Crawford Traded to Knicks

The Chicago Bulls signed point guard Jamal Crawford on Thursday and then sent him to New York as part of a six-player deal. The Bulls also sent forward Jerome Williams to the Knicks in exchange for guard Frank Williams, center Dikembe Mutombo, forward Othella Harrington and center Cezary Trybanski.

Though Crawford led the Bulls with 17.3 points a game last season and was a restricted free agent, General Manager Jim Paxson was willing to let him go in exchange for payroll flexibility.

After averaging 11.2 points and almost four assists in his first four seasons, Crawford probably would have commanded a long-term contract as a free agent. The contracts of the New York players expire after next season, and the deal is expected to save Chicago about $11 million over the next four years.

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Peja Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings said he told General Manager Geoff Petrie he wanted to be traded. Stojakovic, a three-time All-Star and the NBA’s second-leading scorer last season, has been with the Kings since entering the league in 1998.

“I think the change would be good for the team and for myself,” Stojakovic told Associated Press in a phone interview from Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. “That’s the only explanation you’re going to get from me.”

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The New Jersey Nets and Richard Jefferson agreed to terms on a multiyear contact extension that will pay him $78 million over the next six years. He averaged a team-high 18.5 points and 38.2 minutes a game last season.... Forward Robert Horry re-signed with the San Antonio Spurs. Horry, who turns 34 this month, averaged 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 81 games last season.

College Basketball

The Georgia men’s team was put on four years’ probation for rules violations under former coach Jim Harrick involving academic fraud, unethical conduct and improper benefits.

The NCAA decided not to impose a one-year postseason ban, citing the school’s self-imposed penalties that banned the team from the 2003 Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournaments.

The Bulldogs will lose one scholarship for each of the next three seasons, forfeit its 30 victories from the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons and lose official credit for participating in the 2002 NCAA tournament.

Tennis

Second-seeded Andy Roddick overwhelmed 15th-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan, 6-2, 6-3, in 53 minutes and reached the Cincinnati Masters quarterfinals.

Fourth-seeded Carlos Moya withstood 20 aces from Wayne Arthurs to win, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (5). He will play Andre Agassi, who defeated Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-3, 6-3.

Second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo advanced to the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Elena Bovina. She will play Karolina Sprem, who beat seventh-seeded Ai Sugiyama, 6-3, 6-4. Second-seeded Anastasia Myskina beat 15th-seeded Chanda Rubin, 6-4, 6-0, and will play Magdalena Maleeva, who defeated ninth-seeded Paola Suarez, 6-4, 6-3.

Soccer

Forward Landon Donovan of the San Jose Earthquakes was suspended for a game and fined $1,000 by Major League Soccer for making an obscene gesture at an official after a July 24 game. Teammate Troy Dayak was fined $500 for not immediately leaving the field after being ejected.... England Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was cleared by authorities over a scandal in which the Football Assn. said he had an affair with a secretary in the organization.

Auto Racing

NASCAR confirmed it is holding a Busch Series race in Mexico City next season. The race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course will be March 6, and will be the third event on the 35-race schedule.