The Bulls have between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31 to sign Jamal Crawford and Marcus Fizer to contract extensions, otherwise the players will become restricted free agents next summer.

In itself, that is no reason to panic. The Bulls could match any offer to their restricted free agents and would be in no danger of losing Crawford or Fizer against their will.

But then again, it's worth noting that three teams with a vast supply of cap room - Denver, Utah and Miami - are having trouble landing any free agents. That means their cap money will likely carry over to next summer, when those teams could be in position to make expensive offers hoping the Bulls won't match.

"I can't worry about that," Bulls general manager John Paxson said. "I can't let that force my hand. I still feel we can be patient."

In some ways, it would make sense to wait on extensions. The Bulls might want to see how Crawford fares with a full season as the starting point guard and will certainly wait until Fizer proves he has recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

On the other hand, the Bulls could end up spending more for both players if they wait until next year. That could prove costly down the road because the Bulls will be closing in on the luxury-tax threshold soon.

Many of the best seats for Charlotte Bobcats home games will cost $15 to $30 more per ticket than the Charlotte Hornets charged their last season here.

The Bobcats announced their ticket prices Wednesday for the 2004-05 season, when they'll play in the Charlotte Coliseum. The team will move into a new, uptown arena the following season, when they'll likely again raise ticket prices.

The Bobcats will charge $115 for a courtside seat sold on a single-game basis that first season. That same seat cost $85 in the 2001-02 season, before the Hornets moved to New Orleans.

The Bobcats say they're offering season-ticket discounts that narrow that price difference. For instance, a $115 ticket drops to $100 as part of a 43-game season-ticket package.

Bobcats officials say they have to charge more than the Hornets did to have any chance to break even. Team owner Bob Johnson is paying the NBA a $300 million expansion fee and underwriting millions in start-up costs.

"To be honest, this is the price for building a viable business in the NBA," Bobcats executive vice president Ed Tapscott said. "We're balancing a pricing schedule that's sensitive to this market with (the ability to be) viable and competitive in the NBA."

The Bobcats hope to get Hornets fans back into their old seats. The team is offering former Hornets season-ticket holders first chance to buy Bobcats season tickets, before they go on sale to the general public.

Andre Miller will soon be a Denver Nugget.

The Los Angeles Clippers have decided they will not match the Nuggets' offer for the free agent guard, Nuggets spokesman Eric Sebastian said Thursday. The Clippers had until midnight ET to do so.

A Clippers spokesman said the team had no immediate comment.

The Nuggets signed Miller to a six-year, $51 million offer sheet earlier this month. The offer for the four-year NBA veteran includes a $10 million signing bonus and performance bonuses that could push its total value to more than $55 million.

The Nuggets tied Cleveland for the worst record in the league at 17-65 and lost leading scorer and rebounder Juwan Howard in free agency. But they have a good, young core group of players.

Brazilian forward Nene Hilario was a member of the NBA's All-Rookie team last season, while forward Rodney White showed glimpses of why the Detroit Pistons used a lottery pick on him two years ago. The Nuggets also have Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony, who they took with the third pick in this year's draft.

He isn't one of the big names they've been chasing, but the Jazz expect to sign their first free agent of the summer today.

Carlos Arroyo, Utah's No. 3 point guard last season, has agreed to a new deal with the Jazz.

The Jazz today will re-sign free agent Carlos Arroyo, their No. 3 point guard this past season.  The signing, however, does not signal an end to Utah's ongoing search for help at the point.
     
"We're still looking," said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations.
     
"But," O'Connor added Wednesday, "we're not going to be looking to get somebody with experience just for the sake of getting somebody. He's got to be able to play. Skill is more important than experience."
     
In another development, it is believed the Jazz will bring San Antonio free agent shooting guard Stephen Jackson to Salt Lake for an interview on Friday. Jackson became expendible when the Spurs acquired Sacramento's Hedo Turkoglu and Indiana's Ron Mercer in a trade earlier this month.

