Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports: Mitch Richmond's career with the Washington Wizards officially ended yesterday when the team bought out the final two years of his contract for $10 million.

Richmond signed a four-year, $40 million deal signed before the 1999-2000 season. The team has the option of paying Richmond, 36, in a lump sum or paying him $5 million now and $1 million installments over the next five years, according to a team official.

Though the move costs the Wizards a hefty sum for a player who won't be on their roster next season, it will clear $10 million off the payroll the following season and help the team clear room under the salary cap next summer. Washington could have more than $12 million in salary cap space to pursue free agents next summer.

AP - Michael Jordan made history again Wednesday night, becoming the first NBA executive to select a high school player first overall in the draft as the Washington Wizards chose 19-year-old Kwame Brown.

Brown, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound center from Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Ga., stood up and hugged his family before walking on stage, smiling broadly, and shaking the hand of commissioner David Stern.

Elton Brand, the first overall pick of the 1999 NBA Draft, almost was shipped out of town for the first overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft, a league source informed the Chicago Sun-Times, but the deal fell apart late Monday.  Had the trade gone through the Bulls would have owned the first and fourth overall picks, hoping to choose two high schoolers in Kwame Brown and Eddy Curry.  As it stands now it looks like they will get neither, with the Los Angeles Clippers appearing to favor choosing the center with the second overall pick.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that on the eve of the 2001 NBA Draft the hottest name around is not Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler or Pau Gasol.  The name on everyone's lips is young star Elton Brand, the 20/10 product of the Chicago Bulls.  League sources confirmed that Jordan is chasing Brand with the Wizards #1 pick, as are the Clippers with their #2.  'League sources said the Wizards and Clippers offered their draft picks for Brand, for different reasons. Late Tuesday the Clippers were considering selecting Chandler, the Southern California high-schooler. If they do, the deal would be off because Curry would slip to the Bulls, who would take him.' writes Sam Smith.  In a scenario concocted by Smith, the Bulls could take Kwame Brown with their pick from the Brand trade, take an athlete such as Rodney White with their pick at #4, then trade Ron Mercer to New Jersey for the seventh overall pick and take Jason Richardson.  Just what the Bulls need.. get even younger from the 2000-01 squad, the youngest in NBA history.