NBA Free Agency Capsules: Magic C Gortat a popular free agent for Rockets

HOUSTON - For a backup center, Orlando's Marcin Gortat is surprisingly popular. At least in Houston, where the future of Yao Ming is uncertain.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey launched an all-out bid to land the backup to Dwight Howard on Wednesday, showing up at Gortat's home in Orlando just after midnight (Eastern time), virtually the minute teams were officially allowed to begin negotiating with free agents.

Morey even announced the meeting on his Facebook page and urged fans to leave notes for Gortat at an e-mail address - rocketsfanslovegortat@gmail.com. Morey said that within 10 minutes of his face-to-face meeting with Gortat, more than 100 e-mails had already arrived and the number climbed above 2,000 by noon Wednesday.

"He was reading them with some intensity," Morey said in a phone interview Wednesday. "He was impressed by the number of messages and how much the fans seem to care about their team. I knew Rockets fans would come through."

Morey said the Rockets made Gortat an offer, but would not divulge details.

"He's someone we've targeted for some time, even before this season," Morey said. "Although he's early in his career in terms of experience, we feel like he's a guy who has a lot of potential over time."

Gortat's agent, Guy Zucker, did not immediately return a phone message.

All the love for Gortat is driven by the uncertainty surrounding Yao. A team doctor said Monday that the hairline fracture in Yao's left foot could potentially threaten his career.

The team said last week that Yao was out indefinitely and was seeking other medical opinions to plot a new course of treatment. Morey had no update on Yao's condition on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-11 Gortat averaged just 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds a game last season and 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds during the Magic's playoff run to the NBA Finals. He's a restricted free agent, meaning the Magic can match any offer from another team to keep the player.

Gortat is one of the few true centers among this summer's crop of free agents, and the Rockets aren't the only team interested. The Mavericks jumped into the mix Wednesday, too, sending coach Rick Carlisle to handle some of the recruiting.

Dallas is looking for a big man to back up starter Erick Dampier, though Dampier's expiring contract makes him a juicy trade target this offseason. The Mavericks may be dangling a bigger role for Gortat, either right away or by the start of the following season.

Dallas also can offer the chance to be part of a team that's won 50 games and made the playoffs each of the last nine years. With Dirk Nowitzki still in his prime, team owner Mark Cuban is doing all he can to win now - something that might be tougher for the Rockets to do with Yao and Tracy McGrady recovering from serious injuries.

Morey said that the Rockets were looking for a reserve center even before the severity of Yao's injury was known. Dikembe Mutombo, who backed up Yao over the last five seasons, is retiring.

"We were targeting lots of players," Morey said. "We feel like Marcin would not only make a good backup, but also has the potential to be a solid starter."

Another offseason priority for the Rockets is re-signing Ron Artest, who is an unrestricted free agent after earning more than $7 million in a productive first season with Houston. Morey said he has contacted Artest's agent, David Bauman, to open negotiations. Bauman would not comment on the progress so far.

"Obviously, we'd love to do a deal with the Rockets," Bauman said. "At this point, I think it's premature. We really have to figure out what all the options are and what's the best place for Ron, both financially and from a playing perspective."

Artest said after last season that he wanted to return to the Rockets. But that was when he believed they were a contender in the Western Conference and before the team announced that Yao's broken foot had not healed and he was out indefinitely.

Bauman would not say how much Yao's injury might impact Artest's decision. He would say that Artest will definitely assess a team's chances of winning a championship before signing with them.

"We will give that very strong consideration," Bauman said. "But it's still premature to say anything else beyond that."

Agent: Artest mulling options in free agency

HOUSTON - If LeBron James or Kobe Bryant are looking for a little help, Ron Artest is taking calls.

The Rockets star forward, an unrestricted free agent, will consider a team's chances of winning an NBA championship when deciding where he'll bring his skills next season, his agent says.

David Bauman said Wednesday that his client would like to return to Houston, but Artest would also think about signing with a contending team - and that might rule out the Rockets if Yao Ming's broken left foot keeps him out for the season.

Bauman wouldn't say which teams have contacted him about Artest. But he said he would expect Artest to talk to James and Bryant if the Cavaliers or Lakers teams were interested in him.

