Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that forward Darius Songaila will undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc, and will be out for 10-12 weeks.  

Songaila originally sustained the injury while playing in the World Championship Games for the Lithuanian National Team this past summer.  

?I am very disappointed that I will not be out there with my new teammates," said Songaila.  "I plan to work hard and look forward to getting back on the court.  Unfortunately, surgery is my best option at this time.?

A lawyer in a paternity case threatened to serve Gilbert Arenas with a subpoena in a nationally televised game March 28 in Sacramento, the Mercury News is reporting.

Arenas watched the game from his hotel room under an alias -- the team said he had the flu -- then flew to Houston while his teammates spent the night.

The ordeal went on so long it actually became a running gag with some of the Wizards. . . . In Oakland, Arenas narrowly escaped being served when teammate Donnell Taylor was mistaken for him at a practice, giving Arenas enough time to flee.

``All I heard was: `We're going to get him by any means necessary. If he's shooting a free throw, we'll run on that floor and embarrass him, that's what we're going to do.' It got that crazy and nasty,'' Arenas said.

Arenas and the woman, a former Kings employee, eventually came to an agreement, and the woman and their daughter now live a few miles apart in Virginia.

Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived forward Mike Hall.

Hall, who signed as a free agent on September 13, averaged 3.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in five preseason games with the Wizards. Hall played collegiately at George Washington, where he averaged 10.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in 117 career games for the Colonials.

The Wizards? roster now stands at 15.

Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas are competing for a starting spot against each other and will each receive one more look from Eddie Jordan in the role before the start of the season.

"It's a close battle," Jordan said. "You put a gun to my head and say, 'Make a decision.' I'd say, 'It's a toss-up.'"

Thomas approached Jordan during the summer to let him know he'd like to be considered for the spot.

With only three preseason games remaining for the Wizards, it is becoming more likely that free agent acquisition Darius Songaila won't be available until sometime in the regular season.

Songaila has yet to participate in a full practice or play in a preseason game because of a pinched nerve in his lower back.

When asked if he will be able to play by the Wizards' season opener on Nov. 1, Songaila said: "You've got to ask the doctors or our trainers. They'll probably be better with a timetable and everything like that. I get evaluated, and they make all the decisions."

Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived center Peter John Ramos.

The Peter John Ramos experiment in Washington, for all intents and purposes, is over.

"Peter is not in our plans as we move forward," coach Eddie Jordan said after practice yesterday at Verizon Center. "I'm looking at other guys. He's continuing to work, and he's getting his extra workouts in after practice and before games. But right now he's not in my plans."

The two-year project that goes by the name of Peter John Ramos apparently is nearing an end for the Washington Wizards.

"Peter is not in our plans as we move forward," coach Eddie Jordan said after practice yesterday at Verizon Center. "I'm looking at other guys. He's continuing to work, and he's getting his extra workouts in after practice and before games. But right now he's not in my plans."

The Wizards selected the 7-foot-3, 290-pound Ramos with the 32nd overall pick in the 2004 draft. Ramos appeared in just six games with the Wizards over the last two seasons, all as a rookie. He spent most of last season in the NBA Development League with the now-defunct Roanoke Dazzle.

Antonio Daniels is listed as day-to-day after spraining his ankle during the Wizards' Thursday practice session.

Daniels is expected to be a key contributor off the bench for Washington.

The Washington Wizards announced today that Kevinn Pinkney has been released.  Pinkney, a 6-10 rookie forward out of Nevada, did not play (coach?s decision) last night versus Toronto in Washington?s preseason opener.