Everett, Wash. Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
NBA Notebook
Around the NBA
Dixon a Wizard again
Guard Juan Dixon signed a free-agent contract with Washington on Tuesday, returning to the team that drafted him after he led Maryland to an NCAA title.
Dixon played his first three NBA seasons with the Wizards, from 2002-03 to 2004-05. He has also been with Portland, Toronto and Detroit, averaging 8.9 points, 1.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds over six seasons.
After beginning last season with the Raptors, Dixon was traded to the Pistons in February.
He was selected the Most Outstanding Player of the 2002 Final Four for helping Maryland win the national championship, then was picked in the first round of that year's NBA draft by the Wizards.
"I'm excited to return to the area and to resume my career with the Wizards," Dixon said. "I'm looking forward to the start of training camp and I'm ready to step in and contribute wherever coach (Eddie) Jordan and the team sees fit."
The Wizards open training camp Saturday in Richmond, Va.
Spurs sign top pick
George Hill, the 26th selection and former star at IUPUI, is now formally a member of San Antonio. The a 6-foot-2 guard participated in summer league with the Spurs and had been working out in San Antonio since Aug. 18, but wasn't officially signed until Tuesday.
Now that Hill has signed, the first two years of the deal are guaranteed. The rookie scale shows that Hill would make $1.22 million his first year and $1.31 million his second year. The Spurs have team options the next two years.
Hill, averaged 21.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season for the Jaguars. He declared himself eligible for the draft after his junior year, and performed well enough in workouts to put himself in position to get selected.
Suns welcome Dragic
Phoenix's newest player, Goran Dragic, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard from Slovenia, signed a three-year contract with the team Tuesday and went through an informal team workout at U.S. Airways Center.
The Suns acquired rights to the quick, sharp-shooting 22-year-old left-hander in a draft-day trade with San Antonio. Although Dragic was the 45th overall pick overall, the Suns considered him second only to No. 1 pick Derrick Rose among point guards in the draft. The Suns see Dragic as a backup and eventual replacement for 34-year-old Steve Nash.