"All the superstars are very savvy and great recruiters," Bauman said. "The superstars are sometimes even better recruiters than the general managers or their staffs. Between Kobe and Ron or LeBron and Ron, there are always conversations that occur. I think I'll just leave it at that at this point."

The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, citing anonymous sources, reported Wednesday that James and Artest met Tuesday in Los Angeles. James, the league MVP, was in Los Angeles on Sunday for the BET awards. Bauman declined to comment on the report.

Artest earned more than $7 million last season. Houston general manager Daryl Morey said he has contacted Bauman, but Artest's agent would not comment on the progress so far.

"Obviously, we'd love to do a deal with the Rockets," Bauman said. "At this point, I think it's premature. We really have to figure out what all the options are and what's the best place for Ron, both financially and from a playing perspective."

Houston television station KRIV, citing unidentified sources, reported the Rockets would only be willing to offer Artest a one-year deal.

Cleveland would be an intriguing option, where Artest could round out a formidable trio with LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.

Cavs coach Mike Brown was an assistant at Indiana when Artest was there in 2003-04. The two developed a good relationship, and it was Brown who chased Artest into the seats when the sometimes volatile forward went after a Detroit fan in Auburn Hills, Mich., during the infamous brawl there in '04.

The Cavaliers could use a tough, physical defender like Artest after struggling to guard Orlando's perimeter shooters in the Eastern Conference finals last season. James has said that Artest gives him as much trouble as any defender he faces.

Another enticing possibility is the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA champs may lose free agent swingman Trevor Ariza.

All of this could deepen the misery for the Rockets, who already expect to be missing Tracy McGrady for the first half of next season as he tries to come back from microfracture surgery on his left knee. The team is waiting for more medical opinions on Yao's fractured left foot, which a team doctor said this week could threaten his career.

Bauman would not say how much the injuries might impact Artest's decision, saying only that his client will definitely size up a team's chances of winning a championship before signing anywhere.

"We will give that very strong consideration," Bauman said.

-- Chris Duncan

Knicks meet with Kidd, but make no contract offer

NEW YORK - The Knicks are trying to persuade Jason Kidd to come to New York, while deciding how much they want David Lee and Nate Robinson to stay.

Kidd and his agent met with Knicks president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, the first day of free agency. The Knicks are interested in the point guard, but plan to be cautious in free agency because they want to save salary cap space for the summer of 2010.

Walsh told reporters that no contract offer was made to Kidd, who is exploring his options. The Knicks hope he would consider a return to the New York area after starring for New Jersey before he was dealt to Dallas in February 2008.

The Mavericks also are interested in keeping Kidd, who was a member of the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. D'Antoni was an assistant coach on that team.

Walsh has repeatedly said his goal is to be a major player next summer, when LeBron James can be the biggest name in a potentially loaded free agent class. So he may be hesitant to offer much more than the midlevel exception of about $5.6 million to Kidd, who can earn much more by remaining in Dallas.

The Knicks also have said they'd like to retain two of their own free agents, Lee and Robinson, if the prices are right.

Lee's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said he spoke to the Knicks late Tuesday night but had "nothing really new to report" late Wednesday afternoon. He expects interest in the power forward, who was third in the league in rebounding last season and topped the NBA with 65 double-doubles.

"We're having substantial talks with different teams," Bartelstein said.

Lee and Robinson are both restricted free agents, so the Knicks can match any offers they receive.

-- Brian Mahoney

Pistons land pair; Kidd, Gortat seem in demand

The Detroit Pistons are acting quickly to remake a former championship contender.

The Pistons agreed to five-year contracts Wednesday with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Those were the first big moves of the NBA's free agency period, which began just after midnight. Detroit, thanks to the Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson trade, is one of the few teams with significant salary cap space this summer.

Gordon and Villanueva are former Connecticut teammates who will remain in the Central Division. Gordon was Chicago's leading scorer and Villanueva played for Milwaukee.

Jason Kidd also seems in high demand, meeting with two suitors on the opening day of free agency in the NBA. So does Marcin Gortat, who could land an offer to be Kidd's teammate.

And Ron Artest might be able to swap Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady for LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.

