The Washington Wizards signed the long-range veteran, Anthony Peeler, to contract this week.  The Wizards are hoping the 38-year-old veteran will bring his gritty, tough style of play to an organization that is in dire need of physical play.

"Peeler gives us a veteran presence in our back court," said Ernie Grunfeld, the Wizards' president of basketball operations. "He's tough, a good defender and he's been in winning situations."

Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed free agent Anthony Peeler to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

?Anthony Peeler is an established veteran and a very solid player,? said Grunfeld. ?He is a proven perimeter shooter, a hard-nosed defender, and brings significant playoff experience to our young roster.?

The 6-4, 208 pound guard, has averaged 10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists over his 12 year NBA career, shooting 38% from three point range and has appeared in 50 playoff games. Last season, Peeler led the NBA in three point shooting with a .482 average.

Peeler was originally drafted out of the University of Missouri by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 15th overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft

According to the team's official website the Washington Wizards have matched the offer sheet signed by forward Etan Thomas with the Milwaukee Bucks and will now retain his rights.  Since Thomas was a restricted free agent rather than unrestricted the Wizards had the right to match any contract offer signed within 15 days.

?Etan is a developing big man who has proven he can rebound, block shots and defend in this league,? said Grunfeld. ?The energy and enthusiasm he brings to the floor every night is contagious, and we?re excited that Etan will continue to be a valuable part our roster.?

The Washington Wizards will re-sign forward-center Etan Thomas, according to a league source.

Thomas, a bruising 6-foot-9, 260-pounder, signed a six-year, $38 million offer sheet earlier this month with Milwaukee. As a restricted free agent, the Wizards retained the right to match the Bucks' offer. Last night, they decided to do just that, according to the source.

While not commenting directly on the signing, Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan called the 26-year-old Thomas the team's "guts, grit and glory guy."

"It's hard to keep him off the floor, especially at the end of games when the pressure is on," said Jordan, entering his second season as Wizards coach. "He's as emotionally tough and physical as they come and that is how you become a great team, by playing with guys like that."

The waiting game continues for the Milwaukee Bucks, who probably won't know until Thursday whether the Washington Wizards will match their offer sheet to restricted free agent Etan Thomas.

On July 14, the 6-foot-10 Thomas signed a six-year offer sheet with the Bucks, a deal reported to be worth between $37 million and $39 million, or roughly the team's full midlevel exception.

The Wizards have a 15-day period to match the offer, or he will become a member of the Bucks.

"We won't know the outcome until Thursday," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said.

Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld, reached at his office on Monday afternoon, would give no hints about whether Washington will match the offer.

"I think it's the 29th," Grunfeld said of the deadline. "By then, we will have an answer."

"He had a great year for us," said Grunfeld, who left the Bucks' front office to join the Wizards before last season.

Meanwhile, Harris said Monday that contract talks were ongoing with Bucks veteran Toni Kukoc, an unrestricted free agent, and his representative, Herb Rudoy.

"Certainly, we're looking forward to this season and beyond," Harris said of a possible deal. "There's a desire on the part of both parties, and we'd like to see him back in a Bucks uniform."

According to El Nuevo Dia, Peter John Ramos, the Wizards' 2nd round pick in this year's draft, has inked a four deal totaling $3.1 million. Ramos, taken 33rd overall, will get two years guaranteed at $1.6 million.  The $1.6 million over two years equates to a similar starting salary as a player taken at the end of the 1st round. The second two years are non-gauranteed team options totaling approximately $1.5 million. Ramos will play for his native country of Puerto Rico this summer at the Olympics in Athens. (Article in Spanish)

By John N. Mitchell
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Washington Wizards restricted free agent Etan Thomas will visit the Milwaukee Bucks today and could be offered a contract that, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, the Wizards would be unwilling to match. Thomas is one of three restricted free agents ? Chris Mihm (Boston) and Stromile Swift (Memphis) are the others ? the Bucks are considering to help bolster their front line.

If the Bucks offer Thomas a contract it likely would be for the full mid-level exception, approximately $38 million over six years. Because of the Larry Bird exception ? the NBA allows teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their own free agents, up to the player's maximum salary ? the Wizards could match or exceed any contract offer Thomas gets, but that is unlikely.

If Thomas receives an offer sheet from the Bucks he can sign it Wednesday, the first day teams are allowed to begin signing free agents. At that point the Wizards will have 15 days to decide whether to match the offer.
   
The source said the Wizards and Thomas' representatives have had preliminary discussions concerning a deal in the neighborhood of $16 million over the next four seasons. However, according to the source, that number falls short of what Milwaukee is considering offering.
   
At the draft last month, Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said the team will "make our best attempt to keep Etan. He had a good year and I'm sure teams took notice of what he did."

According to the source, Thomas also has been contacted by Boston, Philadelphia and Denver, and has not ruled out visits to those teams.

"I would love to stay in a Wizards uniform but this is a business," Thomas told The Washington Times in a phone interview yesterday. "They are handling it as a business and I have to also. It's hard because I really like it here. I love the coaching staff; we have a young team that will continue to grow. I love the political energy.

"But I have to look at all of my options and, honestly, I have some appealing ones. But if you look at the situation, this is all in the Wizards' hands. They can bring me back if they want to."

Last season Thomas made $3.043 million with the Wizards and if they don't re-sign him the team could have $8 million to $9 million to pursue free agents the rest of the summer.

"ESPN Insider Chad Ford reported Friday afternoon that the Bucks were seriously considering offering the Wizards' big man a six-year deal for between $37 and $39 million -- roughly the full mid-level exception."

The Washington Wizards can match a deal offered to Thomas since he is a restricted free agent; and the Wizards say they  will likely match an offer.

"We really want to keep Etan," Grunfeld said. "We have the right to match an offer for him, and we want to keep him."

"ESPN's David Aldridge reports the contract is expected to be "front-loaded," meaning Thomas would get some kind of signing bonus and first-year salary up front in the first year of the deal, theoretically making it harder for Washington to match the offer."

Etan averaged 8.9 ppg and 6.7 rpg for the Wizards last season.

Former NBA center Manute Bol was seriously injured in a car accident, police said.

Bol was riding in a cab Wednesday night when it rolled over, killing the driver and throwing the 7-foot-7-inch Bol from the car. Bol sustained a head injury and was taken by helicopter to Hartford Hospital, state police spokesman J. Paul Vance said.

Bol's condition wasn't released Thursday.

"The doctor said, for his age, he's in extremely good shape and would probably be dead if he wasn't an athlete," longtime friend Andrew Kearns said. "It's going to be a long recovery, unfortunately."