Stojakovic Decides to Become a Free Agent

Indiana Pacers forward Peja Stojakovic opted out of the final year of his contract Tuesday but wants to return to the team.

Stojakovic took advantage of the early termination clause in his six-year deal and became a free agent in hopes of getting a raise and long-term contract, his agent said.

His current deal would have paid him more than $8.1 million next season.

Stojakovic came to Indiana from Sacramento in a midseason trade for troubled forward Ron Artest. Pacers Chief Executive Donnie Walsh and president of basketball operations Larry Bird knew Stojakovic would test the market.

Pacers officials have said re-signing Stojakovic is a priority, but calls to team officials were not immediately returned. Stojakovic wants to play for the Pacers, but he will consider a move.

“We’re going to listen to other teams and what they have to offer [monetarily], as well as playing time and chances at a championship,” said his agent, David Bauman.

Stojakovic averaged 19.5 points and shot 46% from the field in 40 games with the Pacers.

The free-agent negotiating period begins Saturday, and teams can start signing players July 12.

*

Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas missed a court hearing in Miami on a charge of resisting an officer without violence, and a warrant was briefly issued before the arraignment was rescheduled.

Neither Arenas nor his attorney showed up for the arraignment. Miami-Dade County Judge Samuel Slom issued a bench warrant for the player’s arrest and set a $2,000 bond.

The Wizards contacted the judge on Arenas’ behalf and told him the player didn’t receive a written notice regarding the court date, said Ernie Grunfeld, the Wizards’ president of basketball operations, in a statement.

Slom then lifted the arrest warrant, canceled the $2,000 bond and rescheduled the arraignment. A date has not been set.

“We are very confident this issue will be resolved,” Grunfeld said.

An arrest warrant was issued June 21 for free-agent Awvee Storey, who missed his court appearance that day for a criminal traffic charge of disobeying a police order in the same incident.

Arenas had been out on $1,000 bond. He and Storey were arrested during Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach.

*

New Orleans Hornets Coach Byron Scott signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2008-09 season.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed, but in 2004, Scott signed a three-year, $10-million contract with the Hornets, with a team option for a fourth year.

Scott said earlier this week that the new deal included bonuses for wins, reaching the playoffs and other milestones.

The Hornets went 18-64 during his first season. Despite distractions that included the franchise’s temporary relocation to Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans improved to 38-44 this season and remained in playoff contention until the final week.