Cleveland was believed to be interested in Villanueva, in need of another forward who can defend on the perimeter. Perhaps James has a different one in mind, with the Plain Dealer of Cleveland, citing anonymous sources, reporting Wednesday that James and Artest met Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Artest's agent, David Bauman, said his client would like to remain in Houston, but also will consider a team's championship potential. Artest is the only healthy member of the Rockets' trio of stars, with Yao and McGrady both injured and perhaps out for at least the early part of next season.

In that case, he may be willing to listen to a pitch from another title hopeful.

"All the superstars are very savvy and great recruiters," Bauman said. "The superstars are sometimes even better recruiters than the general managers or their staffs. Between Kobe (Bryant) and Ron or LeBron and Ron, there are always conversations that occur. I think I'll just leave it at that at this point."

Kidd listened to pitches from both Dallas and New York on Wednesday. The Mavericks can offer significantly more money to their point guard, and owner Mark Cuban showed his interest by flying to New York to meet with Kidd before the Knicks did.

Later Wednesday, Cuban wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the get-together "went well, I was really happy how it turned out."

The Knicks said they didn't make an offer to Kidd. New York is also trying to retain its free agents, David Lee and Nate Robinson, but won't spend too much because it wants to maintain enough salary cap space to be a major player in 2010.

The Orlando Magic are bracing for the loss of two key players from their Eastern Conference championship team. Hedo Turkoglu, one of the top free agents available, will be in Portland on Thursday to meet with the Trail Blazers, according to agent Lon Babby.

Teams are interested in Gortat, who backed up All-Star Dwight Howard. Houston general manager Daryl Morey met with the Polish center minutes after free agency opened, and urged Rockets fans on Facebook and Twitter to leave notes for Gortat at an e-mail address - rocketsfanslovegortat(at)gmail.com.

"He's someone we've targeted for some time, even before this season," Morey said. "Although he's early in his career in terms of experience, we feel like he's a guy who has a lot of potential over time."

Morey could get competition within his own state. The Mavericks jumped into the mix Wednesday, too, sending coach Rick Carlisle to handle some of the recruiting.

Deals can't be signed until July 8, after next season's salary cap is set.

AP Source: Pistons land FAs Gordon and Villanueva

DETROIT - The Detroit Pistons wanted to add talent and get younger this offseason.

On the first day of free agency, Detroit did both.

Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva agreed in principle to five-year contracts with the Pistons, a person with the knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because NBA rules prohibit announcing deals with free agents until next week, said Gordon's contract is worth $50-plus million and Villanueva will make at least $35 million.

The 26-year-old Gordon averaged 20.7 points for the Chicago Bulls, leading them in scoring for the fourth straight year.

He improved his market value by scoring 42 points in a playoff game against the defending champion Boston Celtics and averaging a team-high 24.3 points in seven postseason games.

Bulls officials had said re-signing Gordon, the No. 3 pick in 2004, was a top priority after previously failing to keep the former Connecticut star with a long-term contract.

Villanueva, who turns 25 next month, averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Milwaukee Bucks. He went from being a restricted free agent to an unrestricted one when Milwaukee chose to not make him a qualifying offer.

The Toronto Raptors drafted Villanueva No. 7 overall out of Connecticut in 2005 and traded him to Milwaukee after his rookie season when he averaged 13 points, 6.4 rebounds and was on the All-Rookie team.

Detroit desperately needed to make a splash this offseason, entering it with nearly $20 million in salary-cap space and coming off its worst season in several years.

The Pistons had a lot of money to spend because Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson had expiring contracts. The franchise wanted to infuse the roster with fresh options after breaking up a group of players that won the 2004 NBA title and advanced to six straight conference finals.

Detroit was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round this season, mercifully ending a miserable season that soured as soon as All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups was dealt to Denver for Iverson and his cap space.

Michael Curry, who struggled as a rookie coach in a tough situation, was fired Tuesday and might be replaced by Avery Johnson, Doug Collins or John Kuester by this weekend.

Detroit's fifth coach in nine seasons will potentially have an interesting decision to make if the roster remains intact.

While the 6-11 Villanueva can easily slip into the starting lineup, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Gordon does not seem to have a spot secured.

Gordon likely has to replace leading-scorer Richard Hamilton at shooting guard or come off the bench behind him.

Gordon was voted the NBA's top reserve in 2005 and if he accepts that role again, the Pistons would have an intriguing three-guard rotation with him, Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey.

