AROUND THE NBA

Free-agent guard Vernon Maxwell, who resurrected his career last season in Sacramento, signed a three-year contract with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

After being jailed for a probation violation in 1998, Maxwell, 33, averaged 10.7 points and 1.7 assists in 46 games with the Kings, shooting a career-high 35% from three-point range.

A member of the 1994 and 1995 NBA champion Houston Rockets, Maxwell has also played in Philadelphia, San Antonio, Orlando and Charlotte.

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Charlotte Hornet forward Derrick Coleman could face criminal charges for allegedly urinating in front of dozens of diners at Intermezzo Italian Ristorante, a popular Detroit restaurant.

Coleman’s attorney, Harold MacDonald, told the Detroit Free Press, “The story is totally wrong.”

MacDonald said Coleman was in the bar with boxing great Thomas Hearns and Indiana Pacer guard Jalen Rose when he spilled a drink on his pants and stood to wipe it off. MacDonald said an employee thought Coleman was urinating and notified the manager, the Free Press reported.

Coleman, 32, was neither arrested nor ticketed after immediately being asked to leave the restaurant.

But if witnesses testify against him, Coleman could be charged with indecent and obscene conduct, Police Chief Benny Napoleon told The Detroit News. The misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $100.

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Scott Layden, Utah’s vice president for basketball operations, is close to taking a similar job with the New York Knicks after meeting with team officials over the weekend, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The Knicks president and chief operating officer is Dave Checketts, president of the Jazz in the 1980s.

The Knicks’ job opened in April with the demotion of Ernie Grunfeld.

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Apparently fuming over the lack of a contract extension, Ron Mercer finally arrived in Denver, five days late after being acquired in a trade from the Boston Celtics and received no assurances he will remain with the Nuggets beyond the year remaining on his contract. Mercer blamed his no-show on miscommunication. “I want to clear up everything. I want everybody to know that it wasn’t Denver’s fault and there was a miscommunication between some people,” he said.

Scott Burrell filled New Jersey’s need at small forward, signing a one-year, $1 million contract to stay with the Nets for a second season. The Nets also signed rookie center Evan Eschmeyer to a multiyear contact. . . . The Milwaukee Bucks re-signed point guard Haywoode Workman to a one-year contract, bringing back the team’s assists leader.