Yakhouba Diawara has signed a deal to play in the Italian League this season, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Diawara appeared in just six games for Miami in 2009-10, averaging less than eight minutes per appearance.

Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said Tuesday that he's been in contact with Carmelo Anthony and plans to meet with him soon.

Denver offered Anthony a three-year, $65 million extension through 2014, but if he rejects it, the team will have to consider trading the forward.

The Suns have re-signed big man Dwayne Jones.

Phoenix traded Jones to Toronto as part of the Leandro Barbosa/Hedo Turkoglu trade last month, but the Raptors waived him.

The Suns are now carrying 14th players on their roster.

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed second-round draft selection Da'Sean Butler. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Butler, a 6'7", 230-pound forward, played all four seasons at West Virginia University appearing in 146 games (110 starts) and averaged 14.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.06 steals while shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from three-point range and 73.3 percent from the foul line.

The Hawks would prefer that Al Horford doesn't hit the free agent market next summer.

Horford can become a restricted free agent after the 2010-11 season.

"The Hawks would prefer he not test the market because they know full well he'd be coveted from sea to shining sea," wrote the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The issue is that Jamal Crawford is looking for a contract extension and there have been reports that he'll request a trade if he doesn't receive one.

It was reported on HoopsHype.com over the weekend that the Hawks were close to signing veteran big man Etan Thomas.

Atlanta assistant general manager Dave Pendergraft confirmed the team had Thomas in for a workout but said Thomas is one of a handful of free agents the Hawks are considering.

"He's on a very, very short list," Pendergraft said. "We were pleased with the workout."

Pendergraft declined to comment on the other candidates for Atlanta's 13th roster spot.

The Wizards have 12 players under contract heading into training camp.

That number is not expected to change in the coming weeks.

Washington has invited Lester Hudson and Cartier Martin to camp, but the team has not decided whether it will enter the year with 13, 14 or 15 players.

They are unlikely to sign second-round pick Hamady Ndiaye for the upcoming season, according to a league source.

The agent for Jamal Crawford, Aaron Goodwin, is set to meet with Atlanta general manager Rick Sund this week to discuss a contract extension, according to sources.

Crawford is entering the final year of his contract and there have been reports that he'll request a trade if he's not given a long-term deal.

He is the only player among Atlanta's core that isn't signed for the next few years.

It's still possible that rookie forward Pape Sy will join the Hawks for the 2010-11 season.

Atlanta drafted Sy in the second round of June's NBA Draft.

Sy is set to report to camp for French club Le Havre, but the Hawks are still talking to Le Havre about a buyout of the final year of Sy's contract.

The Knicks have one open roster spot and plan to sign at least two candidates for the spot.

Maurice Ager, who has been linked to New York, could be one of the possibilities.