Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that it?s official? Michael Jordan will play one more year. Knee surgery and age -- he will turn 40 in February -- had prompted Jordan to contemplate yet another retirement after leading the Wizards in scoring and very nearly to the playoffs before injuries forced him to the bench. But after a summer of working out and weighing his options, Jordan announced yesterday he's going to play again.

"I am excited to return to the basketball court this year," Jordan said in a statement. "My love for the game of basketball continues to drive my decision. Physically, I am feeling very strong, and feel that the steps I took in the off-season have allowed me to return to the game in great condition."

Jordan has planned to honor the 2nd year of the two-year deal he signed last summer, but his health was a concern. His right knee caused him to miss 22 games last season. The Wizards missed the playoffs as a result. He told team officials this summer he might want to be a reserve rather than start, in order to limit his playing time, but in his statement yesterday he seemed to be backing off that idea.

"I met with Michael today and he can't wait to play," Wizards owner Abe Pollin said. "He's in great shape and feels better than he did last year. He's very excited about the team and believes we'll be good. He told me he can't wait to get started and he can't wait to play."

Jordan?s return will help the Wizards financially. They were able to sell out all of their home games and all but three of their road games last season. With this season likely being Jordan?s last, fans will flock to the arenas in droves to see him play for the last time in their city. NBA officials said Jordan's presence also helped the league's finances. Sales of Wizards season tickets were at an all-time high and lately, as word got out that Jordan's return was imminent, the phones in the team's sales office began to ring a little more frequently, a team official said.

Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that Charles Oakley may have finally found a home. Oakley worked out for the Wizards on Thursday and met with officials about signing a contract, most likely for one year, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

The Wizards are looking to add experience to their relatively young crop of big men and Oakley, a 17-year veteran known for his rugged play, rebounding prowess and critical tongue, might be their man. Oakley may take a few days to weigh his options before deciding where to sign. He played in just 57 games last season with the Bulls because of injuries and the team's desire to use its younger players. Oakley has averaged 10 points and 9.8 rebounds in his career.

Tom Enlund of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Bucks have added some veteran depth to their roster. The team announced that they signed free agents Cedric Henderson and Laron Profit on Wednesday. As per club policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.

Henderson is a 5-year NBA vet who has a reputation for playing tough defence and played 12 games for the Warriors last season. Over his career he has averages of 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 260 games.

Profit played in Italy last season after being cut by the Magic in training camp. He played two seasons for Washington, averaging 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

John N. Mitchell of the Washington Times reports that Michael Jordan will return this season and play for the Wizards. He could make the announcement this weekend.

After a knee injury cut short his comeback last season, it has been unknown as to whether he would retire or return for the start of training camp next week to prepare for his 15th NBA season. Jordan commented on his comeback in a recent interview, "I'll play as long as I love the game of basketball. I don't believe it myself sometimes that I'm still playing. I never thought I'd play again. But I still love the game."

Jordan's comments were the strongest indication yet that he would play this season, and sources confirmed to The Washington Times yesterday that he would return. Jordan declined to comment yesterday.

Even with the knee injury, Jordan led the Wizards in scoring and assists and helped them improve from a franchise-worst record of 19-63 to last season's more respectable 37-45.

The Wizards have stated that they do not know what Jordan?s intentions are, but sources claim that Jordan is in great shape and will be back. Last season?s knee problems may have been the result of a summer of extreme workouts geared toward losing weight. Since he hasn?t gained weight this summer, he won?t have to work as hard before the start of the season.

The Wizards have approached this offseason with the assumption that Jordan would not return and have done well to add quality players at the shooting guard and small forward positions. Jarred Jeffries, Juan Dixon, Jerry Stackhouse, Larry Hughes and Bryon Russell will all add depth and allow Jordan to limit his minutes.

"The one thing we tried to do was to do everything in our power to better the team with the idea that [Jordan] was not going to be playing," coach Doug  Collins said. "If he does play, I think we have the guys on this team who are going to make his job a lot easier. Last year it wore on him with the minutes. Our goal was to get better with better talent so that if he did play it would make his life easier."

Jodie Valade of the Dallas Morning News reports: The last time Popeye Jones called Dallas home, the Mavericks had a different owner, a different coach and played in a different building.

Yet after signing a fresh, one-year contract Friday to play for the Mavericks at the veteran's minimum, the 6-8 forward had one overriding thought.

"This feels like coming home," he said.

The addition of Jones marks the Mavericks' first free-agent acquisition of the off-season, with the re-signing of Raef LaFrentz as the only other summer move. The Mavericks continue to label the re-signing of restricted free agent Eduardo Najera as "close" and hope to use restricted free agent Wang Zhizhi as trade bait.

In contrast to past summers filled with trades and free-agent signings, this off-season has been quiet. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he anticipates bringing just 12 players to training camp, which begins Oct. 1.

