NBA News

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Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal isn't demanding a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, but he's open to the idea.

While O'Neal has been the subject of trade talk since the Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, the new discussion was stirred up Monday when SI.com quoted O'Neal as saying he would "welcome a trade to the Lakers" and mentioned the New Jersey Nets as another possible destination.

O'Neal, a six-time All-Star, downplayed the trade talk in an interview with The Associated Press.

"I don't think me saying I'd like to go with those teams is me saying I want to be traded," he said.

O'Neal said he recognized that the Pacers are rebuilding with young players and he might not be part of future plans.

"If they want to move in a different direction, I wouldn't be disgruntled about it," he said. "If I am traded, it would be seven great years I had with this team. And if I'm going to be here, I'd welcome it with open arms."

His agent, Arn Tellem, flatly denied the trade talk in an e-mail to the AP.

"He hasn't requested a trade to the Lakers," Tellem wrote. "Any reports to the contrary are inaccurate."

Pacers president Larry Bird didn't rule out a trade.

"In any discussions regarding him or any of our other players, the expectations for the franchise and our fans is to receive fair market value in return if a trade is to be considered," Bird said in a statement Monday.

O'Neal averaged 19.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks last season in one of the best performances of his 11-year career.

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New York Knicks center Randolph Morris was arrested early Tuesday and charged with reckless driving.

Morris, who was released from jail on $100 bond, didn't appear in court Tuesday for his arraignment. Attorney Chad Butcher entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. The judge set a preliminary hearing for Aug. 31.


According to the arrest report, Morris smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes. He acknowledged he had been drinking 30 minutes earlier and was given a preliminary breath test at the scene, with his blood alcohol level showing .069, below Kentucky's legal limit of .08.

Lexington police Lt. Dwayne Holman said it wasn't clear whether the officer conducted any other field sobriety tests, but none were listed on the report.

Police say Morris took a wide turn onto New Circle Road, just a few miles from the University of Kentucky campus where he played his college basketball. The officer reported Morris accelerated to 62 mph -- 17 mph over the speed limit -- and didn't use a turn signal as he sped down the exit ramp.

Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said he talked with Morris, who wasn't injured.

Lexington police didn't immediately return a call for comment Tuesday.

Morris signed with the Knicks in March after playing for Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. He played in five games for New York.

The 6-foot-11 Morris was a unique underclassman free agent after he declared for the 2005 NBA draft but was not chosen. The NCAA ordered him to sit out half of his sophomore season before returning to Kentucky, but he became a dominant inside force for the Wildcats as a junior.

He decided to sign with the Knicks shortly after Tubby Smith announced he was leaving the Wildcats to coach Minnesota.

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That Celtic green that still runs through Kevin McHale's veins is spilling all over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In the last 20 months, McHale has made two trades with former teammate and good buddy Danny Ainge to bring nine Celtics to his Wolves, and parted with the two most popular players in franchise history in the process.

In January 2006, McHale traded fan favorite Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi and a No. 1 pick to Boston for Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Justin Reed and Marcus Banks.

Then came the big move last week, when McHale pulled the trigger on a blockbuster that sent All-Star Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and two No. 1 picks.

Banks and Reed are no longer with the team, but McHale has chosen to rebuild this struggling franchise around seven former Celtics who don't have a history of success, leading some fans in the Twin Cities to wonder where his loyalty lies.

At a news conference on Tuesday to introduce the newest batch of Celtics to come to Minnesota, an event delayed nearly a week by the Interstate 35W bridge collapse, McHale brushed aside any conspiracy theories.

"If all these guys had played in New Orleans and were the same type of players, it would have been the same thing," said McHale, the Timberwolves' vice president of basketball operations. "It's the players you're getting and not where they played. That has no bearing whatsoever."

Rather than focusing on his past ties to Ainge and the Celtics that earned him a place in the Hall of Fame, McHale wanted to look to the future, excited about assembling a very young team that will have a completely new look next season, and beyond.

After missing the playoffs for the third straight season, McHale and owner Glen Taylor felt they had to do something drastic to avoid a total collapse.

