There is a possibility that the Wizards could sign free agent shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson, who emerged as a solid perimeter defender with the Orlando Magic last season, the Washington Post is reporting.

Stevenson turned down a three-year, $10 million offer from the Magic earlier in the summer and is reportedly seeking a four-year contract worth $16 million.

The Washington Wizards are expected to receive a copy of the offer sheet that restricted free agent Jared Jeffries signed with the Knicks on Friday, and will have until next Monday to match if they want to retain the forward's services.  Jeffries representatives, however, are pleading that the Wizards let their client go.

"We signed the offer sheet with the intention of playing with the New York Knicks," Andy Miller said. "We hope that the Wizards respect Jared's wishes and allow him to move on with his career."

According to sources, the New York offer contains a couple of provisions that could make it more difficult for the Wizards to match, including an up-front payout of $6.5 million and a hefty trade kicker if Jeffries is traded.

Wizards owner Abe Pollin, President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld and Coach Eddie Jordan have all indicated a desire to retain Jeffries.

According to the Washington Post, the Wizards have room under the league's luxury tax threshold ($65.4 million) to match the Knicks' offer.

Isiah Thomas and Jared Jeffries' camp have reportedly done as much as they could to convince the Wizards not to match the offer sheet the forward signed with the Knicks.

It is believed that Jeffries' deal calls for him to receive 80% of his annual salary prior to the start of the season. Also, it is likely that Jeffries' contract includes a trade kicker or bonus in the event that he is dealt within five years.

The contract that Jeffries signed with New York is worth $30 million over five years instead of the $33 million over six years offered by Washington.

Sources indicated the Wizards might be prevented from matching the Knicks' offer to Jared Jeffries because the contract would place them right at the luxury tax threshold.

The New York Times reports though that all indications are that the Wizards intend to match the offer.

According to the Washington Post, league sources have confirmed that the New York Knicks have signed restricted free agent, Jared Jeffries, to an offer sheet this afternoon.  

Terms of the offer sheet were not immediately available, but the Knicks had their full Mid Level Exception still available meaning they could have offered Jeffries an offer sheet of up to 5 years for $30,247,000.

The Wizards will have 7 days to either match the Knicks' offer sheet or let the 11th pick in the 2002 NBA Draft become Isiah's highest profile move so far this offseason.

Ernie Grunfeld said discussions with agent Andy Miller, who represents restricted free agent guard-forward Jared Jeffries, are ongoing but added that the sides are no closer to reaching an agreement.

Jeffries is considering taking the Wizards' qualifying offer in order to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Wizards' owner Abe Pollin said that he will do everything he can to keep Gilbert Arenas in Washington.

"I talked to Gilbert and he's not interested in opting out -- I've talked to him personally," Pollin said. "He wants to win a championship. I said, 'Gilbert, what do you think I want to do? I want to win a championship, and that's why I'm doing everything I can to win a championship. And I won't stop doing it until we win one.'
   
"And," Pollin continued, "we are going to win a championship. Maybe not this year, but we are going to win one soon. That is our goal."

The Wizards, according to Ivan Carter, plan to retain restricted free agent guard-forward Jared Jeffries.

They also have expressed interest in free agent DeShawn Stevenson, who recently turned down a three-year, $10 million offer from the Orlando Magic.

Knicks GM Isiah Thomas says he is not actively pursing deals for free agents, but, according to sources, the Knicks have had conversations with Jeffries' agent, Andy Miller, in recent days as negotiations between Jeffries and the Wizards have stalled.

Jeffries is considering accepting Washington's one-year qualifying offer for approximately $3 million, which would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The Knicks can offer Jeffries their mid-level exception, starting at approximately $5.2 million. The Knicks are reluctant to add salary, but the 6-11 Jeffries, who can play four positions, would give the team a versatile player who is regarded as a strong defender. The 24-year-old Jeffries averaged 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 77 games last season.

The Knicks' interest in Jeffries suggests that Thomas will not match the three-year, $7 million offer Jackie Butler received from the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks have until tomorrow to decide on Butler's fate. By allowing Butler to leave, the Knicks would have one roster spot available.

Bulls free agent Darius Songaila has agreed to a five year, $21 million deal with the Washington Wizards, the Washington Post is reporting.  Songaila had previously been waiting for the Sacramento Kings to tie up loose ends with free agent Bonzi Wells to see if there was a chance he could return to the Kings.

The Wizards were interested in Songaila last summer before the 6-foot-8, 240-pounder signed a two-year contract with the Bulls, earning $2.2 million last season. However, Songaila declined to pick up the second-year option on that contract and drew interest from several teams before agreeing to terms with the Wizards yesterday.

Before signing with Chicago, Songaila played two seasons with the Kings, where he averaged 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 51.2 percent. Like the Wizards, the Kings ran a version of the Princeton offense and Songaila carved out a role as a good midrange shooter who flourished in the pick-and-roll game, and as a solid rebounder.

The addition of Songaila should give the Wizards some much-needed depth in the front court.