OAKLAND (NBA) - Sarunas Jasikevicius will play basketball for a new team this season after being waived by the Golden State Warriors.

Jasikevicius, who was originally acquired by Golden State on January 17 as part of an eight-player trade with Indiana, appeared in 26 games for the Warriors - averaging 4.3 points and 2.3 assists in 12.0 minutes per game.

With both clubs, the 31-year-old Lithuanian appeared in 63 games, averaging 6.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

He has agreed with Golden State on a buyout, allowing him to consider other options in the United States, or back in Europe where he was a big star with clubs like Maccabi Tel Aviv and Barcelona.

Jasikevicius had been due to make $4million this season but settled for less money so he can pursue other clubs. Since the Warriors have placed him on waivers, he will have to wait a week before becoming a free agent.
Were a club to sign him in the NBA before seven days, they would have to pay him the entire $4million.

Both clubs, and Greek giants Olympiacos - a team led by Jasikevicius' former boss at Maccabi, Pini Gershon - have been linked with Jasikevicius.

"We think this was in the best interest of both parties," Warriors executive vice president Chris Mullin said. "As a competitor, Sarunas obviously would like to have an opportunity to play a significant role on a team. This could potentially open up other avenues that will allow him to pursue that opportunity."

Since joining the NBA prior to the 2005-06 season, the 6ft 4in, 197-pound Jasikevicius averaged 6.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 138 career games.

Despite being hurt for the entire EuroBasket, Jasikevicius played in all of Lithuania's games and was the undispute leader of the Baltic team that ultimately captured the bronze medal on Sunday.


Bell tolls in Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday matched the Miami Heat's five-year, $18.3 million offer sheet to guard Charlie Bell, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on its website.
The Heat made the offer to Bell, who had expressed an interest in relocating to South Florida on Monday. Milwaukee had seven days to match the offer.