08/12/03 JASON QUICK Arvydas Sabonis will not return to the Trail Blazers next season, opting to turn down a $7 million contract so he can be with his family in Lithuania. Herb Rudoy, Sabonis' agent, called the team Monday morning and canceled a scheduled physical for Sabonis and told the team Sabonis would not return. "He told us he is pretty sure he is not coming back," Rudoy said. "I would say it is quite unlikely." The team and Sabonis had until Friday to sign a deal that would guarantee his salary for next season. The Blazers could trade Sabonis before Friday to a team that would gain relief from his salary. Rudoy said he told Sabonis he wanted an answer from him by Monday so he could inform the Blazers as soon as possible. "I thought it would be fair to the Blazers, so they could include him in an offer to another team," Rudoy said. "I know he has been included in other offers to teams, and I know there are teams out there who would offer for his contract for salary cap reasons. The Blazers have been great to Sabas, so I thought they should know his intentions as soon as possible this week." Sabonis, 38, was one of the Blazers' most popular players with fans since he joined the team in 1995. He is the franchise's seventh-leading rebounder and is seventh in blocks, and he is known as one of the best passing centers ever. "What a bummer," coach Maurice Cheeks said. "This is a loss . . . for us as a team, for the city of Portland, just a huge loss. He brought so much to the table. I mean, he was good. We are going to lose something there." The decision caught some by surprise because many in Blazers management thought Sabonis was leaning toward returning for his eighth Blazers season. "Initially, it seemed like he wanted to play," general manager John Nash said. " But now it appears he doesn't. This was one of those things where we would love to have him play forever, but unfortunately that is not the case." Sabonis' decision leaves the Blazers with one proven center -- Dale Davis -- and third-year project Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, who has played in 35 games the past two seasons. "This leaves us thin at center," Cheeks said. "We've got to look and search and see what we can come up with. But we are not going to find a player like Sabas. He could affect a game just being out there, by rebounding, blocking some shots, making an incredible pass . . . his effects were more than just scoring." Nash on Monday said the Blazers still have hopes of contacting Sabonis in person to try to persuade him to take a physical. "I don't think this is written in stone," Nash said. However, Cheeks said Sabonis had talked with trainer Jay Jensen earlier, and it appeared that his decision was final. "Nothing is definite until it happens, but I think he was pretty clear," Cheeks said. "He didn't really give a reason, but I think he was really missing his family, particularly his kids, and our season is a long season." This is the second time Sabonis has walked away from the Blazers. He spent the 2001-02 season at his home in Spain after a Blazers season that included Rasheed Wallace throwing a towel in Sabonis' face during a late-season game. He returned last season, but his family stayed in Spain, visiting him on occasion. Sabonis, 38, played in 78 of the Blazers' 82 games last season, averaging 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 15.5 minutes. Sabonis averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in the Blazers' playoff series against Dallas while making 24 of 36 shots (66.7 percent). He scored 16 points three times during the series. Earlier this summer, Sabonis hinted that he might not return when he told a city council meeting in his hometown of Kaunas that he intended on playing for Zalgiris, a Lithuanian club team he has an ownership stake in. For how popular he was in Portland, Sabonis was regarded as a legend overseas, where many consider him the greatest European player. He helped the Soviet team win the 1988 Olympic gold medal, which included a semifinal win over the United States. The Blazers drafted him with the 24th pick in 1986, but he did not report until the 1995-96 season, for which he was runner-up for the NBA's Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man awards. Rudoy said there is no mistaking Sabonis' place in basketball history. "I don't think there is any question that he is the greatest European basketball player to ever play," Rudoy said. "You talk to guys who played against him earlier in his career -- Bill Walton, Chuck Person -- and they said he was the greatest player in the world, a guy who had everything. But in Europe he is an icon, a guy who is loved and respected." Said Cheeks: "There weren't very many big guys who played the type of game Sabas plays. And he was a great guy. I'm just glad I could say I got to coach him for a year." Notes: Jerome Kersey could be hired as the team's new development and lifestyles coach, but Nash said it is too early to say. "We are making progress, but I don't think I would identify candidates yet," Nash said. "If you want to say Jerome Kersey is a logical name, that is probably true." Jason Quick: 503-221-4372; [email protected] -- 最好不要因为缺中锋，给我换 Mutombo 来！！！！ --

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