Arvydas

Sabonis

The Blazers have not completely given up on bringing back Sabonis, but they do believe it’s unlikely they’ll be able to pursuade him to return. They may opt to trade his contract prior to the Friday deadline. Any team trading for the contract could decline the option and get some salary cap relief.

The Blazers have a $7 million option on Sabonis that they could exercise if he wants to return, but it’s unclear whether they will. A decision may not come until mid-August.

According to his agent, the big man is “out of danger,” which is great news. Sabonis was elected to the Hall of Fame in April.

“The doctors told me, ‘You can’t smoke, you can’t drink, you can’t play basketball.’ So of the things I like, only sex is left,” Sabonis told reporters Tuesday outside the hospital. Clearly, Sabas is still in classic form following the health scare, and it’s great to hear that he’s in no further danger.

Blazers president Bob Whitsitt said the report is ''way too premature,’' because Sabonis has not informed the team or his agent of his plans.

Sabonis is day-to-day.

Sabonis, 38, is playing in his native Lithuania. Dallas has a roster spot open for which they continue to seek a backup center. They still have the $4.9 million midlevel exception and the $1.5 million exception, and might look at Travis Knight.

He added seven boards, four blocks, two assists and two steals in 29 minutes. If he played that much every night, he’d be worth owning. But as it stands now, he doesn’t get enough minutes to warrant serious consideration.

Sabonis, who missed one game with back spasms, did not score.

Sabonis did some shooting and light jogging on his own Tuesday, but he left practice early for more treatment.