NBA ROUNDUP News and notes

Lakers: Vlade Divac has reached an agreement to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Sacramento Kings after six seasons. The deal with the 36-year-old Serbian center was expected to be finalized today. Earlier in Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro, Divac said he was leaving the Kings. "It was a great six years in Sacramento," he said. "I'm sad that I'm leaving, but the Kings did not show any interest to keep me." The Lakers would not confirm the deal with the unrestricted free agent, but said a player announcement was expected. The Lakers drafted Divac in 1989, and he spent seven years in Los Angeles until the team traded him to Charlotte for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant. Divac still has a home in Los Angeles, and the Lakers were desperate to sign a center after trading Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat last week. Sacramento made an offer to Divac, but wouldn't match the Lakers' offer of the mid-level salary cap exemption, worth nearly $5 million next season, for a player entering his 16th year in the NBA. For the second straight season, the Kings want to avoid the luxury tax, even if it means losing one of their most popular players.
Warriors: With two point guards already under contract, the signing of Derek Fisher could leave Golden State with an overcrowded backcourt. Fisher agreed to a six-year, $37 million deal with the Warriors, who have Nick Van Exel and Speedy Claxton on the roster. Fisher likes the Warriors' young core: shooting guards Jason Richardson and Mickael Pietrus, forwards Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy, and rookie big man Andris Biedrins, who impressed the rest of the league with his performances at the Long Beach summer league. The Warriors also re-signed center Adonal Foyle last week, handing out another big-money contract for a player who's never been a full-time starter during seven seasons with Golden State. Erick Dampier is expected to leave this week in a sign-and-trade deal, though nothing is imminent. The Atlanta Hawks have interest in Dampier, and the team apparently is working on its strategy to sign the 6-foot-11 center who averaged 12.3 points and 12 rebounds last season.
Jazz: Gordan Giricek was re-signed Monday, returning to the team that picked him up at the trading deadline last season. A Jazz spokeswoman said she could not disclose details of the contract, widely reported to be worth $16 million over four years. Giricek played in 25 games for the Jazz last season after coming over from Orlando in a deal for DeShawn Stevenson. Giricek averaged 13.5 points for Utah and started 18 games at shooting guard. He was a restricted free agent at the end of the season, but said all along he wanted to return to the Jazz. Utah is his third NBA team in just two seasons in the league. Giricek started his career with Memphis and played 49 games with the Grizzlies before being traded to the Magic in a deal for Mike Miller. Giricek's rights also were traded by Dallas, which drafted him in 1999, and San Antonio.
Hornets: New Orleans signed frontcourt reserve Chris Andersen to a two-year contract. Andersen, who has played primarily power forward and some at center, has averaged 4.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.31 blocks in his three years in the NBA, all with the Denver Nuggets. Last season, Andersen averaged 3.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 14.5 minutes in 71 games. He also had a career-high 114 blocks.
Associated Press
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