http://www.pdxguide.com/sports/blazernotebook.html By ANDREW SELIGMAN, pdxguide.com Arvydas Sabonis told his agent Monday he does not plan to return to the Portland Trail Blazers next season, but whether or not he is retiring from professional basketball remains unclear. He might take a year off, as he did in 2001-02. He might play in Europe. Or, he might retire. "He told me this afternoon that it's unlikely he will play this year and will not be returning to the Trail Blazers," agent Herb Rudoy said Monday. "I don't know what his plans are for the (future)." Rudoy added: "I know they thought about trading his contract. I just wanted the Trail Blazers to know it's about 98 percent sure he's not coming (back)." A trade remains a possibility. Sabonis was due to earn $7 million next season, but his contract is not guaranteed until Friday. Until then, a team could trade for him and waive him, slashing $7 million from its payroll. One trade scenario reported the past few days has the Blazers sending Rasheed Wallace and Ruben Patterson or Sabonis to New Jersey for Kenyon Martin and Dikembe Mutombo. But Nets president Rod Thorn told The Record of Hackensack, N.J., that he expects Martin to be with the team when training camp opens in October. "I think he'll be there," he was quoted as saying in Monday's paper. Blazers general manager John Nash said teams continue to express interest in Sabonis and this decision has little impact on his trade value. "Teams that have expressed interest, for the most part, were interested in his contract," Nash said. Nash also said the Blazers will continue to entertain offers for Sabonis the next few days, but a deal did not appear imminent as of Monday evening. The 38-year-old Sabonis averaged 6.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 15.5 minutes last season. In eight years with the Blazers, he averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 rebounds, but injuries and age limited the center the last few seasons. In the months that followed the Blazers' elimination by Dallas in the first round of the playoffs, there were conflicting reports about Sabonis' status. One in late May by the Euroleague's official Web site had Sabonis announcing he would play for the team he co-owns in his hometown of Kaunas, Lithuania. At the time, Rudoy called the report inaccurate. Two weeks ago, Nash said he was under the impression Sabonis wanted to play in Portland next season, but Rudoy said then that Sabonis had not made up his mind. Still, Nash thought Sabonis wanted to return to the Blazers. "Until today, that was the impression I had," Nash said. Sabonis was expected to be in town for a physical this week, and Nash figured the Blazers would decide then if they want to keep him. "We were interested in seeing him and determining, physically, what he looked like," Nash said. "I think there were issues in addition to basketball." One was this: Sabonis' wife and four children remained in Spain last season. Sabonis did not like being away from them, but he did not want to uproot his family, either. On Monday, while on a fishing trip in Lithuania, he informed his agent of his decision. But Sabonis apparently did not provide many details. Rudoy said the conversation was brief, and, "He did not share his reasons." Does this mean Sabonis is retired? "I don't think it means that," Rudoy said. "I think it just means he's not coming to take his physical. ... All I know is he's not going to be playing (in the NBA) this season." --

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