There is a possibility that the Wizards could sign free agent shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson, who emerged as a solid perimeter defender with the Orlando Magic last season, the Washington Post is reporting.

Stevenson turned down a three-year, $10 million offer from the Magic earlier in the summer and is reportedly seeking a four-year contract worth $16 million.

The Orlando Magic have re-signed restricted free agent forward Trevor Ariza, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Ariza (6?8?, 200, 6/30/85) played in 57 games with both the Magic and New York last season, averaging 4.6 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 1.1 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 17.5 minpg. He was traded to Orlando by the Knicks on Feb. 22, 2006, along with the expiring contract of Anfernee Hardaway, in exchange for Steve Francis. During 21 games with Orlando, Ariza averaged 4.7 ppg. and 3.9 rpg. in 13.8 minpg.

?We are very pleased to bring Trevor back, as he is a key part of our young core,? General Manager Otis Smith said. ?His athleticism and explosiveness will be a great asset to our team on both ends of the floor.?

A Spanish sports newspaper is reporting that 2005 Orlando Magic lottery pick has signed a long-term contract with a large buyout sum with FC Barcelona.

The deal is a four-year contract. He will earn 1.4 million euros ($1.75 million USD) per year and he will have an approximately 8.5 million euros ($10.75 million USD) buyout.

Recently drafted sharp shooter J.J. Redick was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Male Athlete of the Year today.

Redick claimed the Anthony J. McKevlin Award after he became the A.C.C's all-time scoring leader with 2769 points while setting an NCAA record with 457 three-point field goals.

Redick was selected with the 11th overall pick in this year's NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic

Numerous agents have revealed to the Sacramento Bee that Bonzi Wells' unknown status makes it more difficult to seriously discuss other free agents with the Kings. While the Kings still can offer their mid-level exception ($5.2 million), they would prefer to avoid paying the luxury tax.

Wells is the team's top priority, meaning others must wait. Among them is former Kings forward Darius Songaila, a Chicago restricted free agent who is not expected to receive an offer from the Bulls.

"Geoff (Pietre) and I have been talking," said Mark Bartelstein, Songaila's agent. "But we have eight to 10 teams that we're seriously talking to. We've told them that Darius has a great interest in coming back there. But obviously, there are other teams that are pursuing Darius. We just can't wait around forever. We're moving toward trying to get something done."

The Kings reportedly have also inquired about free-agent small forward Trevor Ariza, a third-year player from UCLA who played in 21 games for Orlando last season.

According to Larry Coon in his 'Salary Cap FAQ,' six teams were forced to pay the luxury tax for the 2005-2006 season.  The tax level was set at $61.7 million and listed below are the clubs that went over and the amount which is owed.

New York Knicks: $37.2 million
Dallas Mavericks: $17.3 million
Orlando Magic: $7.8 million
Indiana Pacers: $4.7 million
Memphis Grizzlies: $3.7 million
San Antonio Spurs: $.9 million

The tax level for the 2006-2007 season, according to a NBA Press Release, will be $65.42 million.

Coon helped round out the luxury tax picture with the following comments:

"I don't expect any non-taxpaying teams to become taxpayers, and most of the teams who paid tax this year have enough flexibility to get under the tax level for next year, except New York and probably Dallas.  It seems most teams are making a pretty conscientious effort to stay under the tax level, so I can easily see just those two teams paying tax next year."

When asked if any of the clubs on the list were surprsing, Coon replied, "The new CBA took out a lot of the uncertainty that could have led to surprises, by setting the tax level in advance of the season.  Teams no longer need to project where they think the tax level will fall -- they now know exactly where they need to be.  In addition, last year's amnesty provision allowed teams to cut expensive players and reduce their tax profile.  As a result, there were no real surprises this year."

The one-time amnesty clause helped both the Knicks and Mavericks.

"The Mavs would have owed another $15.9 million; the Knicks another $6.6 million, but without the amnesty provision they might not have made the same decisions about the rest of their rosters, so you can't exactly say that they saved that much." said Coon.

A few years ago, the Orlando Magic dealt Keith Bogans in favor of keeping DeShawn Stevenson.

Now, the team is reversing the course by bring back Bogans for what is rumored to be a three-year deal which could be worth as much as half of the Mid-Level Exception.

Stevenson's agent, Rob Pelinka, told the Sentinel recently that Stevenson had at least two contract offers on the table that were better than the Magic's.

During the press conferene, Otis Smith indicated that Houston didn't tender an offer.

Several NBA teams have called the Orlando Magic about acquiring point guard Travis Diener, according to a report published by the Orlando Sentinel. The second year of Diener's deal is only partially guaranteed.

"There's been some interest," Magic General Manager Otis Smith said. Diener said he has heard the same through the NBA grapevine.

Diener was the Magic's third string point guard last season, behind Jameer Nelson and Carlos Arroyo.

Orlando Magic rookie J.J. Redick said Tuesday that the back injury he suffered more than a month ago will keep him from participating in the tryouts for Team USA later this month, John Denton from Florida Today is reporting.

The former Duke star isn't playing this week in the Orlando summer league as he continues to rehabilitate the herniated disc in his lower back.

Isiah Thomas is exploring the possibility of reacquiring Trevor Ariza, a player Larry Brown referred to as "delusional", the New York Daily News.

Signing Ariza, a restricted free agent, appears to be a longshot, since Thomas drafted swingman Renaldo Balkman in the first round and has him under contract for three years. The Orlando Magic has the option to match any offer made to Ariza,  who is looking to make $3 million per season.

Ariza's agent, David Lee, told Florida Today that his client is "a jump shot away from being an All-Star."  Lee also said  that Sacramento, Houston and Denver have expressed interest in the athletic forward.