Gordon or Hamilton may a problem with coming off the bench and the next coach could have to deal with poor chemistry just as Curry did.

If the Pistons have enough money - and talent - to re-sign Antonio McDyess, one of the most likable players in the league can help them cope with issues on and off the court.

McDyess, though, is a free agent with plenty of options.

"We are in the process of evaluating our options and will make a decision shortly," McDyess' agent, Andy Miller, wrote in a text message to the AP.

-- Larry Lage

Agent: F Turkoglu to visit Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. - Free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu will visit this week with the Portland Trail Blazers, who are looking to bolster a young squad that made the playoffs for the first time since 2003 last season.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, agent Lon Babby says Turkoglu will be in Portland on Thursday. He did not elaborate. A spokesman for the Blazers also confirmed that Turkoglu was visiting the team.

Turkoglu, who helped Orlando to the NBA finals this past season, informed the Magic he planned to opt out of his contract last week when the team acquired Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets, Babby said earlier.

Turkoglu was due $7.3 million next season in the final year of his $36 million, six-year deal with the Magic. Turkoglu averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists last season.

Turkoglu, a 6-foot-10 small forward from Turkey, is considered one of the more versatile players in the league, with the ball-handling skills of a guard and the rebounding ability of a big man.

He often ran Orlando's offense and created matchup problems for the Celtics and Cavaliers in the playoffs. Against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the finals, Turkoglu averaged 18 points.

He was said to be seeking a long-term deal worth at least $10 million annually.

"Opting out doesn't mean I'm going to leave," Turkoglu told The Associated Press before last week's NBA draft. "I'm looking for the best opportunity for myself and my family."

Turkoglu is a nine-year NBA veteran. He played for Sacramento and San Antonio before signing with Orlando as a free agent in 2004.

The Blazers won 54 games last season and advanced to the playoffs, but fell to the Houston Rockets in six games.

The Blazers, the second-youngest team in the NBA last season anchored by All-Star Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, are said to be looking to add experience in free agency.

-- Anne M. Peterson

Bryant decides not to opt out of contract

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant insisted his contract status wouldn't be an issue, and he was right.

Now the Los Angeles Lakers can turn their attention to some NBA champion teammates.

Bryant chose not to terminate the final two years of his contract and will remain with the Lakers, the team he wanted to leave just two summers ago.

Team spokesman John Black on Wednesday confirmed Bryant's decision. The MVP of the NBA finals had until Tuesday to become an unrestricted free agent, but downplayed questions about his future plans throughout the Lakers' five-game victory over Orlando.

Now the Lakers and Bryant's agent will negotiate a contract extension. If they somehow cannot agree, he would earn $23 million next season and could opt out next June.

However, Bryant has spent his entire 13-year career with the team, winning four NBA championships and on June 19 he said, "I'm not going anywhere. I know I ain't going nowhere, so it's just a waste of our breaths just talking about it."

He considered leaving in 2004, weighing an offer to join the Clippers before re-signing with the Lakers. When the Lakers struggled in the following years, Bryant said he wanted to be traded after a first-round loss in the 2007 playoffs.

Instead, the Lakers kept Bryant and strengthened the team around him - and now need to find a way to keep the core of that group together.

Bryant has urged the Lakers to bring back unrestricted free agent forwards Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom, who played key roles in the team's recent run to its 15th NBA title.

Ariza made $3.1 million last season and his play in the finals against Orlando is expected to earn him a major pay raise. Odom made $14.1 million last season and is expected to have to take a substantial pay cut to stay.

Guard Shannon Brown is the Lakers' third unrestricted free agent. He made $796,000 last season after coming over with Adam Morrison in the February trade that sent Vladimir Radmanovic to Charlotte.

Ainge hopeful about re-signing Glen Davis

WALTHAM, Mass. - Danny Ainge hopes to re-sign Glen Davis after the forward sees what he can get as a free agent.

The Boston Celtics general manager said Wednesday he hasn't started negotiations with Davis, who emerged as a solid player when he filled in for injured Kevin Garnett late in the regular season and throughout the playoffs.

Ainge also is happy to have substitute guard Eddie House back for a third season. House decided to fulfill the last year of his contract for $2.86 million rather than exercise his option to become a free agent Wednesday, the start of the free agency period.