"I had the feeling that we could probably play better than we did the last two years, but not well enough to compete for the title," Taylor said. "And I wasn't satisfied with that, nor do I think KG was after he had time to think about that. The idea here is to lay the groundwork for the potential to build something special."

The word "potential" was thrown around plenty on Tuesday, par for the course when four of the five players acquired for the franchise icon are 25 or younger.

"Potential doesn't mean much until you realize it," McHale said. "These guys all can play, but can they win? Can they go out and help the team win, that's what our league's all about. They have a lot of challenges ahead of them."

Jefferson won fewer than 42 percent of his games with the Celtics in the first three years, with both Gomes and Green arriving in Boston two years ago and posting a .348 winning percentage.

That track record, and the lack of success young teams generally have in the league, has lowered expectations for this new group of Timberwolves.

"They're not brought here on what they've done," Taylor said. "They're brought here on what we believe they can do in the future."

These new former Celtics will join youngsters Randy Foye, Craig Smith, Rashad McCants and Corey Brewer as the building blocks of Minnesota's next generation.

"Why can't we be the first team of young guys to win?" Gomes asked. "That's our goal, to change that mold. ... This gives us more of a chip on our shoulder to be traded, go to another team and try to prove them wrong."

The transition could be smoother than in many blockbuster trades, which usually involve three or more teams. There is a built-in familiarity on this new team, with Jefferson, Green and Gomes having played with Davis and Blount previously in Boston.

"Being traded with four other guys from the team, then coming with Ricky and Mark that I know, it makes it a lot easier," Jefferson said. "It's going to make it a lot easier for all of us."

It better, or else it will be a long, slow rebuilding process in front of a fan base that will be sorely missing the beloved Garnett.

"There's no pressure," Jefferson said when asked about taking Garnett's place. "It's a compliment for all of us to be traded for Kevin Garnett. He's one of the best players in this league."

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Samuel Dalembert was sworn in as a Canadian citizen on Tuesday, clearing the way for the Philadelphia 76ers center to join the Canadian national team.

The 6-foot-11 Dalembert, who averaged 10.7 points and 8.9 rebounds for the Sixers last season, moved to Canada as a teenager. He won a Quebec High School championship and played on Quebec's provincial basketball team.

Dalembert, who lived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, until his early teens, still has family in the Montreal area.

"I wanted to join the Canadian team in 2003, but had a surgery and was out for their season and so it didn't work out," Dalembert said. "But in the back of my mind I knew I always wanted to play for Canada, and this time it worked out and just seemed to fit. To have the chance to play in the Olympics is really something special."

Canada's national team, coached by former Sixers player Leo Rautins, is training for the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament.

"Sam is a humble but driven individual, that has stepped up to lead the charge of helping Canada assume its place among the best in the world," Rautins said.

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Jannero Pargo, who agreed to terms with the New Orleans Hornets last week on a two-year contract, signed the deal Wednesday.

Pargo's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said the backup guard will earn $4 million. He has an option for the second year.

Pargo played for the Hornets last season after spending the first four years of his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors.

"We're very pleased to re-sign Jannero due to his ability to provide instant offense off the bench and how he fit in with our team," Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said. "He had his best season as a pro with us last season, and we anticipate that he will continue to develop."

Pargo averaged career highs of 9.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while being the only Hornets player to play in all 82 games last season.

Pargo ranked second on the Hornets in 3-pointers made with 81. His free-throw percentage was .852.

"Jannero was a big part of our success last season and he showed that he could be called upon to play a larger role when necessary," coach Byron Scott said. "I look forward to having him back as a reliable scoring threat off the bench."

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The Boston Celtics have spoken with future Hall of Famer Reggie Miller about coming out of retirement to help the once-proud franchise in its push for an unprecedented 17th NBA title.

"I'm always flattered when my name is mentioned as someone who can still help an NBA team win a championship," Miller said Wednesday in a statement relayed to The Associated Press by the TNT network. "I've had limited discussions with Celtics management about their roster and a potential role for me. At this time, I'm enjoying my role as an analyst with TNT."