They may have missed out on their dream backcourt of Corey Maggette and Gilbert Arenas, but the Jazz haven't stopped shopping for guards.
   
The Jazz will add a point guard today by signing their own free agent, Carlos Arroyo, to a one-year contract. And Friday, they will turn their attention to Stephen Jackson, showing him around Salt Lake City in an effort to attract the Spurs' shooting guard.
   
Jackson, who averaged 11.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 80 games for the world champions last season, is not expected to return to San Antonio after the Spurs acquired Ron Mercer, Hedu Turkoglu, Robert Horry and Anthony Carter earlier this month.

Portland Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis may be returning to the NBA next season, ESPN's David Aldridge reports.

The 38-year-old is expected to meet with Blazers officials next week to inform the team of his plans, but the Blazers are increasingly hopeful that Sabonis will play for them.

An internet report out of Europe in May said that Sabonis had decided to play next season for his Lithuanian team Zalgiris, which he co-owns. But Sabonis's agent, Herb Rudoy, said his client has not yet decided what to do.

Sabonis, who played very well in the Blazers' seven-game first-round series loss to Dallas, would make $7 million next season, but the Blazers can waive him before August 15 and not have to pay his salary.

All signs point toward Andre Miller becoming a Denver Nugget at 8:59 PDT tonight, with the Clippers content to let expire a league-mandated 15-day deadline to match a $51-million contract over the next six seasons.

The Clippers' expected inaction on Miller, after matching offers from the Miami Heat for Elton Brand and from the Utah Jazz for Corey Maggette this month, would mean the team would have its third starting point guard in as many seasons.

After not matching Denver's offer, the Clippers would use either Keyon Dooling or Marko Jaric to direct new Coach Mike Dunleavy's high-tempo offense.

Jeff McInnis signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers after the 2001-02 season. McInnis' brash style rubbed teammates and coaches the wrong way and the Clippers were only too happy to be rid of him, particularly after dealing for Miller last summer.

Miller also clashed with teammates and coaches after the Clippers sent fan favorite Darius Miles to the Cleveland Cavaliers to get him. Miller had been the NBA's leader in assists while with Cleveland in 2001-02, averaging 10.9, but he averaged 6.7 for the Clippers last season.

Chances are George Karl won't be consulted for input on picking his successor as Milwaukee Bucks head coach.

But Karl left no doubt where his feelings on the matter rested.

"I'd probably hire me," said Karl, explaining that the current Bucks remind him of the Seattle SuperSonics team he rebuilt from the bottom up.

When reminded that he was not a viable option, Karl said he favored two of his former assistants, Terry Stotts, who is the interim head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, and Bucks assistant Don Newman.

While Stotts remains a frontrunner for the job, Newman eliminated himself from consideration on Wednesday.

"I hope Terry or Donnie gets it," Karl said. "Those would be my personal choices of the people they are interviewing.

"They both have an advantage to coaching this team because they know it and have a comfort zone with it."

Newman still may remain with the Bucks as an assistant under the new coach, but he is rumored to be interested in an assistant position with the New Jersey Nets.

San Antonio Spurs free-agent swingman Stephen Jackson is scheduled to visit the Nuggets today in Denver.

Jackson averaged 11.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 28.2 minutes last season for the NBA champions. The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder ranked 18th in the NBA in steals (125) and started in 58 of 80 games.

Jackson averaged 11.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 28.2 minutes last season for the NBA champions. The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder ranked 18th in the NBA in steals (125) and started in 58 of 80 games.
 
Agent Dan Fegan said Jackson also would visit the Utah Jazz on Friday and the Atlanta Hawks early next week. The Nuggets' roster includes shooting guards Rodney White, Vincent Yar- brough and Jeff Trepagnier.

"It's a great fit for (the Nuggets)," Fegan said. "Stephen has proven he can knock down big shots. If the Nuggets get (point guard) Andre (Miller), he becomes a great fit."