Ainge said House's teammates trust him to hit big shots when they pass to him near or beyond the 3-point arc.

-- Howard Ulman

Thunder have flexibility in free agency

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Thunder have the financial flexibility to be one of the key players during the NBA's free agency period this year, but may choose to be frugal instead.

Teams were allowed to start negotiating with free agents starting Wednesday, although players can't sign the deals until next week.

General manager Sam Presti says the Thunder don't want to let "restlessness be our nemesis" and spend the extra money they have below the NBA's salary cap just because they can.

Presti says the Thunder want to keep an eye on the future as well as the present.

Power forward Malik Rose and swingman Desmond Mason are among the veteran players from last year's squad that are free agents this offseason. 

Elsewhere

Dumars says he wants new coach by next Tuesday

DETROIT - The Detroit Pistons don't plan to wait long to name a replacement for fired coach Michael Curry.

Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president for basketball operations, doesn't have a "complete list" of candidates but wants to act in less than a week, before next Tuesday's opening practice for the NBA developmental league.

"My goal is to have a head coach in place by the time we go out to Las Vegas," Dumars said in a video posted on the team's Web site. The NBA Summer League runs July 10-19.

The Pistons are in a good position to improve their lineup for the coming season with about $20 million under the salary cap to work with, to say nothing about four of the first 44 picks in the NBA draft.

"We're definitely in the mode of reshaping our roster," Dumars said last week. "We need to add about three or four talented players by drafting them, signing them or trading for them."

Dumars announced Curry's dismissal Tuesday. The first-year coach led the Pistons to a 39-43 regular-season record and a four-straight-game loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.

In the video, Dumars said Detroit needs a more experienced coach as it moves to integrate new players with remaining veterans.

"We think it's best to move forward with a more experienced coach to get us through these times right now," Dumars said. "We're going through a transition now where we're bringing back some of the veterans, we're implementing some of the younger guys.

"That's probably a little bit too much for a first-time head coach. ... It's a little bit unfair of me to put him in that situation."

Dumars and Curry played together at Detroit, but that wasn't enough to save Curry's job after he led the team to a losing regular-season record and four lopsided playoff losses to the Cavaliers after six straight Eastern Conference finals appearances.

-- David N. Goodman

Shaq arrives in Cleveland

CLEVELAND - Shaquille O'Neal took his first look at his new basketball home.

The 15-time All-Star center toured the Cavaliers' suburban practice facility and took his physical on Wednesday, one day before he is formally introduced as superstar LeBron James' newest teammate.

O'Neal and a small group of associates met briefly with Cavs coach Mike Brown and others at the Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, Ohio. The Cavaliers are hoping O'Neal, who has won four NBA titles, can be the missing piece to help James win his first championship and end the city's title drought dating to 1964.

The Cavaliers have scheduled a 1 p.m. news conference on Thursday to welcome O'Neal. He was acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Suns last week.

It is not known if James, who was vacationing outside the country when O'Neal was traded, will be at the news conference. The league MVP was in Los Angeles last Sunday for the BET Awards.

O'Neal, who will wear jersey No. 33 - his high school and college number - in Cleveland, is staying at a posh downtown hotel during this visit. He hasn't decided if he will buy a house, rent or stay in a hotel during his time with the Cavaliers, his fifth NBA team.

Cleveland is the first cold-weather city where O'Neal has played after stops in Orlando, Fla., Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix.

O'Neal has one season left under contract, but the 37-year-old center recently indicated on his Twitter page that he can play three more seasons.

-- Tom Withers

Pacers F Granger ready for USA camp

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger says his injuries have healed, and he'll be ready for the USA Basketball Men's National Team mini-camp.

Granger accepted the invitation to the camp, but was unsure if he'd be able to participate in the event July 22-25 in Las Vegas. Granger played limited minutes in the All-Star game because of a right knee injury, then later missed 11 games with a torn tendon in his right foot.

He averaged 28.4 points the final 15 games of the season, but said Wednesday he was far from full health at the time.

Granger says he rested for two months, then made great progress after returning to workouts two weeks ago.

The camp is an early step toward selecting the 2012 Olympic team.

