The Washington Wizards are expected to receive a copy of the offer sheet that restricted free agent Jared Jeffries signed with the Knicks on Friday, and will have until next Monday to match if they want to retain the forward's services.  Jeffries representatives, however, are pleading that the Wizards let their client go.

"We signed the offer sheet with the intention of playing with the New York Knicks," Andy Miller said. "We hope that the Wizards respect Jared's wishes and allow him to move on with his career."

According to sources, the New York offer contains a couple of provisions that could make it more difficult for the Wizards to match, including an up-front payout of $6.5 million and a hefty trade kicker if Jeffries is traded.

Wizards owner Abe Pollin, President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld and Coach Eddie Jordan have all indicated a desire to retain Jeffries.

According to the Washington Post, the Wizards have room under the league's luxury tax threshold ($65.4 million) to match the Knicks' offer.

The Knicks are reportedly attempting to trade away Quentin Richardson, but given his large contract, they have been unable to find an interested party.

They are also interested in trading Malik Rose, Maurice Taylor and Jerome James.`

Isiah Thomas and Jared Jeffries' camp have reportedly done as much as they could to convince the Wizards not to match the offer sheet the forward signed with the Knicks.

It is believed that Jeffries' deal calls for him to receive 80% of his annual salary prior to the start of the season. Also, it is likely that Jeffries' contract includes a trade kicker or bonus in the event that he is dealt within five years.

The contract that Jeffries signed with New York is worth $30 million over five years instead of the $33 million over six years offered by Washington.

Sources indicated the Wizards might be prevented from matching the Knicks' offer to Jared Jeffries because the contract would place them right at the luxury tax threshold.

The New York Times reports though that all indications are that the Wizards intend to match the offer.

According to the Washington Post, league sources have confirmed that the New York Knicks have signed restricted free agent, Jared Jeffries, to an offer sheet this afternoon.  

Terms of the offer sheet were not immediately available, but the Knicks had their full Mid Level Exception still available meaning they could have offered Jeffries an offer sheet of up to 5 years for $30,247,000.

The Wizards will have 7 days to either match the Knicks' offer sheet or let the 11th pick in the 2002 NBA Draft become Isiah's highest profile move so far this offseason.

The Orlando Magic have re-signed restricted free agent forward Trevor Ariza, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Ariza (6?8?, 200, 6/30/85) played in 57 games with both the Magic and New York last season, averaging 4.6 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 1.1 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 17.5 minpg. He was traded to Orlando by the Knicks on Feb. 22, 2006, along with the expiring contract of Anfernee Hardaway, in exchange for Steve Francis. During 21 games with Orlando, Ariza averaged 4.7 ppg. and 3.9 rpg. in 13.8 minpg.

?We are very pleased to bring Trevor back, as he is a key part of our young core,? General Manager Otis Smith said. ?His athleticism and explosiveness will be a great asset to our team on both ends of the floor.?

The Spurs received twice the good news on Thursday when the Denver Nuggets revealed they were not going to match the offer sheet signed by center Francisco Elson, allowing both Elson and ex-Knick big man Jackie Butler to officially join the Spurs organization.

The Spurs hope Elson and Butler, 21, can give them production at center at less than half the combined $12.5 million Nazr Mohammed (Detroit) and Rasho Nesterovic (Toronto) will make next season.

The third year of Butler's contract also is at the Spurs' option, so the team could conceivably have only Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili under contract after the 2007-08 season, allowing them significant salary-cap room to reshape the roster.

The Nuggets informed Elson's agent, Calvin Andrews, late Thursday afternoon they didn't plan to match the Spurs' offer unless an unexpected trade allowed the team to move another of its frontcourt players. When one didn't materialize, Denver simply allowed the 11:59 p.m. deadline to lapse.

One NBA executive told Greg Logan of Newsday that the Nuggets are "desperate" to unload Kenyon Martin and almost certainly could be forced to take Steve Francis, who has three years worth $48.7 million left on his contract.  The nearly $50 million is a relative bargain, as Martin has five years left for $70.9 million.

Martin is coming off microfracture knee surgery and was suspended by the Nuggets during the playoffs for behavioral problems. Denver asked for Channing Frye in the past and likely would again, but there is zero chance of the Knicks dealing Frye in a Martin trade.

A Knicks? spokesman said Wednesday that the New York Knicks have decided not to match the Spurs? three-year, $7 million offer to restricted free agent Jackie Butler.

The Spurs have yet to officially hear from the Knicks or the NBA.

The Knicks have been granted an extra day to decide whether to match third-string center Jackie Butler's three-year, $7 million offer sheet from the Spurs, but indications are stronger than ever they don't plan to do so.

The New York Post is reporting that the extension was granted due to a clerical error on Butler's offer sheet, and the Knicks now have until Thursday, instead of tomorrow, to make their decision.