Mike Dunleavy, Jr. of the Golden State Warriors had his fourth-year option picked up.  Dunleavy was the third pick of the 2002 draft out of Duke.

"We're excited to know that we have Mike in the fold through the 2005-06 season," said executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin. "We think he is a very special player and will be a key component of our team's future success."

Jerry West was very keen on acquiring Erick Dampier this summer in a sign-and-trade deal, but according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the deal breaker was Chris Mullin's insistance that Evan Eschmeyer be included in any such deal.  

The Mavs pulled the trigger on Dampier and are now trying to buy out the remaining three years and $10.8 million of Eschmeyer's deal.

The Grizzlies went on to match the offer sheet given to Jake Tsakalidis by the Cleveland Cavaliers, to fill out the center position.

Second round draft choice guard Luis Flores inked a contract with the Golden State Warriors today, ESPN.com reports. Sources indicate the deal was for two years with a third year at Flores' option.

Flores was drafted 55th overall in this year's draft by the Houston Rockets but immediately dealt to the Dallas Mavericks for the rights to Vassillis Spanoulis. Flores was then forwarded to the Warriors Aug. 24 in the eight-player trade sending Warriors center Erick Dampier to Dallas in a sign-and-trade arrangement.

Flores is the leading career scorer at his alma mater, Manhatten College.

The Miami Herald reported that the Heat have reached an agreement in principle with free-agent power forward Christian Laettner, completing an active offseason for the former Duke product.

Laettner was released by the Golden State Warriors soon after coming to Oakland in the Erick Dampier sign and trade deal.  Before that he was traded by to the Mavericks by the Wizards, as part of the Jerry Stackhouse/Antwawn Jamison trade.

The Heat expect Laettner to fill out their frontcourt with his crafty veteran play.

Chris Mullin announced today that the Warriors have waived Chrstian Laettner.

Laettner, 35, was acquired by Golden State from Dallas as part of an eight-player trade on August 24, 2004. The 12-year NBA veteran has spent the last three-plus seasons with Washington, including this past year when he averaged 5.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 20.5 minutes over 48 games. For his career, Laettner has averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.08 steals over 819 regular-season games with Minnesota, Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas and Washington. The 6?11? forward was traded from Washington to Dallas as part of a four-player trade on June 24, 2004.

According to the Miami Herald, Laettner may have a suitor in the Miami Heat.

Mitch Richmond, a former Rookie of the Year with the Golden State Warriors, will return to the franchise as a special assistant in the organization's front office.

Richmond was drafted by the Warriors and spent his first three seasons with the team.  He is one of just four players in league history to average at least 21.0 points in their first 10 seasons.

"I'm really looking forward to this new opportunity," Richmond said. "I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent playing with the Warriors and the special connection that I felt with the tremendous fans in the Bay Area."

"We're thrilled to welcome Mitch back to the organization," Chris Mullin said. "Mitch was a highly successful player in this league and was a consummate professional, two intangibles that will serve him well in his new position."

The Golden State Warriors added six-time NBA All-star and former guard Mitch Richmond to their front office staff today as a special assistant to the basketball operations department, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced.

Richmond teamed with Mullin and Tim Hardaway for the first three years of his 14-year playing career, making up the famed "Run-TMC" trio. Richmond was traded to the Sacramento Kings in 1991 for the draft rights to Syracuse forward Billy Owens, and Richmond was a Northern California fixture for another seven years. He played three years for the Washington Wizards before finishing his career in 2001-02 with the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Richmond, who performed some voluntary scouting duties for the Warriors last year, will team with consultant Garry St. Jean to provide assistance with player development and scouting assignments for Mullin, General Manager Rod Higgins and Head Coach Mike Montgomery.

?We're thrilled to welcome Mitch back to the Warriors organization,? said Mullin. ?Obviously, he has been a fan favorite in the Bay Area - and Northern California - for many years and it is always good from a team perspective to make a connection with the past and the present. Mitch was a highly successful player in this league and was a consummate professional, two intangibles that will serve him well in his new position.?

?I'm really looking forward to this new opportunity,? said Richmond. ?I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent playing with the Warriors and the special connection that I felt with the tremendous fans in the Bay Area. This opens a new chapter for me in my life and I'm eager to help Chris Mullin, Rod Higgins and Coach Montgomery in any way possible to help this team achieve some of its goals.?

A veteran of 976 career NBA games, Richmond won a gold medal with Dream Team III in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics and a bronze medal with the 1988 Senior Men's National Team in Seoul, Korea.

Popeye Jones was released last week by the Golden State Warriors and is already looking for a new home, in his current home, Denver, Colorado.

Jones, an 11-year veteran, resides in Denver with his wife and children.  He has been spending the offseason working out at the Pepsi Center, home of the Nuggets.  

"I would love to return home," Jones said. "My family lived here, and I haven't lived around them for four years. I have been working out at the Pepsi Center lately. (The Nuggets) have a good environment and a championship attitude. For a guy my age, that's perfect."

The Warriors released Popeye Jones, clearing roster room in a crowded frontcourt.

The 34-year-old Jones only played in five games last season after missing the first two months while recovering from left knee surgery. In 535 career contests with Dallas, Toronto, Boston, Denver, Washington and Golden State, Jones has averaged 7.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per outing. Jones was selected by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft, but played in Italy during the 1992-93 season.