ESPN.com was the first to report the talks. But both sides confirmed the possibility that Miller, who will turn 42 this month, would consider returning for the chance at a championship he never won during an 18-year career, all with the Indiana Pacers.

"(I have) contacted Reggie and he is contemplating a comeback with us," Celtics basketball boss Danny Ainge said through a team spokesman.

Miller's agent, Arn Tellem, declined comment.

Miller, who has been retired for two seasons, is 13th on the league's career scoring list with 25,279 points and the leader in 3-pointers made and attempted. His uniform No. 31 was retired by the Pacers last year.

In addition to working on television broadcasts of NBA and WNBA games, he has run a movie production company called Boom Baby Productions and co-hosted "Live with Regis and Kelly." But he admitted when the Pacers opened training camp without him in 2005 that it wasn't the same thrill.

"It's strange not to be a part of an (NBA) organization or part of a team," he said then. "I'm not joking with anybody on the bus like I usually do. But waking up with my back, knees and ankles hurting -- that's not stuff I'm going to miss much."

The Celtics were 24-58 last season and have won three playoff series in the nine years since drafting Paul Pierce. But they have undergone a near-complete roster overhaul this summer that has taken them from a rebuilding program to Eastern Conference contenders.

They traded for seven-time All-Star Ray Allen at the draft and then pulled off an unprecedented 7-for-1 trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for 2004 NBA MVP Kevin Garnett. Those two will team with Pierce to form one of the most formidable top three in the NBA.

But the rest of the roster needs work.

The starting lineup includes second-year pro Rajon Rondo at point guard and Kendrick Perkins at center. Only four other players are under contract.

"Clearly, we need a little bit more help just to shore up the bench," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after the Garnett deal. "But it's sure better talking about shoring up our bench than shoring up our starting lineup."

That's where Miller would fit in, as a backup for Allen and the kind of veteran who would provide guidance -- and perhaps a key 3-pointer -- in the playoffs. (The last time the NBA's most decorated franchise, made the postseason, in 2005, they were bounced out in seven games by the Pacers in Miller's final season).

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Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy planned to plead guilty in federal court on Wednesday to charges alleging he bet on games he officiated, a person familiar with the betting scandal probe said.

Donaghy was to turn himself at Brooklyn federal court, the person, who was not authorized to speak about the case, told The Associated Press late Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

Donaghy's attorney, John Lauro, and federal prosecutors declined to comment. The NBA also did not comment.

Besides allegedly placing his own wagers, investigators also examined whether Donaghy provided inside information to others, including referees' schedules. The referee had a gambling problem and was approached by low-level mob associates through an acquaintance.

The FBI first contacted the NBA on June 20 to talk about a referee alleged to be gambling on games, and the two sides met on June 21, NBA commissioner David Stern said last month. Donaghy resigned July 9 after 13 years as a referee, though Stern said he would have fired him sooner but was told it might affect the investigation.

Stern blamed a "rogue, isolated criminal" for the betting scandal that has devastated the league and threatened the credibility of every referee.

Donaghy was rated in the top tier of officials, Stern said, and there was nothing suspicious about the frequency of his foul calls. He was assigned to work in the second round of the playoffs, with his last NBA game coming during the Phoenix-San Antonio Western Conference semifinal.

No other NBA officials or players were expected to be involved in the scandal, which Stern called the "most serious situation and worst situation that I have ever experienced either as a fan of the NBA, a lawyer for the NBA or a commissioner of the NBA."

Others outside the NBA are expected to be charged.

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Able to run and jump without pain for the first time in five years, Penny Hardaway insists there's still much he can do in the NBA.

The Miami Heat apparently agree.

Hardaway spoke Friday about his new contract with the Heat, one that comes with no financial guarantees for the 36-year-old who has battled knee problems for much of a career that once seemed destined for superstardom.

"I definitely have competitive juices flowing," Hardaway said. "The number one point for me coming back is to win a championship. I still love this game. It's not about the money. It's not about anything other than loving the game and wanting to win a ring and I'm just thankful that I'm able to play in an organization like the Miami Heat."

