Wizards Continue to Discuss Jordan's Contract

The Washington Wizards recently discussed a contract extension for Coach Eddie Jordan, who is entering the final season of a four-year deal he signed in June 2003, according to league sources.

Jordan and Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld are in Las Vegas with the Wizards' summer league team, but talks between the team and Jordan's agent, Lonnie Cooper, will continue.

The Wizards opened summer league play Thursday with a 93-85 loss to the Toronto Raptors. They were led by second-year forward Andray Blatche (15 points, 12 rebounds), and rookie first-round pick Oleksiy Pecherov, also a forward, scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting with eight rebounds.

The Wizards continue summer league play today against Detroit.

According to league sources, the Wizards have expressed interest in two free agents: guard DeShawn Stevenson, who played with Orlando last season, and forward Darius Songaila, a restricted free agent who played with Chicago.

The 6-foot-5 Stevenson opted out of the final year of a contract that would have paid him $3 million this season after averaging 11 points and two assists last season for the Magic. The 6-9 Songaila averaged 9.2 points on 48.1 percent shooting and four rebounds for the Bulls last season but is a restricted free agent, meaning the Bulls would have the option of matching any offer.

According to sources, the Wizards have not extended an offer to either Stevenson or Songaila and continue to monitor the situation of restricted free agent Jared Jeffries. Several teams have shown interest in Jeffries, but the Wizards have the option of matching any offer. Free agents can sign contracts Wednesday.

The Wizards also have shown interest in former Maryland star Chris Wilcox, a restricted free agent who revived his career following a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Seattle SuperSonics last season, but the Wizards do not have the cap space to sign Wilcox to the kind of long-term deal he is seeking.