The Associated Press

Everyone has known for almost a week that Karl Malone and Gary Payton will join the Lakers, and Jason Kidd and Alonzo Mourning will be with the Nets when free agents are cleared to begin signing contracts today.

Much of the intrigue over the next 15 days could center around what the Los Angeles Clippers plan to do with restricted free agents Elton Brand, Andre Miller and Corey Maggette.

A moratorium on free agent signings was to expire Tuesday night. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. today, free agents were free to put pen to paper and close their deals.

In the case of restricted free agents, however, the only thing they can sign is an offer sheet. Their old teams then have 15 days to decide whether to match the offer, and the Clippers already have said they plan to take their time in the cases of Miller and Maggette - and perhaps Brand.

"It will create a quandary, there's no doubt about that," said agent Mark Bartelstein, who represents one of the key remaining uncommitted free agents - Indiana center Brad Miller.

Another key player made an oral agreement Tuesday when Minnesota center Rasho Nesterovic accepted a six-year, $42 million contract offer from the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

Nesterovic wasn't the Spurs' first choice, but they felt he was their best option after Kidd decided last week to remain in New Jersey for seven years and $102 million.

Nesterovic's agent, Bill Duffy, was in Los Angeles on Tuesday to meet with the Clippers about center Michael Olowokandi, an unrestricted free agent. Following the meeting, Duffy said the Clippers would not agree to any sign-and-trade deals involving the five-year veteran.

The Clippers stand to lose at least half their roster if they choose not to re-sign any of their free agents. Included among them are Miller, Maggette, Lamar Odom, Brand, Olowokandi, Sean Rooks and Eric Piatkowski.

Maggette already has reached agreement with the Utah Jazz on a six-year contract, and Miller has done the same with the Nuggets.

Brand was offered more than $60 million to stay with the Clippers but has not decided whether to accept.

Other players reached oral agreements Tuesday. The Milwaukee Bucks will sign Philadelphia forward Brian Skinner and Indiana guard Erick Strickland, coach George Karl said. Juwan Howard has agreed to terms with Orlando, and Kevin Ollie with Cleveland.

MAGIC: The NBA denied Orlando salary cap relief for the injured and expensive Grant Hill. The medical exemption would have been worth about $4.9 million - approximately one-third of the $13.3 million due to Hill next season.

Orlando still has the $4.9 million mid-level exemption. But considering the medical history of Hill, limited to 47 games the past three seasons, it was seen as certain that the NBA would grant the exemption.

SALARY CAP INCREASE: The NBA salary cap for the 2003-04 season will be almost $44 million, a jump of about 9 percent from last season, the league announced.

TRAIL BLAZERS: John Nash will replace Bob Whitsitt as general manager and be introduced at a news conference today, spokesman Mike Hanson said.

WEBBER TRIAL: Prosecutors formally dropped their case against the father of Sacramento's Chris Webber, who was accused of lying to a grand jury investigating the dealings of a former Michigan basketball booster.