"We wanted to bring back the same team, basically, unless something rang our bell," Nelson said.

"This is where I want to retire," Jones said. "This is my second home. I'm going to make it my first home for the rest of my life."

Bob Young of the Arizona republic reports that the Suns and the Wizards have been discussing a trade, but the trade is not likely to go through. A rumored deal that would have sent forward Bo Outlaw to the Washington Wizards for forward/center Christian Laettner is apparently not going to happen, according to a league source.

By acquiring Laettner, the Suns could save money against the salary cap in the future, because his contract is for about $5 million and Outlaw will get $6.5 million in the upcoming season. Both are signed through the 2004-05 season. The sticking point is that both also have so-called "trade kickers" in their contracts, which cannot be waived. (RealGM note: trade kickers can be waived, but only if the player agrees to do so.)

Outlaw has a 10 percent kicker and Laettner has a 15 percent kicker. That means the Suns would have to pay Laettner 15 percent of the remaining value of his contract. The Wizards would pay Outlaw 10 percent of his remaining value. (RealGM note: While Laetner?s trade kicker could pose a problem, Outlaw?s trade kicker has already been activated when he was traded from Orlando to Phoenix and is no longer a factor.)

The Dallas Mavericks will sign forward Popeye Jones to a one-year contract Friday, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Thursday night.

Jones, a nine-year veteran who played for the Washington Wizards last season, returns to the team that originally drafted him out of Murray State in 1993. Jones, who averaged 7.0 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Wizards last season, had his best season in Dallas in 1995-96, when he averaged 11.3 points and 10.8 rebounds in 68 games.

Dallas moved to sign Jones when Rashard Lewis re-signed with the Sonics, opting for the big-money contract Seattle could offer now instead of the Mavs' veteran exception.

RealGM note: The deal likely includes a player option for a second season. However, it is unknown if Jones will get part or all of the mid-level exception or thr $1.4 million dollar exception.

Can you believe the way the Jazz treated Bryon Russell? Paid him $20 million over the last five seasons after giving him the chance to prove himself in the NBA that only a precious few late second-draft picks ever enjoy. Bastards.
   
Oh, wait.
   
I guess that's not what Russell was complaining about last week when he used interviews with local broadcasters as an opportunity to rip the Jazz. Nah, he's cool with the $20 million. Apparently, it's the amount they're paying him next season that bothers him.

"They never offered me anything," he said.

The Associated Press reports that Patrick Ewing is happy to be coaching in Washington. And that he will suit up if needed. Ewing was introduced as the Wizards? new assistant coach today in a press conference.

"This is one of the hardest decisions that I've ever had to make. I'm still torn," Ewing said Wednesday, 24 hours after his retirement announcement in New York. Yesterday, I was so happy to get that press conference over with, and it took me forever to say that I'm retiring from playing. I've been playing basketball so long, and I still enjoy doing it," he said.

Ewing admitted that if Washington needed an extra center during the season, he might consider playing again -- especially if Wizards owner Abe Pollin tried to induce him. "I'm here as an assistant coach. (But) if Mr. Pollin comes to me and says, 'Here's a 10-day (contract),' I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth," Ewing said.

Wizards coach Doug Collins said that Ewing came to coach -- not play. "When you've played for 17 years, you can go through withdrawals," he said. "If he can be teaching, the transition is going to be much easier."

Dwain Price of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram reports: Free-agent power forward Popeye Jones talked with the Mavericks on Monday about the possibilities of signing with the team within the next two weeks.

"We just wanted to have a chance to get to know him a little bit more," said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks' president of basketball operations. "We are looking for more of a rebounding presence, and he's someone that makes a lot of sense, positionally, for our ballclub.

"When he was here before, he was a franchise and a fan favorite. Besides, he's one of the best per-minute rebounders that there is in the league."

A nine-year veteran, Jones played his first three NBA seasons with the Mavericks, from 1993-96. He also has played for Toronto, Boston, Denver and Washington, and averaged 7.0 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 43.7 percent from the field in 24.3 minutes per game last year for the Wizards.

Besides Jones, the Mavericks are holding out hope that Seattle free agent Rashard Lewis will forego a seven-year, $60 million offer from the Sonics and accept the Mavericks' three-year, $15 million offer. Nelson said even if the Mavericks sign Lewis -- they are saving their $4.5 million exception for him -- they still will try to sign Jones.

"The two [situations] are not related," said Nelson, adding that they won't press Lewis with a deadline for a decision.

"We want to respect his space, because it's a huge career decision," Nelson said. "But the $4.5 million exception has been reserved for him exclusively."

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are still expected to sign restricted free-agent forward Eduardo Najera. While discussions with Najera have progressed, they were interrupted because his agent, Dan Fegan, had to fly to Atlanta to check on another client, Hawks guard DerMarr Johnson. Johnson broke his neck Friday in an automobile accident.