Strickland Arrested at Nightclub

Rod Strickland of the Washington Wizards was arrested early Saturday, charged with refusing to leave a Washington nightclub that was being shut by fire marshals.

The number of people inside Republic Gardens exceeded the club’s occupancy permit, police spokesman Joe Gentile said.

Once he refused to leave, Strickland was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful entry and released on personal recognizance. He is due to appear in court Friday.

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Joe Smith’s status will remain in limbo until Thursday, when arbitrator Kenneth Dam will hold a hearing in New York on NBA Commissioner David Stern’s decision to void Smith’s past two contracts.

If Smith wins, he will regain his Larry Bird rights. He would then presumably re-sign with Minnesota for one year, setting himself up for a lucrative long-term contract with the Timberwolves next summer.

If Smith loses, he will probably look to play elsewhere since there will be no financial incentive for him to stay with the Timberwolves. More than a dozen teams would be able to offer him more money than could Minnesota.

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The Philadelphia 76ers, looking for a guard to replace injured rookie Speedy Claxton, signed Vernon Maxwell.

Maxwell, who played for Seattle last season, returns to Philadelphia, where he spent the 1995-96 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Claxton, the Sixers’ first-round pick, sustained a season-ending knee injury last Sunday.

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The Detroit Pistons released guard David Vanterpool and forward Antonio Smith.