Cavs ink top pick; Utah signs Koufos

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers signed first-round draft pick J.J. Hickson Thursday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Cleveland selected the 19-year-old Hickson with the 19th pick in the NBA draft.

Jazz sign Koufos

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz signed first-round pick Kosta Koufos to a contract that will pay him around $1 million a year. Utah drafted the 19-year-old center from Ohio State with the 23rd pick last month.

Maggette to Golden State

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors signed high-scoring free agent Corey Maggette. A person with knowledge of the deal previously told The Associated Press that Maggette would be signed to a 5-year contract worth around $50 million.

Clippers sign Davis

LOS ANGELES — The Clippers signed free agent Baron Davis to a multi-year contract, bring the two-time All-Star point guard home to Los Angeles. The 29-year-old Davis averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds for Golden State last season. Davis was a standout at UCLA.

Magic land Pietrus

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando general manager Otis Smith brought Mickael Pietrus into the NBA in 2003. Now Smith has drawn him across the country and a little closer to home. The Magic introduced the 6-foot-6 free agent after signing him away from the Golden State Warriors. Smith leaked word earlier this week the team had reached an agreement with the native of the French Caribbean island Guadeloupe.

Mason, Spurs reach deal

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs and unrestricted free agent Roger Mason have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth more than $7 million, Mason’s agent said. Mason, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged a career-high 9.1 points and 1.7 assists in 80 games last season with the Washington Wizards.

Suspensions

Brad Miller of the Sacramento Kings was suspended for five games by the NBA Thursday because the center violated the league drug program. Miller, whose ban is set to begin with the first game of the 2008-09 season, averaged 13.4 points and 9.5 rebounds in 72 games last season.

Also, Chicago’s JamesOn Curry was suspended for one game by the NBA after the Bulls guard pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors in Idaho. Curry was arrested in January and pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and urinating in public. A second-round draft pick in 2007, Curry spent most of his season in the Developmental League.