Washington Wizards' President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived guard Mike Wilks.  

In four games with the Wizards, Wilks averaged 1.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per contest.  He originally signed with Washington on December 19.

Antonio Daniels, who has been out since spraining a ligament in his right knee during a win at Miami on Nov. 13, went through some drills before last night's game against the Heat at Verizon Center, but he did not play.

Daniels originally was given a two- to four-week timetable to return. The good news is that because the Wizards do not play again until Wednesday night when they host Detroit, Daniels will have three more days to gain strength in the knee and work on conditioning.

"That was the main thing, just getting my wind back," said Daniels, who went through his first practice on Thursday. "The knee feels good."

It's customary for players who are coming back from an injury to at least go through a handful of practices before returning to action, but Wizards' Coach Eddie Jordan doesn't have that policy for a player such as Antonio Daniels.

Daniels, who has missed five straight games with a sprained ligament in his right knee, is moving closer to a return and could be back as soon as tomorrow night's game against Miami at Verizon Center or Wednesday's home game against Detroit.

Daniels joined the team for a two-game trip that opened with a 108-104 win at Charlotte on Wednesday night and continues with a game at New Jersey tonight. He's been going through rehabilitation work with the team's athletic trainers and practiced yesterday for the first time but is listed as doubtful for tonight's game.

"With a veteran like him, it's different," Jordan said. "With our shoot-arounds, they are more like practices, and we went through a lengthy one [Wednesday] and he was out there. It's not like he's missed a month -- it's been two weeks -- so yes, you would like to see him get some practice time, but if we had to jump right into the fire, I would feel safe with Antonio going out there and playing at a high level."

According to various reports, former Washington Wizard Larry Hughes has been placed on the trading block by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hughes, who left Washington to sign a five-year deal worth between $65 million and $70 million with Cleveland in the summer of 2005, has struggled to play at the level he displayed with the Wizards during the 2004-05 season.

The Wizards are reportedly among the teams that have been contacted about possible interest in Hughes, but the Wizards have no interest.

After their Washington Wizards' teammates practiced at Verizon Center yesterday, forward Caron Butler worked up a sweat by going through shooting drills, and Antonio Daniels ran for the first time since spraining his right knee in a win at Miami on Dec. 13.

However, the status of both players is up in the air as the Wizards prepare for a two-game road trip that begins tomorrow night at Charlotte.

Butler, who missed Saturday's loss at Indiana after spraining his right ankle in practice on Thursday and spraining his left ankle early in Friday's home loss to Atlanta, said there is a chance that he could be in the lineup tomorrow.

Daniels is cautiously optimistic that he could return as soon as Saturday's home game against Miami. The Wizards (13-13) won't practice today but will fly to Charlotte where Butler plans on getting into the gym to gauge how his ankles feel.

Larry Hughes' time with the Cavaliers might be just about over. According to several league sources, the Cavs have contacted several teams about a deal involving the 6-5 guard.

One source said the Washington Wizards are one of those teams, and another source said another team is in the Atlantic Division.

Hughes spent three years with the Wizards before signing a free-agent deal with the Cavs in 2005 worth between $65 million and $70 million.

While the trade deadline is February 21, Hughes may not last until then.

"Hughes will be gone way before then," said one source, who did not want to be identified.

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Mike Wilks.  Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

?Mike is a solid and dependable veteran,? said Grunfeld.  ?He will bring experience and steady play to our team.?

"I am very excited and thankful for this opportunity,? said Wilks.  ?The Wizards are playing great team ball, and I hope to contribute by providing defensive pressure and creating opportunities by getting the ball to our scorers.?  

Wilks played collegiately at Rice, before spending time in the NBA Development League after college.  He made his NBA debut with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2002-03 season, and has since played for Minnesota, Houston, San Antonio, Cleveland, Seattle and Denver.  He played in a career-high 48 games with the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs in 2004-05.  This season, Wilks appeared in eight games for the Denver Nuggets, and averaged 3.0 points in 15.3 minutes per game.  

Wilks will wear uniform #29.

The Washington Wizards will fill the roster spot of injured Antonio Daniels with Mike Wilks, whom Denver released last month, according to a league source.

The Nuggets cut the five-year veteran after eight games during which he averaged 3.0 points and 0.8 assists.

Wilks will not receive a guaranteed contract because the Wizards (13-10) don't want to surpass the luxury tax trigger of $67.86 million, the point at the end of the season when teams over the trigger must pay a dollar-for-dollar extra tax. His future with the team upon Daniels' return is uncertain.

The Washington Wizards will fill a roster spot with a point guard to replace injured Antonio Daniels in the next few days.

"We will look around and there are a few players we are interested in," president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said yesterday. "Tonight we'll handle it the way we are, and over the next two or three days we'll see if there is somebody out there that we think can help us."

Daniels, who had replaced injured All-Star Gilbert Arenas (knee surgery) in the starting lineup, sprained his right medial collateral ligament in the second quarter of the Wizards' win over the Miami Heat on Thursday.

Grunfeld said that the Wizards are not looking to trade for a player. The team likely will sign a player but not give him a guaranteed contract.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Grunfeld and the Wizards are looking at about four or five players.

The group includes Mike Wilks, recently released by the Denver Nuggets, and Eddie Gill, recently released by the New Jersey Nets. The others are Brian Chase, Keith McLeod and veteran Randy Livingston.

Washington Wizards' President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Antonio Daniels sustained a MCL sprain in his right knee in the second quarter of Washington?s 104-91 victory at Miami on Thursday, December 13th, and will miss 2-4 weeks.

?This is very disappointing as Antonio was doing an outstanding job as our starting point guard,? said Grunfeld.  ?We are confident Antonio will return to action within the next few weeks.  Roger Mason Jr. and Nick Young have been very productive for us off the bench, and we feel they will make the most of this opportunity.?