Artest and Jackson receive seven-game suspensions

Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson were each suspended without pay by the NBA on Saturday for the first seven games of next season because of their recent legal problems.

Jackson, of the Golden State Warriors, pleaded guilty last month to a felony count of criminal recklessness for firing a gun outside an Indiana strip club last fall, when he was with the Pacers. He was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

“I accept the suspension, believe it is fair and definitely look forward to having this entire process come to a conclusion in November,” Jackson said in a statement released by the Warriors.

“Additionally, I apologize to my teammates, our fans, our ownership and the NBA for the negativity this has created and the poor example that I set.”

Artest, the Sacramento Kings forward, pleaded no contest in May to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge stemming from a March 5 dispute with his wife, the latest in a string of off-court problems.

Placer County Superior Court Judge Francis Kearney sentenced Artest to 100 hours of community service and a 10-day work project through the county sheriff’s department. Artest also was fined $600 and ordered to get extensive counseling.

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Milwaukee Bucks point guard Mo Williams reportedly agreed to a six-year, $52-million deal, rejecting an offer from the Miami Heat.

“The entire organization made it clear how important Mo was to them and their future,” Williams’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, said in a story posted Saturday on the website of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Bucks spokesman Dan Smyczek wouldn’t comment on the report but said they were making progress.

The Heat had offered Williams a five-year, $31.4-million deal, the maximum it could give under salary cap guidelines, the newspaper reported.

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A day after losing center Mikki Moore to free agency, the New Jersey Nets reached an agreement in principle with forward Jamaal Magloire.

The deal is contingent on Magloire’s passing a physical. Contract terms were not immediately available.

The Nets also announced that they had asked waivers on guard Hassan Adams. Adams, who played at Arizona, was the 54th selection in the 2006 draft.

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Unrestricted free agent DeShawn Stevenson and the Washington Wizards have agreed to terms on a contract to keep the shooting guard with the team. The Wizards wouldn’t disclose the terms of the deal, but it’s reportedly worth $15 million over four years.

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Portland Trail Blazers rookie center Greg Oden underwent a tonsillectomy at a clinic in Vancouver, Wash., and the recovery time for the No. 1 pick in last month’s NBA draft is expected to be two to three weeks, the team said.