German superstar Dirk Nowitzki has labelled the United States "the team to beat" in the forthcoming FIBA World Championship in Japan.

The versatile 7-foot Mavericks forward feels the Americans' depth is their best asset, and backs them to cope even with the absence of Kobe Bryant from their squad.

"The Americans are the favorites," Nowitzki said following Germany's 95-75 win over Canada in a warmup game on Sunday. "They are really stacked. The only guy they don't have is Kobe. But they still have Dwyane Wade and LeBron (James) and plenty of other guys.

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent guard/forward Adrian Griffin to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"We are extremely pleased to have Adrian back. We missed his presence last season and it will be great to have him on board with us again,? said Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson. ?He played well for Dallas last season and we believe he fits the direction we are heading as a team. He is also a proven leader and competitor and will be a key component of our roster.?

It appears that Keith Van Horn will be on the market for a while yet, with David Falk revealing in the Rocky Mountain News that the Mavericks forward is on vacation and he and his client will have a meeting in the second week of August.

Could the Nuggets be part of his future?

"I don't think there's any question I want a shooting big (man) next year," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "We need somebody to get people off (Carmelo Anthony). I would lean more toward a veteran. (Van Horn) has got to be one or two on that list."

Falk said a "number of teams" have expressed interest in the 6-foot-10 Van Horn but wouldn't be specific. Falk said it helps the Nuggets' cause that Van Horn lives in Evergreen.

"I would say that is attractive," Falk said.

Falk said he has talked with Karl "a number of times" about Van Horn. Karl believes the nine-year veteran would fit in well with his new spread offense.

Van Horn must take a big pay cut after making $15.7 million with the Mavericks. The Nuggets, who have 12 players under contract for $61.6 million and don't want to pay the luxury tax after $65.4 million, don't appear willing now to pay Van Horn much more than $2 million.

Falk wouldn't comment on salary or the possibility of a sign-and-trade. With disgruntled Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin on the block, there has been speculation Van Horn could be included in a deal with a high-priced Mavericks player such as Erick Dampier or Jerry Stackhouse for Martin.

Yakhouba Diawara, a native of Paris, turned down a reported two-year, $1.8 million offer from the Dallas Mavericks to sign with the Nuggets on Wednesday, according to a report in the Denver Post. Terms of the deal were not released, but it is expected to be a two-year deal at the league minimum.

"His integrity and character jumped off the page," Nuggets director of player personnel Mark Warkentien said. "After verbally agreeing to a minimum deal with us, and being offered a bigger deal, he turned it down. He is the type of person we want representing Denver."

Diawara said, "I think it was a better fit for me."

The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Diawara can play shooting guard and small forward for coach George Karl.

"(Karl) was the reason I came here. They played me at summer camp," Diawara said. "I've been here for a couple weeks and I'm just comfortable. Sometimes when you are comfortable you just go with it."

Jason Terry returned from his vacation in the Bahamas to sign a six-year $50 million contract with the Mavericks.

Terry had agreed upon the contract on July 1st.

?For me, it?s a no-brainer,? Terry said. ?I?m at the prime of my career, so getting a long-term deal now was the No. 1 priority.?

?It means a lot to me ? the commitment that the Mavs have shown to me and the support they?ve shown me all year long,? said Terry, who spent five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. ?For me, personally (coming to the Mavs) I knew it was an opportunity to play on a winning team and to finally get to the playoffs where I could showcase my skill level.

?But I also knew this was a chance for me to become a better player all-around. This is truly a blessing.?

The Mavericks are working out the details on a contract with Devean George.

It is being reported that he may be signed to the veteran's minimum, approximately $1.2 million guaranteed.

Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said that if there ever was a point when the coach?s contract was a problem, those days are past.

Johnson hinted that his contract may have been amended.

?Right now, I have a contract,?? said Johnson, 41, who will earn about $2.5 million next season. ?And if there is a time that Mark wants to revisit it, we will. But nobody else is going to know."

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have acquired guard Darrell Armstrong, swingman Rawle Marshall and forward Josh Powell from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for point guard Anthony Johnson.

Armstrong is a 6-1, 180-pound 11-year veteran who played the majority of his career with the Orlando Magic. He has career averages of 10.1 points per game and 4.1 assists per game. He played 62 games with the Mavericks last season, averaging 2.1 ppg and 1.4 apg.

Powell is a 6-9, 235-pound forward from North Carolina State. He played 37 games for Dallas last season, averaging 3.2 ppg and 2.2 rpg. Marshall is a 6-7, 190-pound forward/guard who played collegiately at Oakland University in Michigan. He played 23 games last season, averaging 3.1 ppg and 1.3 rpg. Both players were signed by the Mavericks as rookie free agents in August 2005.

?Darrell Armstrong is a good fit, a solid professional, a great guy in the locker room and someone who brings a lot of energy to a team,? said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. ?Both Powell and Marshall are young and talented players who possibly can help us and we?re excited to take a look at them. Their experience with a championship-caliber team like Dallas last season gives them the mentality of what it takes to win at the highest level.

Bird added, ?We appreciate everything Anthony Johnson did for the organization, on and off the court. He performed well for us, both as a starter and as a backup.?

According to a team source, Del Harris has agreed on a one-year contract with the Mavericks.

Harris came on as an assistant coach for Don Nelson during the 1999-2000 season.

Avery Johnson is looking forward to coaching the Mavericks during the remaining three seasons of his contract, and any tension between him and owner Mark Cuban has been exaggerated, a source close to the team said Sunday.

There has been speculation that Johnson's contract, which will pay him about $2.5 million next season, could be a source of irritation for Johnson if it is not restructured, extended or torn up and replaced to increase his pay. However, Johnson has every intention of honoring the deal, and the source reiterated that Cuban and Johnson remain allies and have no problems.