Hardaway purchased a home in the Pinecrest section of Miami two years ago and has been working out in South Florida for several months, but hasn't yet crossed paths with Heat center Shaquille O'Neal -- his former teammate with the Orlando Magic in the mid-1990s.

He simply cannot wait to officially begin the reunion, insisting the relationship is not frosty -- as has been perceived in recent years.

"I did speak to him last year when I was really trying to get into the league and I wanted to work out for the Heat," Hardaway said. "He and I had a long talk and had a great talk. Neither one of us has any hard feelings. We still care about each other."

O'Neal told the Heat that he approved of their plan to sign Hardaway before the agreement was finalized. Heat guard Dwyane Wade can also be counted among those also supporting the plan.

"What's there to lose? It's simple," Wade said. "I think both sides win."

The Heat truly have nothing to lose because the deal for the career 15.4-point scorer doesn't include any guaranteed money. It just gives Hardaway, who hasn't played in the NBA since November 2005 because of his knee problems, an opportunity to compete for minutes.

And since Miami is at the luxury-cap threshold already for next season, getting Hardaway on the Heat without any financial commitment before the season may eventually make the move a steal.

"I heard last year he was working out and wanted to come back," Wade said. "You hear it a lot. But I hear he's in shape, he's looking good and they're giving him an opportunity."

Hardaway had knee surgery to remove a bone spur from behind his knee in March 2006 -- which allowed him to finally begin working out without pain. Even walking had hurt, said Hardaway, who acknowledged that he often feared his career was over.

But he's dropped 23 pounds in recent months, getting down to 212 with low body fat, and has reportedly been impressive in workouts with other NBA players.

"It's been such a hard road to get to this point," said Hardaway, who also eyed the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics as possible destinations for his comeback try. "I had the same knee injury for so long. ... I just kept pushing. When it comes to the situation I'm in now, I'm so thankful and blessed to be allowed to come to the Heat organization."

Devin Green -- who said Hardaway was his favorite player growing up -- is getting a chance from the Heat as well.

The 6-foot-7 guard who played at Hampton signed Friday with Miami. Green was in training camp last year with the Los Angeles Lakers, started the regular season in the NBA Development League and finished the season in Germany. He made 27 NBA regular-season appearances with the Lakers two seasons ago, averaging about 1 point and 1 rebound in 5 minutes per game.

Green's signing means the Heat currently have 17 players under contract, not including backup center Earl Barron, a restricted free agent to whom the team has made a qualifying offer for the coming season.

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Four men charged in the armed robbery of Miami Heat forward Antoine Walker during a home invasion remained jailed Saturday without bond.

A judge denied bond for 28-year-old Antoine Larkins and 25-year-old Demorris Hill. Attorneys for the two other men charged -- Phillip Allison, 28, and 23-year-old Gregory Reedfields -- waived their clients' right to a hearing.

Hill and Larkins are also suspects in a similar robbery of New York Knicks forward Eddy Curry, who was tied up and robbed in his suburban Chicago home last month. That robbery occurred just a few weeks after Walker was robbed at his Chicago town house.

In the Walker case, all four men are charged with home invasion, armed robbery and aggravated kidnapping, according to the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Sam Adams, an attorney representing Reedfields, said his client is innocent and "police did not get the right guy." The names of attorneys representing the other suspects were not immediately available.

A Burr Ridge police spokesman, Luke Vulpo, said Saturday that Hill and Larkins have been formally charged with armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping and home invasion in Curry's case. They were scheduled to appear in bond court Monday on those charges, he said.

The robbery at Walker's house happened July 9 when Walker was home with a relative. Multiple masked robbers bound the two with duct tape and held them at gunpoint. They made off with Walker's Mercedes, cash and jewelry.

Less than three weeks later, Curry, his wife and an employee also were tied up and robbed by masked gunmen at Curry's home in Burr Ridge.

Police officers and detectives used cell phone records, fingerprints and surveillance camera video to gather evidence in the case, according to authorities.

