The Golden State Warriors have exercised the fourth-year contract options on guard Mickael Pietrus and forward Zarko Cabarkapa, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today. Under the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Warriors had until October 31, 2005 to exercise their options, which extend the contracts through the 2006-07 season.

"Mickael and Zarko played a big role in our second half success last season," said Mullin. "We look forward to watching their continued development in the future."

Pietrus, 23, averaged career-highs of 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 20.0 minutes in 67 games last season. Over his final 15 games played, he averaged 14.0 points in 22.8 minutes off the bench, while shooting 53.4% from the field.

They also announced that Rodney White has been waived.

Chris Taft, the former Pitt power forward who was taken with the 42nd overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in Tuesday night's draft, is a prime candidate to be one of those developmental players.

Once considered a lottery pick by many, and a top-five selection by some, it is now apparent he and his management team made a terrible mistake in assessing his readiness to play in the NBA.

"We were surprised he was there," Golden State president Chris Mullin told Bay Area reporters.

"We saw another opportunity to get bigger and tougher. He has great size and a pretty good feel for the game. There is a lot of room for him to grow."

The 2005-06 season could very well be the ?Year of the Warrior? as the revamped, reloaded Golden State Warrior squad enters the season with a new confidence inspired by a tough backcourt that includes the NBA?s most exciting athlete in Jason Richardson, the flashy, tough Baron Davis and Mr. consistency, Derek Fisher.

With the guard position a lock, the Warriors are looking to PF/C Troy Murphy to carry the load down low.

The Warriors need to see if Murphy has what it takes to plant himself on the block, wrestle with the league's gladiators and, above all, finish near the hoop.

Mullin, the team's vice president of basketball operations, is not blind to the matter and believes Murphy has a chance to succeed. At the very least, Mullin wants Murphy to give it a go.

"I think he has the ability to do it," Mullin said.

But the Warriors will run the court, and judging by the successes of up-tempo teams like the Suns and the Sonics, they could very well run themselves to a division title.

Channing Frye, above almost every other player in the draft, has seen his stock rise the highest.

``I feel very sure about (being a lottery pick),'' Frye said at a news conference here Friday. ``I have proven myself to be the second best center (behind Utah's Andrew Bogut). Teams want a person with character. They want a center who is versatile, a center/forward. I think I can fit that role.''

Various reports have Frye projected as a top 10 selection, or possibly being taken by the New York Knicks at No. 8 or the Golden State Warriors at the ninth spot.

``Put it this way -- at the beginning of the year people thought I was going to go in the second round, and then half way through the season I was like 22nd, and now people are saying ninth or eighth,'' Frye said. ``Wherever I land is wherever I land and I am going to take advantage of it.''

The Orlando Magic have named Randy Ayers and Tom Sterner assistant coaches, President/CEO Bob Vander Weide announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deals are not disclosed.

?Randy (Ayers) and Tom (Sterner) are two of the hardest working coaches in the business,? said head coach Brian Hill.  ?They are known for their attention to detail, the way they prepare for a game and for helping players reach their full potential.  We are very excited to have them as part of the Magic family.?

Ayers spent six-plus seasons as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers? coaching staff and served as head coach of the Sixers in 2003-04, posting a 21-31 record (.404).  As top assistant under then-coach Larry Brown, Ayers helped guide the 76ers to five consecutive playoff appearances, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2001.  Known for his pressure-defense mindset and up-tempo style, he joined the Sixers as the physical conditioning coach in June 1997 before earning a spot as an assistant coach in July 1998.

Sterner?s coaching responsibilities have included detailed game and opponent preparation, as well as individual player development.  While the top assistant in Golden State, he helped the Warriors improve on both ends of the court.  In 2003-04, with Sterner acting as ?defensive coordinator,? Golden State was the most improved defensive team in the NBA, allowing 9.6 fewer points per game than the previous season.  He was in charge of the team?s offense in 2002-03.  The Warriors ranked second in the league in scoring that season, averaging 102.4 points per game.

Calbert Chaney has exercised a one-year option worth $1.6 million to play for the Golden State Warriors next season.

Cheaney, a 12-year NBA veteran, has spent the last two seasons with the Warriors, intermittently contributing as a backup on the young team.

The Cleveland Cavaliers announced today that Hank Egan has been named by Head Coach Mike Brown as an assistant coach.  Egan, 67, has 39 years of coaching experience and been an assistant in the NBA for nine seasons.  

?I feel fortunate to have a coach of Hank's caliber join my staff,? Brown said.  ?He brings great experience to our team.  He has coached at all levels and has been a part of many successful teams as both a head coach and a trusted assistant.  He was part of San Antonio's staff when they won the NBA Title in 1999 so I'm thrilled to add championship experience to the staff.?

Egan spent the 2002-03 season as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors following eight seasons as an assistant coach with San Antonio.  During his time with the Spurs, Egan assisted in leading the Spurs to a 403-221 (.646) record including winning an NBA Championship in 1999.  The Spurs won the Midwest Division Title five times and had the NBA?s best record four times during Egan?s tenure in San Antonio.