News from January 22. The NBA reinstated Latrell Sprewell (NY). Sprewell had been suspended for assaulting his coach. Due to the long lockout, the NBA announced that Alonzo Mourning (Mia) will not be suspended for the first game of the season. Mourning was assessed a 2 game suspension for fighting with Larry Johnson (Mia) in game 4 of the NY-Mia series last May. Glen Rice (Cha) underwent successful surgery on his right elbow to remove bone spurs. He will be out 6 to 8 weeks. Ansu Sesay (Dal) suffered a broken right foot during Thursday's practice. [Note: the reason for the sign-and-trades is that teams re-signing their own free agent have certain advantages (such as more money) over teams signing others' free agents.] Atlanta signed Christian Laettner to a 3 year, $18 million contract so that they could ... TRADE: Atlanta traded Christian Laettner to Detroit for Scot Pullard and a conditional 1st round draft pick. Chicago signed Steve Kerr to a 5 year, $11 million contract so that they could ... TRADE: Chicago traded Steve Kerr to San Antonio for Chuck Person and a conditional 1st round draft pick. Chicago signed Scottie Pippen to a 5 year, $67.2 million contract so that they could ... TRADE: Chicago traded Scottie Pippen to Houston for Roy Rogers and a 99 or 00 2nd round draft pick. Atlanta signed Anthony Johnson to a 2 year, $2.1 million contract, signed Mark West to a 1 year, $1 million contract, and re-signed Chris Crawford. Boston signed Antoine Walker to a 6 year, $71 million contract. Walker is in the last year of his 3 year rookie contract. Teams have the option of signing players in the 3rd year of their rookie contract (1st round picks) to extensions until mid-February. Boston signed 1st round draft pick (#10) Paul Pierce to a 4 year, $5.2 million contract. The 4th year of the contract is at the team's option. Boston signed Popeye Jones to a 3 year, $8 million contract. Charlotte signed Percy Miller to a non-guaranteed contract. Chicago signed 1st round draft pick (#28) Corey Benjamin to a 4 year, $2.4 million contract. The 4th year of the contract is at the team's option. Chicago signed Kornel David, Rusty LaRue, Matt Steigenga, Robert Werdann, and Charles Jones to non-guaranteed contracts. Denver signed Antonio McDyess to a reported 6 year, $67.5 million contract and re-signed Cory Alexander. Denver also signed Tremain Fowlkes, Mark Randall, John Turner, Tyson Wheeler, and Kelly McCarty to non-guaranteed contracts. Denver released Priest Lauderdale. Detroit signed Loy Vaught to a 5 year, $2.3 million contract, signed Jud Buechler, re-signed Jerry Stackhouse, and re-signed Joe Dumars. Detroit signed Korleone Young. Detroit renounced their rights to Malik Sealy, Grant Long, and Rick Mahorn, and released Charles O'Bannon. Indiana re-signed Rik Smits and signed 1st round draft pick (#25) Al Harrington to a 4 year, $2.6 million contract. The 4th year of the contract is at the team's option. Indiana also re-signed Mark Pope and signed Norman Nolan to non-guaranteed contracts. The LA Lakers signed Rick Fox to a 1 year, $1.75 million contract, signed 1st round draft pick (#23) Tyrone Lue to a 4 year, $2.8 million, and signed 1st round draft pick (#26) Sam Jacobson to a $2.5 million contract. The 4th year of the rookie contracts are at the team's option. The Lakers also signed Ruben Patterson to a non-guaranteed contract. Miami signed Adrian Griffin to a non-guaranteed contract. Milwaukee signed Dell Curry to a 1 year contract and signed Adonis Jordan to a 1 year contract. Minnesota signed Joe Smith to a 1 year, $1 million contract and signed Malik Sealy. Minnesota also signed Troy Hudson and Mikki Moore to non-guaranteed contracts. New Jersey signed Eric Murdock to a 3 year, $5.78 million contract. New York signed Kurt Thomas to a 2 year, $3,675,000 contract and re-signed Herb Williams. Orlando re-signed Darrell Armstrong to a 5 year, $18 million contract, re-signed Derek Strong to a reported 5 year, $17 million contract, and signed Miles Simon to a year, $287,000 contract. Orlando also signed Eddie Casiano to a non-guaranteed contract. Philadelphia signed Theo Ratliff to a 7 year, $57 million contract. Phoenix signed Joe Kleine, Toby Bailey, Marko Milic, Horacio Llamas, and James Collins. Portland re-signed Arvydas Sabonis to a reported 3 year, $30.4 million contract and signed Greg Anthony. Portland also signed James Blackwell, Monty Buckley, Ernest Hall, Michael Hawkins, Damian Owens, and Jamal Robinson to non-guaranteed contracts. Sacramento signed Vlade Divac to a 6 year, $62.5 million contract, re-signed Corliss Williamson to a 1 year, $500,00 contract, and signed 1st round draft pick Jason Williams to a 4 year, $6.5 million contract. The 4th year of the contract is at the team's option. Sacramento also signed Vernon Maxwell, Jon Barry, and Jerome James. Sacramento renounced their rights to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Mark Hendrickson, and Billy Owens. Sacramento released Isaac Fontaine, Dylan Rigdon, Ryan Perryman, and Randy White. [And saves me the trouble of reporting that they had been signed to non-guaranteed contracts.] San Antonio signed Jerome Kersey and Chris Garner. Seattle signed Billy Owens to a 3 year contract and re-signed Dale Ellis to a 3 year, $6 million contract. Seattle signed 1st round draft pick (#27) Vladimir Stepania to a 4 year, $2.4 million contract. The 4th year of the contract is at the team's option. Seattle signed Rashard Lewis. Seattle released Michael Cage and renounced their rights to Greg Anthony, Stephen Howard, Nate McMillan, and David Wingate. Toronto signed 1st round draft pick (#5) Vince Carter to a 4 year, $7.86 million contract. The 4th year of the contract is at the team's option. Toronto re-signed Alvin Williams to a 3 year contract and signed Mark Baker and Will Cunningham to non-guaranteed contracts. Utah signed Thurl Bailey, Anthony Avent, Joe Stephens, Saddi Washington, Chris King, Adrian Caldwell, and Shawnelle Scott to non-guaranteed contracts. Vancouver signed 1st round draft pick (#2) Mike Bibby to a 4 year, $10 million contract and signed 1st round draft pick (#24) Felipe Lopez to a 4 year, $3 million contract. The 4th year of the contracts is at the team's option. Vancouver signed Cherokee Parks to a 3 year, $6 million contract, signed Sean Higgins, and signed J.R. Henderson. Washington signed Terry Davis to a 1 year, $1.75 million contract. Washington also signed Jeff McInnis, Carl Thomas, Etdrick Bohannan, Evric Gray, Randell Jackson, and Ivano Newbill to non-guaranteed contracts.