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Croatian guard Gordan Giricek, who has averaged nearly 10 points per game since joining the NBA in 2002, has become the latest player to leave the league for a bigger payday.

The Oklahoman reports that Oklahoma City's long-awaited announcement of its team nickname is not expected to come this week. The official unveiling of the name, colors and logos is, however, expected before the end of the month.

Their winning streak stood at 26 games dating back a total of 12 years. They had won 50 straight decisions overall in Olympic and World Championship competition. But the USA women's team was upset by Russia 75-68 in the semifinals of the Worlds two years ago in Brazil. And though Anne Donovan's squad rebounded to win bronze, the loss stung for every member of the delegation.

In the Philadelphia Inquirer, Kate Fagan writes "In what should be the final move of a hectic summer, the 76ers are expected to add veteran big man Theo Ratliff. At Monday's press conference to announce the signing of Andre Iguodala, Sixers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski said he hoped to have a big man in place "within 48 hours," but would not elaborate further."

The NBA and WNBA are comprised of the best male and female basketball players in the world. Owning a men's and women's roster stacked with elite NBA and WNBA players, losing is not an option for the U.S. teams. With the pressure on and the world watching, the U.S. men and women go for gold. To keep up with all the action NBA.com's John Schuhmann left his desk in Secaucus, New Jersey to take his seat at the Olympic Games. With access to the world's finest ball players, here is the best of Schuhmann's extensive coverage of both men's and women's basketball at Beijing 2008.

In USA TODAY, Kevin Johnson writes "even before Yao Ming carried his nation's flag into National Stadium at the opening ceremonies, basketball fever was surging past table tennis, badminton and volleyball as the favorite of the masses. The most compelling evidence of that popularity is spread over dozens of teeming outdoor courts across the city, where the young and not-so-young are happily knocking down jumpers and aspiring to more than respectability. The favored attire often has nothing to do with Yao or other members of the Chinese team. Many of those with jerseys have the names of other top NBA stars plastered between their shoulders — Pierce, Nowitzki, Anthony, McGrady, Iverson. Of any individual athlete, Yao won the loudest ovation at the opening ceremonies. Not far behind, however, was the eruption when Bryant's face flashed on the stadium's big screen. 'Yao Ming opened the basketball market,' said Jiang Sheng Kun, 21, decked out in a full Lakers uniform, 'and Chinese basketball is becoming more and more strong.'”

In the NEW YORK TIMES, Pete Thamel writes "The German National Team coach, Dirk Bauermann, handed the gold medal to the Americans (5-0), whose 106-57 victory pushed their average margin to 32.2 points. 'I think they're unbeatable,' he said. 'I don't even think it's going to be close. I would be surprised if anyone can even give them a game.' The Americans play Australia in the quarterfinals of the Olympic basketball tournament on Wednesday. Bauermann said the growth that the American program had shown since 2004 would probably make any game a one-sided affair. 'This team now, I think it's difficult to comprehend how much better they are,' Bauermann said. 'They're doing all the intangibles, they're doing everything that it takes to win. They really don't have a weakness like they did four years ago.'”

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent center Paul Davis, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

With a 104-60 blowout of South Korea, the U.S. Senior Women's National Team advanced to the Olympics semifinal the same way they breezed through pool play: with defense and very comfortably.

In the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, Elliott Almond writes "The intersection of swimming stardom and NBA celebrity seemed apropos Monday night when gold-medal winning Michael Phelps visited the U.S. men's basketball team. The game certainly didn't pique much interest. The NBA celebrities, aka the U.S. Olympic team, demolished Dirk Novitzki and Germany 106-57 in a meaningless go-through-the-motions event at Wukesong Arena. But these are the Michael Phelps' Games. So when the golden swimmer appears, it causes the kind of commotion Kobe and Co. are used to. Yes, even the basketball players turned into adoring fans in the presence of Phelps, who visited their locker room a day after earning his Olympic-record eighth gold medal. "Just being able to sit in here and hang out with these guys, it's cool to sit in here," Phelps said in a statement released by USA Basketball. "These are the guys I'm always watching on TV."”

On ESPN.COM, the ASSOCIATED PRESS writes "the 1992 team -- with icons such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird -- introduced NBA basketball to the world stage. Sixteen years later, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have become China's darlings -- and the NBA is hoping capitalize on the basketball's popularity by investing millions in the sport's development in this sprawling nation. The league has plans for an NBA-affiliated league here, and Stern envisions league partnership in as many as 'eight or 10 or 12 arenas throughout China.' 'The world is embracing the sport that the Dream Teamers brought to Barcelona,' Stern said. 'And I would say the 2008 Olympics really demonstrate that complete embrace.' Stern said he never imagined the NBA/China relationship that began in 1985 would be as popular as it is at the Beijing Games.

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has re-signed restricted free-agent swingman Andre Iguodala. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

NBA.com's John Schuhmann is in Beijing and takes a look ahead at the quarterfinals of the men's and women's competitions.

The U.S. Men's Senior National Team's suffered no letdown in a meaningless pool play game against Germany on Monday. Now, they're ready for Wednesday's quarterfinal against Australia.

The Italian team Premiata Montegranaro announced on Sunday that 38-year-old Shawn Kemp has agreed to play for the team starting in November.

The Arizona Republic reports that Suns second-round draft pick Goran Dragic reached a buyout agreement with Spanish club Tau Ceramica and is en route to Phoenix to sign a contract to play for the Suns this season.

The U.S. Women's Senior National Team heads into the elimination rounds of the 2008 Olympics unbeaten and unchallenged, thanks to a 96-60 drubbing of New Zealand on Sunday night.

In the Sacramento Bee, Melody Gutierrez writes "Donté Greene slid his Kings jersey over his lime T-shirt at the California State Fair on Saturday and did exactly what was expected of him. He signed autographs with a smile, making small talk with Kings fans. He held fussy babies and said he planned to try deep-fried catfish. In his news conference Friday, Greene spoke of his high hopes for the youth-laden Kings."

In the Boston Globe, Bob Ryan writes "I'm starting to believe. Understand that there was a good reason why I was reluctant to place my hand on that stove. I was there in Indianapolis. I was there in Athens. I was there in Tokyo. I had borne witness to the shredding of America's basketball reputation."

NBA.com's John Schuhmann is in Beijing and has notes from a day in men's hoops when several teams clinched a spot in the quarters or the top seed in their group.