Jackson Signs With Hawks

Free-agent swingman Stephen Jackson signed with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, then watched their first practice.

Jackson, who can play small forward and shooting guard, will join practice Monday and is expected to compete for a starting job. The Hawks didn’t announce the terms of the deal.

The 6-foot-8 Jackson helped the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA championship last season. He ranked third on the team in playoff scoring at 12.8 points per game.

After trading Glenn Robinson in a cost-cutting move, the Hawks were looking for a new starting small forward. Jackson averaged 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals last season.

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The Utah Jazz agreed to settle Glen Rice’s contract, only three days after acquiring the veteran swingman in a trade with the Houston Rockets. The deal will allow Rice to pursue options with other NBA teams.

The Jazz did not say how the contract was settled, but Rice, 36, was in the last year of a $9-million contract with Houston.

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Forward Jonathan Bender of the Indiana Pacers will be sidelined four weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage from his left knee.

The problem was discovered during a routine preseason physical, the Pacers said. He sat out 36 games last season because of a strained left calf muscle.

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Point guard Eric Snow and the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension that goes through the 2008-09 season. Terms were not announced and the extension begins in the 2005-06 season. He averaged 12.9 points last season.