Josh Howard is glad to have signed a one-year deal with the Wizards after suffering an inopportune injury.

Coming off a knee injury, Howard wasn't offered a lot of money as a free agent. He received calls from Heat, Celtics, Bulls, Spurs, Cavaliers, Kings and Clippers.

"We expected that," Howard said. "It's what you expect. It's a business.

"I kept my options open, but I always stayed loyal to Washington. They gave me the opportunity to get out of Dallas and actually play free, which I took and I appreciate them for that. I had to stay loyal to them. They wanted me to play ball for them and I feel that's probably the best place for me to be at."

Heading into free agency with health concerns was tough enough. It didn't help that Howard's reputation had also taken several hits during his last few years in Dallas.

"My injury came at an unfortunate time, but I did enough to let people know that I still have game," he said. "I'm still going to be out there working hard and playing hard to get back out there for Washington."

The Wizards have signed rookie Kevin Seraphin, the seventeenth overall pick in June's NBA Draft.

Washington acquired Seraphin in a draft-day trade with Chicago.

Seraphin, who hails from French Guyana, spent the past four years playing for Cholet Basket.

The French club signed him to a three-year contract in August, and he had to negotiate a buyout in order to join the Wizards.

In order to sign Josh Howard to a one-year contract earlier this week, the Wizards had to renounce the rights to free agent James Singleton.

Washington remains interested in retaining Singleton.

The Wizards will re-sign forward Josh Howard, according to a source.

Washington acquired Howard along with Drew Gooden, James Singleton and Quinton Ross in a February trade with Dallas.

Howard will sign a one-year worth close to $4 million deal with the Wizards, Howard's consultant Derek Lafayette told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

Wizards guard Kirk Hinrich believes the team has a chance to do some damage in the NBA this coming season.

"Whenever you get the No. 1 pick and a guy has talented as John [Wall], you have the young cast around him, its a sense of rebuilding," Hinrich said.

"But I feel like we have the talent and if we play the right way and consistently play hard every night, I feel like we can surprise a lot of people."

Hinrich was originally surprised when Chicago dealt him to Washington to clear additional cap space last month.

"I'm very appreciative of my time in Chicago, they gave me an opportunity to first of all become a pro player and then grow as one." Hinrich said.

"I was in Chicago for so long and I appreciate my opportunity, but I'm excited to go to a new organization. It's like almost coming into the league again. I'm very motivated and excited to play great basketball."

Wizards center JaVale McGee has been added to Team USA's training camp roster.

A total of 22 players will begin practicing on Tuesday in preparation for the 2010 World Championships in Turkey.

McGee practiced with Team USA in a minicamp last summer and received the invite after impressing with Washington during the Las Vegas Summer League.

He will be the fourth center on the roster, behind Brook Lopez, Tyson Chandler and Robin Lopez.

John Wall took home top honors as Most Outstanding Player in Las Vegas after leading all players in scoring (23.5 ppg) and assists (7.8 apg).

All-Tournament Team

Sam Young (Memphis)

JaVale McGee (Washington)

Reggie Williams (Golden State)

DeMar DeRozan (Toronto)

JJ Hickson (Cleveland)

Ty Lawson (Denver)

Dominique Jones (Dallas)

Derrick Caracter (LA Lakers)

Larry Sanders (Milwaukee)

Gani Lawal (Phoenix)

Jermaine Taylor (Houston)

Alonzo Gee (San Antonio)

Tommy Sheppard, the Wizards' vice president of basketball operations, will interview with the New Orleans Hornets for their vacant general manager position, a source confirmed.

Sheppard, who recently completed his seventh season in Washington, has made it clear he has ambitions to be a GM, interviewing with Seattle in 2007.

John Wall has elected to stay in Las Vegas and will decline his invitation to Los Angeles to make an appearance at the ESPY Awards.

Wall had originally intended to catch a flight to Los Angeles after the Wizards' morning scrimmage against the Portland Trail Blazers and then fly back before the team's walk-through on Thursday.

The Wizards worked out free-agent forward Adam Morrison on Monday.

A source at the Impact Sports facility said Washington coach Flip Saunders personally conducted the workout, running Morrison through a series of shooting drills.

Nothing is imminent. Morrison is expected to work out for the Bulls on Tuesday.