Police said they found nothing to indicate other athletes had been targeted.

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The Clippers signed Brevin Knight on Monday, a month after the veteran free agent guard was waived by the Charlotte Bobcats.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Knight averaged 9.1 points, 6.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds for the Bobcats last season, but was limited to 45 games. He had a buyout clause in his contract worth $1.5 million. He was scheduled to make just over $4 million next season.

"Brevin is one of the better defensive point guards in the league," Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor said. "He's also a gifted floor leader with a great assist-to-turnover ratio. We like that he is good at running the offense and that he always looks to get his teammates involved."

Knight has also played for Cleveland, Atlanta, Memphis, Phoenix, Washington and Milwaukee in his 10-year NBA career.

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The Golden State Warriors have reached agreement on a buyout with center Adonal Foyle, parting ways Monday with the 10-year veteran and the team's longest-tenured player.

Foyle signed a six-year deal worth nearly $42 million in July 2004 and had spent his entire career with Golden State, but he rarely played last season in Don Nelson's guard-oriented lineups.

"We will certainly miss Adonal's presence, both on and off the court," Chris Mullin, the Warriors' executive vice president of basketball operations, said in a statement announcing that Foyle had been placed on waivers.

"However, we think this move is in the best interest of both parties as we move forward," Mullin said. "Adonal was a true professional in every sense of the word during his decade-long tenure with the Warriors. We wish him the best as he begins the next phase of his career."

A phone message left for Foyle was not immediately returned Monday night. He had been traveling back home in his native Caribbean and the voicemail of his agent, Lon Babby, said Babby was out of the country this week as well. The Warriors did not provide any details on the buyout.

The 32-year-old Foyle appeared to have interest in joining the Orlando Magic, which would be much closer to his homeland of tiny Canouan, in the cluster of Caribbean islands called St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

This is the latest move for a Warriors team that traded guard Jason Richardson to Charlotte in a deal on draft night. Richardson is due about $51 million over the next four seasons.

Golden State got rookie forward Brandan Wright in the deal after he was picked eighth overall.

In March, Foyle became a U.S. citizen, taking part in a naturalization ceremony in San Francisco as part of a group of 1,150 people from 94 countries who received Americans citizenship.

"It's a really big deal," Foyle said at the time. "It's been in the works for almost 10 years. It's pretty amazing that it's finally here and that I can do that -- I can get a passport and get in and out of Canada a lot easier than before."

The 6-foot-10 Foyle underwent an emergency laparoscopy appendectomy last month while in the Bay Area hosting one of the several basketball camps he runs during the offseason.

Foyle averaged 2.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in limited play last season. He appeared briefly in two playoff games for the Warriors, who were eliminated in the second round by the Utah Jazz after reaching the postseason for the first time since 1994.

Foyle was chosen eighth overall by the Warriors in the 1997 draft. He appeared in 48 games last season, averaging 10 minutes per contest.

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The Clippers added frontcourt depth Tuesday by signing former North Carolina State forward Josh Powell.

Elton Brand, the Clippers' starting power forward, ruptured his left Achilles tendon earlier this month and is expected to be sidelined for the first several months of the season.

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Powell averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds last season while playing in 37 games for the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors. He averaged 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 37 games for the Dallas Mavericks as a rookie in the 2005-06 season.

The 23-year-old averaged 10.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in five games for Golden State's team in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last month before the Warriors made him an unrestricted free agent July 20.

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Pat Riley vowed months ago to demand a bigger commitment from the Miami Heat this coming season.

And he didn't just mean from the players, either.

Riley said Monday that he plans to coach the Heat for the three remaining years on his contract, an announcement that ends months of speculation about his immediate future. He'll remain in the dual role of team president as well.

"I will coach those out," Riley said. "I will try to coach those out, unless somebody else makes a decision on me. That's a commitment that I want to make to the organization."

The 62-year-old Riley gave up coaching in 2003, then returned two years later -- when Stan Van Gundy stepped down in December 2005 -- and led Miami to the 2006 NBA title. But the Heat were swept out of this past season's playoffs by the Chicago Bulls, and Riley was noncommittal for months about whether he'd remain on the sideline.