-- Cliff Brunt

Former Bull s playersues former agent and manager

CHICAGO - New York Knicks center Eddy Curry has filed a lawsuit against his former agent and business manager.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court comes just two days after a bank filed a motion to foreclose on Curry's $3.7 million Burr Ridge home.

In the lawsuit, Curry alleges Lamont Carter failed to account for how much money he received and spent on Curry's behalf.

Curry, who began his career with the Chicago Bulls, was sued earlier this year by his former limo driver, who alleged verbal abuse and sexual harassment.

The murder of Curry's former girlfriend and daughter in January also drew Curry into a custody battle over his 3-year-old son, Noah Henry.

A judge awarded him full custody of the boy.

Adam Morrison to play for Lakers' summer team

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Adam Morrison will headline the Los Angeles Lakers' entry in the Las Vegas summer league.

Morrison appeared in 52 games last season, averaging 4.0 points and 1.5 rebounds, and didn't play at all in the Lakers' run to their 15th NBA championship. He was acquired from Charlotte along with Shannon Brown in exchange for Vladimir Radmanovic in February, then played in just eight games for the Lakers.

Morrison missed the entire 2007-08 season after tearing his left ACL during the preseason.

Joining Morrison in Las Vegas are Alan Anderson, Aron Baynes, Dominique Coleman, recent second-round draft pick Chinemelu Elonu, Tony Gaffney, Terrel Harris, Justin Hawkins, Ben McCauley, David Monds, Taylor Rochestie, Luke Schenscher and Mustafa Shakur.

The team will be coached by Chucky Brown.

Taco Bell is in, McDonald's is out as NBA sponsor

NEW YORK - Taco Bell has replaced longtime sponsor McDonald's as the NBA's fast-food partner.

Taco Bell and the NBA have agreed on a four-year deal that includes ads for the fast-food chain on ABC, TNT and ESPN, NBA-themed promotions at Taco Bell's 5,600 restaurants and NBA-themed advertising. Taco Bell will be the title sponsor for the All-Star Saturday Night Skills Challenge and an associate sponsor of the All-Star Jam Session.

The agreement ends the league's 20-year partnership with McDonald's.

The package's value was not disclosed, but a person familiar with the deal confirmed the details to The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had yet to be announced.

The news first was reported by Sports Business Daily.

-- Nancy Armour

Candace Parker rejoins Sparks after giving birth

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Candace Parker has returned to practice with the Los Angeles Sparks 1½ months after giving birth to her first child.

However, coach Michael Cooper said Wednesday that it's unlikely Parker would play when the team hosts Phoenix on Sunday.

Parker, last year's league MVP and rookie of the year, had a daughter named Lailaa on May 13. She's married to Shelden Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Parker went through a full practice Wednesday following a light workout a day earlier that included shooting, ball handling and skill drills.

"It was great," she said. "I was just really excited to practice so I treated it like a game almost because you miss it. I've been away from basketball for nine months, 10 months really, so it's great to be back on the court."

There is no timetable for Parker's return to playing. After Sunday, the Sparks open a seven-game road trip and she isn't scheduled to travel with the team.

"We're going to play it by ear," she said. "I'd like to have a couple days of practice and then I'll probably have a better idea."

Cooper said he was encouraged by seeing Parker back in action.

"It's a matter of her feeling really, really comfortable and not just looking comfortable," he said. "Fifty percent of Candace is better than a lot of players, 90 percent than some of the players, but all we're going to do is just gauge her (progress)."

As a rookie, Parker averaged 18.5 points and a league-leading 9.5 rebounds.

Parker said she worked out three days before giving birth and resumed two weeks after.

"I'm a gym rat," she said. "I love to be in the gym, work out, and play."

She isn't the first Sparks player to return after having a baby. Three-time league MVP Lisa Leslie sat out the 2007 season because of her pregnancy.

Leslie, who will retire after this season, said it took about a year to feel like she was back to 100 percent on the court. But she figures Parker will probably have a quicker recovery because she is younger.

"We talk all the time about everything, the baby, nursing, nanny, travel, everything," Leslie said. "I feel honored to be a mentor to Candace. She has a great network of people around her like I did and that's what helps you."

Parker is the fifth Sparks player to become a mom.

"It's been the best thing ever," she said. "My husband and I really enjoy watching our daughter grow. It's amazing how much they change in a short amount of time. She makes me smile every day."