The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Euroleague Basketball have announced that three Euroleague teams will compete in five NBA preseason games from October 10-21, 2008. The five games, which are part of the Euroleague American Tour, will be played by 2008 Euroleague champion CSKA Moscow (Russia), FC Barcelona (Spain) and Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania). The teams may face up to five NBA opponents including the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Orlando Magic, the Toronto Raptors, and possibly the Los Angeles Clippers.

"These games continue our collaboration with Euroleague Basketball, as we work together to grow the game of basketball on a global basis," said NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The Euroleague American Tour continues a tradition of friendly competition between the NBA and Euroleague Basketball, dating back to 1978 when Maccabi Tel Aviv played the Washington Bullets in Tel Aviv, Israel. Following the 2008 preseason schedule, 33 games will have been played between the two leagues since Euroleague Basketball was created in 2000, including 13 games during NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS in 2006 and 2007.

"We value the chance to partner with NBA teams in their own arenas," Euroleague Basketball CEO Jordi Bertomeu said. "There are basketball fans of all types in North America whom we plan to entertain with our own distinct playing style. We are sure they will appreciate again that the international game has a lot to offer our sport."

The Euroleague American Tour tips off on October 10 in Orlando, Florida, when six-time Euroleague champion CSKA Moscow makes its North American debut against the Orlando Magic. CSKA's second preseason game will take place in Toronto, Canada, when CSKA plays the Toronto Raptors on October 14.

FC Barcelona play two games as part of the Preseason Shootout, hosted by the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. The 2008 NBA Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers will be Barcelona's first opponent on Oct. 18, followed by the either Los Angeles Clippers or Toronto Raptors on Oct. 19. For Barcelona, founded in 1926, the games in Los Angeles will be their first played in the United States.

ORACLE Arena in Oakland, Calif. will be the final site of the Euroleague's American Tour when the Golden State Warriors hosts Lietuvos Rytas on Oct. 21. Rytas is the 2005 ULEB Cup champion and hold five Lithuanian League crowns.

For the third consecutive year, NBA teams will participate in preseason games abroad. The Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and Washington Wizards will play four games in Barcelona, Berlin, London, and Paris as part of NBA Europe Live 2008.

According to league sources, Andris Biedrins' new contract guarantees him $9 million per over the next six seasons.

Biedrins would have to play 65 games per year and set milestones in points, rebounds, and blocks to push the contract's total up to nearly $63 million.

The statistical milestones, the sources confirmed, are close to what Biedrins' past production has been.

The Golden State Warriors have re-signed center Andris Biedrins to a multi-year contract,  announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

?We?re extremely happy to have Andris under contract for many years to come,? said Mullin.  ?He is clearly one of the top young centers in the NBA and, much like the young player we signed a few days ago (Monta Ellis), he has continued to improve every season.  It?s not easy to find quality young big men in this league, but we certainly think we have one of them, and he?s only 22 years old.?

The Warriors' salary cap figure, according to published reports and information obtained by MediaNews, stands at around $70 million - just shy of the $71.15 million luxury tax threshold the Warriors do not want to cross.

Anthony Randolph has been impressive in the summer league, and many envision him playing the point forward, which would suit him to Don Nelson's style.

"As I am getting used to this system, I think I can see myself in that way," Randolph says. "Maybe not right away. But, hopefully, down the line, I think I can be a point forward type of player."

The Warriors have moved quickly to prevent Andris Biedrins from considering interest from teams in Europe by reaching terms on a new deal with the restricted free agent.

League sources told ESPN.com that Biedrins was en route to Oakland on Sunday night, after agreeing to a new six-year deal with the Warriors worth nearly $63M. The contract will likely be signed Monday and include a player option for Biedrins to return to the free-agent market in the summer of 2013 after completing five seasons.

Maurice Evans has agreed to terms with the Hawks on a three-year deal believed to be worth about $7.5 million, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

Evans was reportedly close to signing a three-year deal with Golden State on Wednesday, one California newspaper reported.

Before Josh Childress to his unprecedented three-year, $20 million contract, the Greek club Olympiakos first targeted Warriors swingman Kelenna Azubuike.

Agent Michael Higgins said Olympiakos approached his client last year, and then returned two weeks ago at the summer league in Las Vegas with an offer to Azubuike of $5 million annually for three years.

"But that was the starting point,'' Higgins said. "We could have got the deal [that Childress received]. ... If I'd said $10 million [annually] for three years, they would have said yes. They wanted him. They said, 'What's it going to take? Give us a number.' ''

Azubuike is a D-League success story who went undrafted and making it in the NBA was a bigger priority than more money.

A source close to Andris Biedrins said European teams are very interested in signing him.

The Golden State center is drawing strong interest in a of couple Russian clubs, according to the source, who added that teams are willing to sign him for three to five years for what amounts to more than $10 million a year.

The Golden State Warriors have re-signed guard Monta Ellis to a multi-year contract, announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Ellis' contract is expected to be in the 6-year, $66 million neighborhood.

?We are absolutely thrilled to have Monta under contract for the next several years,? said Mullin. ?He has been one of the top young players in the NBA for the last two years and enjoyed a tremendous season last year.  The growth that he has demonstrated at such a young age is incredible, and we look forward to him playing a big part in our future success.?

Ellis, 22, averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.53 steals in 37.9 minutes in 81 games last season.   He ranked 14th in the NBA in field goal percentage (.531, 3rd among all guards), 15th in steals, and 25th in scoring.  He became only the ninth guard in NBA history to shoot 60% from the floor for an entire month in February (.602).  The 6?3? Ellis scored a career-high 39 points on January 24 vs. New Jersey and scored 30-plus points on 12 occasions overall.  

Originally selected (out of high school) in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft by Golden State (#40 overall), Ellis was named the NBA?s Most Improved Player following the 2006-07 campaign, when his scoring average increased by nearly 10 points per game from the previous season (6.8 to 16.5).  The Jackson, Mississippi native has averaged 15.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists overall in 207 NBA games during his three-year career.  Additionally, his field goal percentage has increased by nearly 6% in each of his three campaigns (.415, .475, 531).