Jaric Visits Nuggets, Cavaliers

Clipper free agent Marko Jaric, who has drawn interest from a number of teams but a firm offer from none, began a two-day visit Monday with the Denver Nuggets and will meet with the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight and Wednesday, agent Bill Duffy said.

Jaric, the Clippers’ starting point guard for most of the last two seasons, had previously been scheduled to visit the Cavaliers on Monday. He is a restricted free agent; the Clippers retain the right to match any offer made to him.

The Clippers, though, plan to make teenager Shaun Livingston their starting point guard. Jaric would like to fill the same role with another team and received more time to negotiate when the NBA pushed back the free-agency signing date again Monday.

The moratorium on signings was supposed to end Thursday, but now will probably last until Monday or Tuesday.

“The NBA is continuing to make progress with the players’ association toward finalizing the collective bargaining agreement, and both sides are optimistic that the agreement will be signed by the end of the week,” league spokesman Tim Frank said. “Once the agreement is completed, the league and the union will take 48 to 72 hours to educate teams and players as to the details of the agreement, after which player signings will begin.”

Originally, the moratorium was due to expire last Friday. It was delayed to allow attorneys for the league and union to finish drafting a written version of the new six-year collective bargaining agreement.

Teams have been negotiating with free agents throughout July, and many of the most prominent players already have reached tentative agreements on new contracts.

-- Jerry Crowe

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Larry Brown and interim Coach Herb Williams had dinner Monday night, one of the last steps before Brown decides whether he wants to become coach of the New York Knicks.

Brown could inform the team of his decision today.

The dinner with Williams came one day after owner James Dolan and team President Isiah Thomas visited Brown at his home in East Hampton, N.Y.

Monday’s meeting presumably included a discussion of what role Williams would have under Brown, and whether it would include a spot as one of Brown’s assistants.

Brown has said he would be uneasy about replacing Williams. Williams’ head coaching contract expires July 31, though his assistant coaching contract has one season remaining.

“There is no timetable,” Brown’s agent, Joe Glass, said. “Everyone is proceeding in their own manner.”

The meeting involving Dolan, Thomas and Brown lasted more than two hours, and none of the principals commented on what was discussed. But the job appears to be Brown’s for the taking.

The Detroit Pistons gave Brown, 64, a $7-million severance settlement for the final three years on his contract, and the Knicks are reportedly prepared to offer Brown from $10 million to $12 million per season.

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Sarunas Jasikevicius, a 29-year-old point guard who won three consecutive Euroleague championships, agreed to a three-year contract with the Indiana Pacers, his agent, Doug Neustadt, said.

Jasikevicius, who opened some eyes after scoring 28 points and making three three-point baskets down the stretch as Lithuania upset the U.S. team at last summer’s Olympics, averaged 15.7 points and 5.3 assists in the Euroleague last season. He shot 40% from three-point range and 94% from the free-throw line.

Neustadt said Jasikevicius also had contract offers from Cleveland, Utah, Seattle and Portland.

Jasikevicius also spurned the chance to play alongside one of his best friends with Cleveland.

He could have agreed to play for Cleveland and joined fellow Lithuanian Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a year after being the best man in Ilgauskas’ wedding. Instead, he picked the team with the better championship credentials.

“It was a huge factor,” Neustadt said. “He was really looking for a chance to compete in the playoffs, and he sees Indiana as that team.”