Originally published Friday, July 4, 2008 at 12:00 AM

NBA | Guards Arenas, Paul intend to stay put

Two of the league's elite point guards, Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, will be staying...

By The Associated Press

Two of the league's elite point guards, Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, will be staying with their teams.

Arenas, 26, said he has agreed to re-sign for $111 million over six years, which is $16 million less than the maximum deal he said the Wizards offered him when the free-agency period began Tuesday.

"What can I do for my family with $127 million that I can't do with $111 million?" three-time All-Star Arenas said to The Washington Post.

Arenas negotiated the deal from China, where he is traveling as part of promotional tour for a shoe company, and did so without an agent.

"I'm basically giving back $16 million," Arenas told The Washington Times. "This is in line with what I've been saying the whole time. You see players take max deals and they financially bind their teams."

Paul, 23, and the Hornets have a deal that could keep him with the franchise for at least the next four seasons.

Lance Young, Paul's agent, said Paul agreed to a three-year extension with a player's option for a fourth season. The deal is worth $68 million.

Notes

• Forward Corey Maggette, who averaged 22.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Los Angeles Clippers last season, said he is seriously considering an offer to join the world-champion Boston Celtics, The Boston Globe reported.

• Former Sonics coach Bernie Bickerstaff, 63, and another ex-NBA coach, Del Harris, 71, will work as assistant coaches for first-year Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro, 41.

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