The Contra Costa Times is reporting that the feud between the Golden State Warriors and center/power forward Marc Jackson is still on the boil.  Although the Warriors brass have so far been silent on the impasse which has Jackson signing an offer sheet with the Houston Rockets, Jackson says past comments are still bothering him.  He feels the club did not value his contribution by letting him "marinate" and bringing in rookie Troy Murphy at his position.  Rockets fans may be happy to think that Jackson is finished with Golden State but the Times is reporting that a deal may be in the works to trade Walt (Wizard) Williams for Bobby (Bad Back) Sura to compensate the Warriors for not matching Houston's offer.  Aside from Sura's injury history, the length of his contract to 2004 versus Williams one year remaining makes the Jackson signing much less attractive.

The Houston Rockets and Warriors restricted free agent Marc Jackson have reached an agreement on a contract, Jackson's agent confirmed Friday.

The Rockets received a medical exception from the NBA on Friday worth $3.25 million and parlayed it into a six-year offer worth $24.375 million, Joel Bell, the agent for Jackson, said.

According to Raymond Ridder, the Warriors public relations director, the team had yet to receive the official offer sheet from the Rockets. Ridder said Warriors general manager Garry St. Jean would not comment until the offer sheet is received.

Johnathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports: Seeking a frontcourt force to fill the voids left by the injury to Maurice Taylor and defection of Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets might have landed both Friday, reaching an agreement with free-agent center Marc Jackson.

The Rockets received salary-cap relief in the form of a disabled-player exception worth $3.25 million next season and quickly used it to come to terms with Jackson on a six-year, $24.37 million contract.

The Warriors have 15 days from the time the deal is completed to match the Rockets' offer, but the Rockets had begun talks on a deal with Golden State in which the Warriors, deep in high-priced frontcourt players, would agree not to match the offer to retain Jackson.

"I hope they'll leave me alone," Jackson said. "This is for me. Houston is for me. I just hope the Warriors leave it alone ... just let me go.

 Dawson also met with free-agent guard Moochie Norris' agent, Dan Fegan, on Friday, although there were no indications of progress in the negotiations.

Fegan offered a sign-and-trade deal in which Norris could make more than the four-year, $12 million offer the Rockets have had on the table, but the Rockets did not accept the trade proposed.

ESPN.com reports: The New York Knicks have until Monday to spend a special $2.875 million injury exception, and they might offer the money to free agent center Marc Jackson.

If, however, the Houston Rockets receive an injury exception worth $3.25 million from the league office before Monday, Jackson could end up manning Hakeem Olajuwon's old spot.

The Knicks were granted the disabled player exception because of a career-ending injury to Luc Longley. The Rockets, meanwhile, are awaiting word from the NBA on whether they will receive a medical exception for the season-ending injury to Maurice Taylor.

Golden State has the right to match any offer Jackson receives. But with Adonal Foyle, Danny Fortson and Erick Dampier ahead of Jackson on the depth chart, it's questionable whether the Warriors would be willing to match a large offer.

The AP reports that Kelvin Cato has warned the public that he will earn his money this year.  Calling himself the weakest link for the last two years and referring to the regular drumming he gets from Houston fans, he said this year will be different.  Much like he said around this time last year, Cato says he's trimmed some fat and added muscle.  Hopefully, he will stay injury-free this season after playing only 32 games last season.

Clutchcity provides an update on the stalemate between Moochie Norris and the Rockets.  Training camp starts next Tuesday (Oct. 2nd) and still no contract has been signed.  Agent Dan Fegan apparently has sign-and-trade scenarios worked out if a deal cannot be reached -- as he had done with Shandon Anderson and Hakeem Olajuwon.  

Norris doesn't seem to see any danger of not being a Rocket: "It's part of the game. I think it's going to be taken care of this week. There's not too much thinking about it. I'm just working out, taking care of myself so when it happens I'll just be ready. You won't have to wait for me to get my game up to par to catch up with the guys. I've been working out with Cuttino (Mobley) and Steve (Francis) all summer so nothing has changed."  You have to wonder at this point, however, if Moochie really will have to be traded.

The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen reports the Rockets have picked up the option on the fourth year of Kenny Thomas' rookie contract.  He is now a Rocket through the 2002-'03 season.  Carroll Dawson said of Thomas that he showed up in the best shape of his life and that he'll be important with the injury to Mo Taylor.

The Rockets also added Ike Nwankwo, a center, and Tierre Brown, a guard, to the camp roster.

The Sporting News' Michael Murphy writes the Rockets three keys to the season are: (1) figuring out a new plan for the power forward spot, (2) figuring out a new offense to attack the zone, and (3) Francis emerging as the undisputed leader.  Murphy speculates that Tomjanovich may try something unorthodox like Rice at power forward, but says how well Griffin plays will be the big X factor to the season.