But after discussions with his family, Riley is staying put.

"We finally have come to the decision that this is what I love doing," Riley said. "It also works best for us right now and so I'm just going to keep moving forward with it."

The announcement means Riley will coach through the 2009-10 season -- matching the length of Shaquille O'Neal's contract with Miami. Dwyane Wade, the 2006 finals MVP, can also opt out of his contract following that season.

"We hope that over the next three years ... that we're going to be a contender," Riley said. "And then after that, we'll re-evaluate the whole situation."

Riley's 1,195 regular-season victories trail only Lenny Wilkens (1,332) and Don Nelson (1,232) in NBA history. Only two men -- Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach -- have led more teams to NBA championships than Riley, whose title with the Heat in 2006 was his fifth as a head coach.

His decision to return for the upcoming season wasn't unexpected, at least among players. O'Neal and Wade both recently said they believed their coach was coming back, and longtime Heat center Alonzo Mourning -- who is entering his final season -- publicly implored Riley to return last month.

"He has to come back and be a part of my last year. He has to do that," Mourning said on the night he announced that 2007-08 would be his farewell. "It's only appropriate. We started together and hopefully we can end it together on a positive note."

The Heat have been spending the offseason trying to ensure that happens.

It's been a not-very-eventful summer for Miami, which tried to lure point guard Mo Williams from Milwaukee but fell $20 million shy of what the Bucks could pay him to re-sign there. The Heat did sign point guard Smush Parker -- he'll vie with Jason Williams for the starting spot -- along with veteran Penny Hardaway, and remain in discussions about bringing free agent James Posey back or acquiring restricted free agent Mickael Pietrus from Golden State.

Meanwhile, other teams in the Eastern Conference -- Boston, especially, with the addition of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett -- have made significant moves with hopes of contending for a title.

"I understand all the prognosticators who are saying we're taking a step back while everybody else is taking a step forward," Riley said. "There are a couple of teams in the East who have gotten some good players, but they gave up a tremendous amount of assets to get them."

The Heat probably aren't capable of pulling off a Boston-esque blockbuster this summer, but Riley still believes they can get better and deeper before training camp.

"We will continue to look," Riley said. "We're not finished. We're not finished, by any stretch of the imagination, trying to improve the team."

Notes

Riley said he still doesn't know if guard Gary Payton -- who renewed vows with his wife this summer, getting three cases of Cristal champagne from the coach as a gift -- will be back in the NBA next season, in Miami or otherwise. "I just want to have a conversation with him," Riley said. ... The Heat offered Eddie Jones the same deal Dallas did -- roughly $1.8 million for each of the next two years -- before the Mavericks signed the swingman last week.

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Tim Donaghy started making NBA bets four years ago, and he didn't hesitate to wager on games he worked.

Speaking in code during telephone calls, he tipped off high-stakes gamblers with inside information and recommended which teams to bet on. When his picks hit, he was paid $5,000.

The stunning allegations emerged Wednesday as the disgraced former NBA referee pleaded guilty to two felony charges in a scandal that rocked the league and tarnished the integrity of the sport.

"By having this nonpublic information, I was in a unique position to predict the outcome of NBA games," Donaghy, standing ramrod-straight with his hands clasped in front of him, told the judge in a Brooklyn courtroom.

Donaghy, who was released on $250,000 bond, faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 9 for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce. He also must pay a $500,000 fine and at least $30,000 in restitution to the government.

Commissioner David Stern said the NBA would "continue with our ongoing and thorough review of the league's officiating program to ensure that the best possible policies and procedures are in place to protect the integrity of our game."

Defense attorney John Lauro told The Associated Press that Donaghy was "relieved this part of the proceeding is over and we look forward to completely resolving this matter in the coming months."

"Tim deeply regrets his involvement in this matter and especially the pain it has caused his family, friends and co-workers," Lauro said.

The plea had been widely expected in recent weeks, but court documents released Wednesday revealed new details about the depth of the scandal.

