Knicks would probably balk unless they got a high-level player in return.

The market appears to favor the Knicks, but Walsh disagreed.

“Because a team can make a trade that impacts their cap, and they could get room,” he said. “I don’t think it’s over till it’s over. And I don’t think the players do either.”

The Dallas Mavericks are one of the known suitors for (Shawn) Marion but league sources say (Toronto G.M. Bryan) Colangelo was casting a wide to net to try and work something. There were suggestions Colangelo was trying to expand any deal to include another player – perhaps Marcus Banks – but league sources say Colangelo won't do anything to add salary.

As other NBA teams take an aggressive approach toward free agency, the Hornets and General Manager Jeff Bower have been low-key, though active in inquiring about available frontcourt players.

Although Bower has not pursued big-name free agents such as Rasheed Wallace (who is expected to sign with Boston today), Trevor Ariza (Houston) or Hedo Turkoglu (Toronto) to bolster the team's front line, he has expressed interest in several power forwards/centers in the past week, according to agents and league sources familiar with the situation.

The forwards on the Hornets' radar include Sacramento restricted free agent Ike Diogu, San Antonio unrestricted free agent Drew Gooden, Boston restricted free agent and former LSU star Glen Davis, Dallas unrestricted free agent and former LSU standout Brandon Bass, Cleveland unrestricted free agent Joe Smith and New York Knicks unrestricted free agent Chris Wilcox. At center, New Orleans is targeting two unrestricted free agents, Denver's Chris Andersen, a former Hornet, Atlanta's Zaza Pachulia.

The Hornets are waiting for the market to set the price for the majority of the second-tier free agents they are pursuing.

That Hedo Turkoglu is coming to the Raptors is not in doubt; the timing remains an issue.

The Raptors will officially introduce their most significant free agent signing in years either today or tomorrow, depending on how president and GM Bryan Colangelo does in creating extra financial flexibility in a move or two he's still trying to make.

According to NBA sources, Colangelo spent most of yesterday trying to facilitate any number of sign-and-trade transactions that might benefit Raptors' players who leave by allowing them a larger starting salary and greater annual raises.

In order to clear enough cap room to finalize the five-year, approximately $53 million (all figures U.S.) deal Colangelo has with Turkoglu, the GM must get Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker and Carlos Delfino off the books. It's unclear whether he'd have to "renounce" (release) anyone else to create the space.

The Knicks and Grant Hill are serious about each other. Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni spent nearly all day -- and night -- with the former All-Star yesterday, culminating with dinner in the city and a offer on the table.

The offer was for one year and a portion of the Knicks' mid-level exception. Hill is permitted to sign as soon as tomorrow, the first day free agents are allowed to sign contracts.