Everett, Wash.
Published: Wednesday, July 2, 2008

NBA NOTEBOOK: Earl Watson breaks thumb

 Starting point guard Earl Watson fractured his right thumb will have surgery Thursday in Los Angeles. The Sonics said the injury has a typical recovery period of 3-4 months. Last season, the 29-year-old Watson averaged career highs in points (10.7), assists (6.8), rebounds (2.9) and minutes (29.1). During his seven-year NBA career, Watson has averaged 7.4 points and 4.5 assists in 529 games.

BOBCATS: Charlotte declined to pick up a team option on the contract of forward Othella Harrington, making him an unrestricted free agent. Harrington missed 71 games in two seasons with the Bobcats due to two surgeries on his left knee. The 34-year-old Harrington played in just 22 games last season and averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds.

CLIPPERS: Elton Brand and Corey Maggette have told Los Angeles they will opt of the final year of their contracts and become free agents.

"We have been notified by Elton Brand and Corey Maggette of each player's decision to opt out of his respective contract," Clippers president Andy Roeser said. "On Monday night, when NBA rules permit, we will be aggressive in contacting them to address our interest in having them remain with the Clippers. We will also be active in contacting other free agents in whom we have interest."

HORNETS: Chris Paul's agent plans to travel to New Orleans today with the intention of completing a contract extension that would keep the All-Star and Team USA point guard with the Hornets for an additional three to five years. Lance Young, a senior director of the sports marketing and management company Octagon, said that he had spoken to Hornets general manager Jeff Bower by phone and that they were in general agreement on the terms of an extension for Paul, who has one season remaining on his current contract. Paul is seeking the maximum pay allowable under the league's collective bargaining agreement, or about 25 percent of the NBA salary cap with 10 percent raises going forward. Such a deal could pay Paul from $60 million to more than $80 million, depending on the length of the contract.

NBA: The league hired Army Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Johnson as senior vice president of referee operations, a newly created position to help strengthen the league's officiating programs following the Tim Donaghy scandal. The move splits executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson's role into two positions, a plan commissioner David Stern announced last fall. Johnson will oversee all aspects of officiating, while Jackson will continue to handle all other domestic and international basketball matters. Johnson recently retired after 32 years of service as a combat engineer. He was commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region division, from 2003-04, responsible for overseeing $18 billion of reconstruction in Iraq.

RAPTORS: Jose Calderon reached a "preliminary agreement" to remain with the Toronto Raptors for another season. The 26-year-old Spanish guard wrote on his Web site that his agent and the Raptors had reached a deal. However, Toronto cannot officially announce the signing until July 9.

SPURS: San Antonio guard Brent Barry opted out of his contract and became a free agent. Barry was part of a February trade with Seattle that sent him, center Francisco Elson and a 2009 first-round draft pick to the SuperSonics in exchange for forward Kurt Thomas. Barry, 36, re-signed with the Spurs in March.

TRAIL BLAZERS: Portland has reached an agreement to sign Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez. Fernandez previously announced his intention to join the NBA, but the Trail Blazers could not announce his agreement to sign until Tuesday because of league rules. Fernandez has played the past seven seasons for DKV Joventut Badalona of the Spanish ACB League. Last season he averaged 21.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals for the team, which won both the ULEB Cup and the Copa del Rey.

Associated Press
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