N.B.A. Thursday

News, notes, rumors, and some chat questions about the draft and college hoops with Kyle Whelliston and Andy Katz of ESPN.

News and Notes
Saturday
- Washington resigned DeShawn Stevenson to a 4 year deal worth 15 million dollars. Apparently, the Wiz couldn't sign a guard better then Stevenson, so they stuck with him.
- Chucky Atkins has agreed to a contract in Denver, and will replace Steve Blake, who signed a 3 year deal with the resurgent Blazers.
- Mo Williams will stay in Milwaukee, agreeing to a 6 year 52 million dollar deal. That means the Heat fell short in the proceedings and they'll go after a secondary option like Steve Francis. Blake was reportedly their 2nd choice after Williams.
- After losing Mikki Moore to the Kings, the Nets have signed free agent C Jamal Magloire to a contract. They've also waived Hassan Adams.
- Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson have been suspended for the first 7 games of next season because of their legal troubles.
- Top overall pick Greg Oden had to have his tonsils removed, which will take two to three weeks to recover. Oden will begin basketball again after that span.
Sunday
- Heat C Alonzo Mourning will return next year for one final season. He said that the final chapter in his career couldn't be a first round sweep at the hands of the Bulls.
Monday
- Golden State signed their first round pick Marco Belinelli, who performed quite well at the Las Vegas Summer League.
- Rehab is going well for Dwayne Wade, but he may not be ready for training camp, which means that he may not be good to go for the team's season opener.
Tuesday
- Detroit signed Senegal Center Cheick Samb to a contract. He performed well enough in Vegas to earn the deal.
- Houston signed Luis Scola after he was acquired along with Jackie Butler for Vassilis Spanoulis .
- Ron Artest, Maurice Evans, Theo Ratliff, and Etan Thomas were part of a league mission to feed the children of Kenya.
- Vin Baker has plead not guilty to drunken driving.
- Golden State has resigned G Kelenna Azubuike.
Wednesday
- Lots of news with Chinese players. 6th overall pick Yi Jianlian will not sign with the Bucks because of the lack of marketability and no Chinese people living there. If he's not traded, he could go back to the Chinese Basketball Association. The Chinese sports association also criticized Yao Ming because he reported late to the National Team's training.
- The Spurs resigned Fabricio Oberto
- The Albequerque Thunderbirds hired former Iona coach Jeff Ruland to be their head man.
- Travis Outlaw signed a 3 year deal with Portland.
- Stephon Marbury said that he'll play in Italy after his contract expires. No Italian will ever score a point ever again.
- Milwaukee has signed Jake Voskuhl to a 1 year deal woth 3 million.
- Kevin Durant has inked a 60 million dollar endorsement deal with Nike.
- LeBron James will host Saturday Night Live in its season premiere in September.

Rumors
- Washington may trade Juan Carlos Navarro to Miami for future draft picks, if he agrees to a buyout with FC Barcelona. The buyout calls for 3 million to be paid over 3 years. The Heat still has interest in Steve Francis. (Miami Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
- If no teams claim Derek Fisher off waivers by 3pm today, the Lakers will sign him to a 3 year deal worth 14 million dollars. (LA Times)
- Memphis has interest in Ime Udoka and Matt Barnes. (Memphis Commercial Appeal)
- Aaron Gray and JamesOn Curry could play in the D-League next season. (Chicago Tribune)
- The Spurs could release James White and Spanoulis. Spanouils would like to play in Europe. The team would like to sign Udoka, and Tiago Splitter will play one more season in Europe. (San Antonio Express-News)
- Francis will decide soon whether he'll sign with Miami, Houston, Dallas, or the Clippers. (Houston Chronicle)

Draft and College Hoops with Whelliston and Katz
How well can Jared Jordan do in the NBA? Have their been any other pros from Marist?
Kyle Whelliston: I bet he sticks. He's an old-school point guard, and that's a commodity the NBA has too little of (like baseball and left-handed relievers). As for the other question: Rik Smits, of course!

How do you see the Big East shaking out this year?
Andy Katz: Here are my tiers: 1. Louisville, Georgetown, Marquette and Pitt. 2. Providence, West Virginia, Syracuse, Connecticut, Villanova, Notre Dame 3. DePaul, St. John's, South Florida, Rutgers, Cincinnati and Seton Hall. The tiers aren't in order within each number. But that's how I see it shaking out...a top group, a middle group and a bottom group.