The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Euroleague Basketball have announced that three Euroleague teams will compete in five NBA preseason games from October 10-21, 2008. The five games, which are part of the Euroleague American Tour, will be played by 2008 Euroleague champion CSKA Moscow (Russia), FC Barcelona (Spain) and Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania). The teams may face up to five NBA opponents including the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Orlando Magic, the Toronto Raptors, and possibly the Los Angeles Clippers.

"These games continue our collaboration with Euroleague Basketball, as we work together to grow the game of basketball on a global basis," said NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The Euroleague American Tour continues a tradition of friendly competition between the NBA and Euroleague Basketball, dating back to 1978 when Maccabi Tel Aviv played the Washington Bullets in Tel Aviv, Israel. Following the 2008 preseason schedule, 33 games will have been played between the two leagues since Euroleague Basketball was created in 2000, including 13 games during NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS in 2006 and 2007.

"We value the chance to partner with NBA teams in their own arenas," Euroleague Basketball CEO Jordi Bertomeu said. "There are basketball fans of all types in North America whom we plan to entertain with our own distinct playing style. We are sure they will appreciate again that the international game has a lot to offer our sport."

The Euroleague American Tour tips off on October 10 in Orlando, Florida, when six-time Euroleague champion CSKA Moscow makes its North American debut against the Orlando Magic. CSKA's second preseason game will take place in Toronto, Canada, when CSKA plays the Toronto Raptors on October 14.

FC Barcelona play two games as part of the Preseason Shootout, hosted by the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. The 2008 NBA Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers will be Barcelona's first opponent on Oct. 18, followed by the either Los Angeles Clippers or Toronto Raptors on Oct. 19. For Barcelona, founded in 1926, the games in Los Angeles will be their first played in the United States.

ORACLE Arena in Oakland, Calif. will be the final site of the Euroleague's American Tour when the Golden State Warriors hosts Lietuvos Rytas on Oct. 21. Rytas is the 2005 ULEB Cup champion and hold five Lithuanian League crowns.

For the third consecutive year, NBA teams will participate in preseason games abroad. The Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and Washington Wizards will play four games in Barcelona, Berlin, London, and Paris as part of NBA Europe Live 2008.

Gilbert Arenas ended up signing a contract worth $16 million less than what he was offered, and he did so to give the Wizards an opportunity to get better, Andrew Alberg from USA Today is reporting.

Arenas is hoping that the money he left on the table can be used to further improve the team, a move which team president Ernie Grunwald called "unheard of."

While the Wizards did get a scare from the Clippers and Warriors, who had the room to chase after Arenas, the fact that Arenas believes in the team played into their favor.  If they can stay healthy, Arenas sees the Wizards as a top 5 team in the league.

"We're gonna put a banner up there. We're gonna do it for Mr. Pollin," Arenas said. "That's what kind of talent, that's what kind of team, that's what kind of belief we have."

"I just need to cut out some of the foolishness I do," said Arenas.

As the Wizards left Washington for the NBA Summer League, Nick Young threw his arms around Andray Blatche and Dominic McGuire and declared, "This is new Big Three right here."

The Wizards finished the VSL with a 2-3 record.

Washington Wizards' President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has re-signed guard Gilbert Arenas.  Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

"Today is a great day for the Wizards' organization," said Grunfeld.  "Gilbert is a phenomenal player, and his value to the franchise goes beyond what he brings to the court.  We're proud and excited that we were able to take care of our own free agents and open the 2008-09 season with a healthy core intact."

Prior to last season, Arenas represented the Wizards at three consecutive All-Star Games (2005, 2006, 2007).  During that stretch, he averaged 27.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals to earn All-NBA Second Team honors once (2006-07) and All-NBA Third Team honors twice (2004-05 and 2005-06).  Arenas  averaged 19.4 points and 5.1 assists in just 13 regular season games in 2007-08 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

"I'd like to thank Mr. Pollin, Ernie Grunfeld, the entire Wizards' organization and, most importantly, the fans for their support and their commitment to building a championship team," said Arenas.  "I think with the players we have on this roster, we can compete with anyone in the NBA and I look forward to returning to the court next season on a mission to deliver a championship banner to Washington D.C."

Wizards' forward Etan Thomas missed the entire 2007-08 season after heart surgery and made a significant step towards recovery on Friday, the Washington Post is reporting.

Thomas was able to go full speed in a practice session with the Wizards' summer league squad and said he felt great afterwards.

"I feel fine now," said Thomas, who matched up against rookie first-round pick JaVale McGee yesterday. "It's just something that takes time to heal. I wanted it to heal a lot quicker, but it's something that just took time. Now, it's all healed, and I'm just working out for the summer."

The Utah Jazz will not match the offer sheet signed by Dee Brown with Washington, leaving the former Illinois guard to join the Wizards, the Washington Post is reporting.

"Dee is a player who can bring quickness and energy to our team," Wizards' President Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement. "We like that he gives us depth and a different look at the point guard position."

Utah has until Wednesday to match the offer sheet, but the team will not do so because it is set at point guard with Williams, Ronnie Price and Jason Hart, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The Spurs and unrestricted free agent Roger Mason have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth more than $7M, Mason?s agent said on Thursday.

?We?ve got a deal done,? Mark Bartelstein told The Associated Press by phone.

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed restricted free agent point guard Dee Brown to an offer sheet.  

Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.  The Utah Jazz will now have seven days to match the Wizards? offer under the terms of the NBA?s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

?Dee is a player who can bring quickness and energy to our team? said Grunfeld. ?We like that he gives us depth and a different look at the point guard position.?

Brown (6-0, 185) played last season for Galatasaray Caf? Crown in Turkey, where he averaged 12.3 points per game.  He was originally drafted by Utah with the 46th overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft and averaged 1.9 points and 1.7 assists in 49 games for the Jazz during the 2006-07 season.  Brown is a product of the University of Illinois, where he finished his four-year career as the winningest player in school history (114 games, 114-23 overall record) and helped lead the Illini to the NCAA Championship Game as a junior in 2005.

After missing out on Corey Maggette, who took the money in Golden State, the San Antonio Spurs reached an agreement with Wizards' guard Roger Mason on a two year contract, the San Antonio Express-News is reporting.

It is believed that Mason will earn $7.5 million over two seasons.

Wizards' guard Gilbert Arenas has stayed off the court since the team was eliminated from the playoffs in early May, according to The Associated Press.

"I don't want to touch a basketball until August," Arenas said. "After the last two seasons, I never really had time to recover. My knee is about 95 percent -- it's got to get stronger."

His knee has ached ever since he tried a hasty comeback from a second knee operation in November.