Court papers say the 40-year-old Donaghy began placing bets on NBA games in 2003. Starting last December, he began giving gambling associates sensitive information, including which crews would officiate games and how the various officials and players interacted.

His actions "compromised his objectivity as a referee because of his personal financial interest in the outcome of NBA games," the government said.

It was highly lucrative for Donaghy. While in Toronto, Phoenix and Washington, D.C., to referee games earlier this year, Donaghy received thousands of dollars in cash payoffs from the gamblers, authorities said.

They did not spell out specific games that Donaghy officiated and placed bets on, nor would they say if he made calls during the game to help a team cover the spread.

In one exchange, according to court papers, Donaghy provided a tip about an NBA game on Dec. 13, 2006. That same day, he worked a 76ers game in Philadelphia against the Boston Celtics.

The next day, Donaghy met with the gamblers in Pennsylvania and received a cash payment, authorities say. A person close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing, said the payment was for a successful tip on the 76ers-Celtics game.

The point spread moved two points before the game went off the board -- a fairly significant swing -- with Boston going from a 1 1/2 -point favorite to a 3 1/2 -point choice. Boston won by 20.

The two alleged co-conspirators, identified by prosecutors as James Battista, a professional gambler with the nicknames "Baba" and "Sheep," and Thomas Martino, also appeared in court Wednesday. They were ordered released on $250,000 bond after their arraignment on charges of conspiracy to defraud the NBA.

Battista's lawyer, Jack McMahon, said a grand jury is expected to hear the case and, if indicted, his client intends to plead innocent.

"Mr. Donaghy walked away with a nice situation for himself. He is the linchpin and he seems to have worked his way into a nice situation," McMahon said. "I don't know if that is fair."

The betting scheme was uncovered during an investigation into the Gambino crime family in Brooklyn. None of the defendants in this case was charged with organized crime affiliation.

"He has no more association with an organized crime family than me, and I'm not associated with any organized crime," said McMahon, Battista's lawyer.

Stern said last month that the FBI first contacted the NBA on June 20 to talk about a referee alleged to be gambling on games, and Donaghy resigned July 9 after 13 years as an official. Stern said he would have fired him sooner but was told it might affect the investigation.

Stern blamed a "rogue, isolated criminal" for a scandal that threatened the credibility of every referee. But players are trying not to get too caught up in it.

"Honestly, I don't think anybody's thinking about it. Us players, we haven't discussed it," superstar Kobe Bryant said. "It's not something that's on the radar for us. We know that the commissioner and the league and whoever else is handling the situation, they're going to take care of it, so we don't have much to worry about."

Donaghy, who earned $260,000 last year, was rated in the top tier of officials, and there was nothing suspicious about the frequency of his foul calls, Stern said. He was assigned to work in the second round of the playoffs, with his last NBA game coming during the Phoenix-San Antonio Western Conference semifinal.

The NBA places huge restrictions on NBA referees when it comes to gambling. They are not allowed to enter a casino, for example.

"An unfortunate situation has taken place," New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd said. "But I think the NBA will definitely learn from this but move forward. Win or lose, the players control that."

Donaghy turned over his passport and must seek permission to travel anywhere other than Pennsylvania, Florida or New York.

In court, Donaghy said he is receiving psychiatric treatment for his gambling problem and is taking antidepressant and anxiety medication.

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NBA star Allen Iverson's stepfather was indicted on federal drug distribution charges after police said they found crack cocaine in his car in April.

Michael Andre Freeman, 51, will remain jailed until his bond hearing Friday. He was to have been in court Aug. 24 but the hearing was postponed a week to give him time to find a lawyer, the U.S. District Court clerk's office said Monday.

Freeman was Iverson's mentor while the Denver Nuggets guard grew up in Newport News and Hampton.

He was indicted June 13 on federal charges of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Newport News police arrested Freeman in April. At the time, police said an officer who stopped Freeman for a minor traffic violation found the crack in the vehicle.

State drug charges were dropped last week as the federal prosecution proceeds.