Thursday, July 20, 2006; E02

Forward Darius Songaila passed a physical exam and signed a five-year contract worth around $21 million with the Washington Wizards yesterday. Songaila, who holds an option for the fifth year, is the Wizards' 13th player under contract for the 2006-07 season.

The Wizards also plan to retain restricted free agent guard-forward Jared Jeffries and have expressed interest in free agent shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson , who recently turned down a three-year, $10 million offer from the Orlando Magic.

Jeffries has drawn interest from several teams, including the New York Knicks, according to sources. The Knicks have their full mid-level exception available (a contract starting at around $5.2 million for the first season), but the Wizards can match any offer.

Jeffries also may choose to sign the Wizards' one-year qualifying offer of $3 million, which would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan still is in the process of considering candidates to add to his staff. Jordan said owner Abe Pollin and President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld have suggested he consider adding a coach with a defensive background.

Coaches who have reputations as defensive specialists and are not under contract include Jim Lynam , who was head coach of the then-Washington Bullets from 1994 to '97 and was an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers last season; Kevin O'Neill , who also has NBA head coaching experience and was an assistant with the Indiana Pacers last season; and Michael Cooper , who was a teammate of Jordan's on the 1982 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers and most recently was an assistant with the Denver Nuggets in 2004-05.

-- Ivan Carter