The Charlotte Hornets may have just about concluded their training camp roster when they came to terms with free agent Cory Hightower this week, their second signing in less than a week.  The Gaston Gazette also reports that the team is close to signing free agent Lee Nailon despite offering much less guaranteed money than Nailon is looking for.  Lorenzo Coleman joined the team earlier this week.

Hightower was drafted by San Antonio in that draft and later traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he was cut during training camp.  Coach Paul Silas worked out Hightower before the 2000 draft, and is clearly intrigued by the 6-8 guard/forward.  "He handles the ball really well. He?s left-handed and quick and we really liked him when he worked out for us before."

The AP is reporting that Antawn Jamison, the NBA's ninth-leading scorer last season, agreed to a contract extension with the Golden State Warriors. The extension is the maximum allowed under the league's collective bargaining agreement, a Warriors spokesman said Tuesday. That means the deal is similar to the six-year, $94 million contract signed earlier this summer by Toronto's Vince Carter, who was drafted one spot behind Jamison in 1998.

Jamison averaged 24.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last season. He was second in the league with 800 field goals, and he played all 82 games after injuries hampered his previous season with the Warriors.

Lorenzo Coleman, the 7-1 free agent who has played in Hungary, Greece, the CBA, IBL and USBL, was signed and added onto the Charlotte Hornets training camp roster, the Gaston Gazette reported today.  Last season Coleman averaged 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 58.3 percent for Fort Wayne of the CBA.

Coleman signed a minimum-wage non-guaranteed contract worth $325,000.

From Dallas News staff reports: Center Evan Eschmeyer visited Dallas on Saturday, staying just long enough to pass a physical and sign a six-year, $19 million contract with the Mavericks.

Eschmeyer had essentially been a Maverick since Aug. 8, when the restricted free agent signed a Mark Cuban offer sheet, but he couldn't officially join his new team until waiting 15 days ? even though New Jersey apparently had no plans to match the Mavericks' offer after signing Todd MacCulloch.

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports: Shortly after Tim Hardaway signed a three-year, $11.3 million contract Wednesday in the Chicago office of agent Henry Thomas, the parting became official. That's when the Heat and Mavericks announced the trade that sent the free-agent point guard to Dallas for a second-round draft choice.

The Heat received the right to claim a second-round draft choice from the Mavericks in either 2003 or 2004, as well as a $3.3 million salary-cap exception that can be used in a trade in the next calendar year.

"This trade accomplished several things," Heat coach Pat Riley said in a statement. "We gave Tim what he wanted by moving him to Dallas, and at the same time we created maneuverability for our franchise."

In other Heat news, The most ardent pursuer of Heat free-agent forward Anthony Mason appears to be the Milwaukee Bucks. The question for the Heat may be whether it would be willing to participate in a sign-and-trade transaction for Milwaukee backup center Scott Williams.

The Heat remains among potential suitors for point guard Rod Strickland, a potential Hardaway replacement who Riley had shied from during the early stages of free agency.

The Dallas Morning News' Jodie Valade reports that the Mavs trade for Tim Hardaway may be finalized as early as Wednesday. The Mavericks are surrendering their $3.2 million trade exception and a second-round pick to secure the free-agent point guard.

In the sign-and-trade deal, Hardaway will reportedly sign a three year, $10 million contract.  Three years is the minimum he can sign for in a sign-and-trade, but only one year has to be guaranteed.

According to Art Garcia of the Dallas Star-Telegram, the second round pick must be sent to Miami by the 2004 draft, at Dallas' discretion.  There is no indication whether it must be Dallas' own.

In a related article, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:  With Hardaway's status on the verge of being clarified, it leaves free-agent power forward Anthony Mason as the next big-ticket decision for the Heat. The Milwaukee Bucks appear the front-runner for the All-Star forward, but Philadelphia and Indiana are possibilities.

Among those linked to Mason in trade talk have been Milwaukee forward Darvin Ham, Indiana guard Travis Best and Philadelphia guard Eric Snow.

Rookie Zach Randolph signed a three-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-9 forward, who left Michigan State after his freshman season, will get $2.693 million under the NBA's rookie salary scale.

ESPN is reporting that the press conference scheduled by the Rockets to introduce Glenn Rice has been delayed. It appears Rice's foot injury is a bigger question mark then the Rockets anticipated and according to the team, physicians are taking "longer than expected" to examine the results of Rice's physical.

If Rice fails the physical, the trade could be nullified forcing Rice to return to the Knicks, Shandon Anderson to return to Houston and Dallas to lose the trade exception they planned on using to acquire Tim Hardaway.

Harvey Fiatlov and Jim Sarni of the Sun-Sentinel report: If Heat free agent Tim Hardaway can't end his career playing for his hometown Chicago Bulls, then he said the next best thing would be to play with fellow Chicagoans Juwan Howard and Michael Finley in Dallas.

At issue is the Heat's willingness to do business with the Mavericks, who have expressed an interest in the veteran point guard and have a $3.2 million salary-cap exception (from their recent Howard Eisley trade to the Knicks) available for use in a trade.

The Heat could deal Hardaway to Dallas for a draft pick and then claim its own "traded-player exception," one that could be worth as much as $3.3 million for use in a trade in the next calendar year. The Heat also could pressure the Mavericks into parting with a player, such as free-agent forward Gary Trent or journeyman Greg Buckner, in addition to the exception, with the Heat perhaps unloading Don MacLean or Ricky Davis.

Reached by e-mail, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said: "We have an interest in Timmy, but nothing in the NBA is automatic."

In other Heat news, According to a European scouting service, Heat second-round pick Ken Johnson, the center out of Ohio State, has agreed to terms with De Vizia Avellino of the Italian League.