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© St. Petersburg Times, published July 19, 2002
Hughes signs with Wizards for 3 years
WASHINGTON -- Free-agent guard Larry Hughes, who left Saint Louis University after his freshman year to be the eighth overall pick in the 1998, signed a three-year contract with the Wizards.
"It's a tremendous opportunity to come into an organization whose goal is focused on winning, with a main focus of playing in that championship game and coming out on top," said Hughes, who was also considering Philadelphia, Minnesota, Miami and four other franchises.
The 6-foot-5, 184-pound Hughes, who can play either guard position, will have an opening salary of $4.5-million. He averaged 12.4 points and 4.3 assists in 73 games with the Warriors last season.
"We are confident that Larry Hughes will make a significant contribution to our team," GM Wes Unseld said. "He adds versatility to our roster with his ability to play both of the guard positions and his athleticism will help us on both ends of the floor."
IVERSON UPDATE: A judge in Philadelphia granted a week's delay for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to try Allen Iverson on charges he threatened two men while armed with a gun.
Municipal Court Judge Seamus McCaffery acted after attorneys for the 76ers star said they needed more time to prepare for the hearing, which had been set for Monday.
McCaffery described the delay as "very routine."
The District Attorney's office consented to the request and the hearing most likely will be held on either July 29 or 30, he said.
CLIPPERS: Highly regarded point guard Marko Jaric of Yugoslavia signed a multiyear contract but financial terms weren't given.
LAKERS: Devean George, the 24-year-old forward, signed a four-year contract, worth slightly less than $18.5-million, the Associated Press reported.
Also, the team will begin its bid for a fourth consecutive championship against the Spurs on Oct. 29, the opening night of the league's 57th season.
76ERS: Forward Sam Clancy, the team's second-round pick in last month's draft, signed. Terms weren't given.
SONICS: Jerome James, a 7-1, 285-pound center who started 40 games in his first season with the team, re-signed for three years but financial terms were disclosed.
SPURS: Argentine guard Emanuel Ginobili, a star player in the Italian League, signed. Terms of the contract were not released, but the San Antonio Express-News reported the two-year deal would be worth about $3-million.
WASHINGTON 63, DETROIT 59: Vicky Bullett scored 22, including a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, for the host Mystics. Swin Cash led Detroit with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
NEW YORK 72, L.A. 59: The host Liberty was led by Tamika Whitmore, who had a game-best 25 points.
ORLANDO: The league suspended reserve center Jessie Hicks for one game and fined her $600 for hitting Charlotte's Summer Erb.