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SuperSonics sign first-round draft pick Petro

Associated Press

The Seattle SuperSonics signed first-round draft pick Johan Petro on Monday.

The 7-foot center from France was selected with the 25th pick in last month’s NBA Draft. The 19-year-old Petro played the last two seasons with Pau Orthez, averaging 6.1 points in 28 France Pro A league games. He played another 11 games in the Euroleague and averaged 5.1 points.

Seattle drafted another 7-foot teenager, Robert Swift, with the 12th pick in the 2004 draft. Petro declared for the 2004 draft, but withdrew.

Petro will play with Seattle’s summer league team in Salt Lake City starting Friday.

Artest vows to put team ahead of temper

Ron Artest arrived at the Indiana Pacers’ rookie-free agent camp pledging to be a smarter player focused on helping his team win an NBA title.

The star forward spoke to the local media for the first time since a Nov. 19 fight in Detroit resulted in a nearly season-long suspension. That night, Artest went into the stands at The Palace and attacked a Pistons fan after he was hit with a cup of beer.

Artest said he wants to cut down on technical fouls and remain in control. He called his tendency to draw technicals “playing against your team.

“As you get older, you get a bit more wise,” he said. “Probably next year, you’ll see an older guy, an older player. Like everybody else, as they get older, they mature.”

Artest knows he’s being watched.

“I’m a ghetto-type guy,” he said. “I’ll be ghetto for the rest of my life. But at the same time, there’s a lot of kids who look up to me. For that, I’ll change.”

Around the league

The Minnesota Timberwolves signed first-round draft pick Rashad McCants. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard was the 14th overall selection last month. The 20-year-old left North Carolina after winning the national championship in his junior season. He averaged 17.6 points during his Tar Heels’ career. … Utah signed draft picks Deron Williams and C.J. Miles. Williams, the 6-foot-3 guard who led Illinois to the NCAA championship game, is expected to play a major role in Utah’s rebuilding. The 18-year-old Miles had signed a letter of intent to play at Texas before being selected 34th overall. The 6-6 shooting guard averaged 23.5 points, 10 rebounds and 4.8 assists at Skyline High School in Dallas. … The Phoenix Suns signed second-round draft pick Dijon Thompson. At UCLA, the 6-foot-7 Thompson averaged 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds last season.