NBA Headlines

Mayor Mick Cornett was in a conference room waiting for a meeting to get started when city manager Jim Couch walked in and handed him a slip of paper with a single word on it: "Done." Cornett knew exactly what it meant. His city had just been called up to the major leagues. The journey was a long one for Cornett, who grew up in Oklahoma City asking adults if there was any chance one of the major...

Derrick Rose had a lot of questions at his first practice with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. "I asked a lot of them. I lost count," the 19-year-old guard said following a two-hour practice at the Bulls' suburban training facility. "(But) I felt very comfortable out there. I can't wait to get down to Orlando and start playing." The 6-foot 3-inch Rose, selected first overall in the NBA draft, was...

Gilbert Arenas is accepting less money from the Washington Wizards, invoking an attitude far, far removed from the world of his working-class fans. "What can I do for my family with $127 million that I can't do with $111 million?" he told The Washington Post. The unpredictable three-time All-Star point guard, in vintage Agent Zero fashion, told the Post and the Washington Times on Thursday that he...

Chris Paul and the Hornets reached a contract agreement Thursday that could keep the All-Star point guard with the team for at least the next four seasons. Lance Young, Paul's agent, said Paul agreed to a three-year extension with a player's option for a fourth year. The total value of the deal is $68 million.

As the SuperSonics pack for the move to Oklahoma City, basketball fans and city officials were hopeful about the provisions of the team's departure deal that could lead to a new NBA franchise in Seattle. But meeting those requirements will be no easy task. Basketball boosters will have to win over a balky state Legislature and local voters who have grown weary of building stadiums for pro sports...

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Gilbert Arenas has agreed to re-sign with the Washington Wizards for $111 million over six years, essentially taking millions less so that his team could have more financial flexibility, two newspapers reported Thursday.

Michael Beasley returned to practice with the Miami Heat on Thursday, one day after the No. 2 overall pick in last week's NBA draft was knocked out of his first official summer-league workout with a chest bruise.

Derrick Rose had a lot of questions at his first practice with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Chad Ford takes a look at the free-agent class of 2008.

In the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, Eddie Sefko reports "If this off-season has proved anything to the Mavericks, it's that there is never a shortage of players who can fill out a roster. On Monday, they had seven players under contract. Today, they have 11, with more on the way. The latest, apparently, is J.J. Barea. Word out of Puerto Rico is that he will sign a three-year contract Wednesday, when the moratorium on trades and signings is lifted."

In the SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL, Ira Winderman reports "After an elbow to the chest sidelined first-round draft choice Michael Beasley for almost all of the first day of the Miami Heat's summer camp, the No. 2 pick out of Kansas State was back on the court today at AmericanAirlines Arena. Beasley was held out of this morning's session, before returning to the court for non-contact drills during the late-afternoon session of the two-a-day practices. The Heat is also scheduled to practice twice Friday, as it continues preparations for its weeklong summer league in Orlando."

Both the Washington Post and Washington Times reported Thursday that Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas agreed to re-sign with the team for for $111 million over six years.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets reached a contract agreement Thursday that could keep the All-Star point guard with the team for at least the next four seasons.

The Orlando Magic on Thursday signed guard Courtney Lee, their first-round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.