The Rockets signed free agent guard John Lucas III to a multiyear contract on Friday after waiving him in January.

The 5-foot-11 Lucas originally signed with Houston on Dec. 29. He was waived on January 4, then signed two 10-day contracts before he was released on January 28.

Guard John Lucas III plans to sign with the Rockets, his agent said Wednesday.

The 5-foot-11 Lucas, son of former Rocket John Lucas Jr., played with the team under two separate 10-day contracts last season.

Agent David Falk said the experience formed a bond between the player and the team.

"We have an agreement in principle with a few nuances to work out, which we will in the next day or two, and then he'll sign," Falk told Houston television station KRIV.

The Rockets have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with second-round pick choice Steve Novak and will announce his signing today.

The 6-9 forward from Marquette University, the No. 32 overall selection in the NBA draft, is a long range shooter who can stretch defenses with his touch from the perimeter.

After being sidelined for the past 15 months, Bobby Sura is practicing for the first time since undergoing micro-fracture surgery on his right knee.

"I want to give it one more shot because I miss it so much," Sura said. "It's not going to be for another contract and it's not going to be for the money. It's strictly for the love of the game."

Sura, who had surgery to clean out loose particles in his knee, has already worked out with the Rockets four times.

Yao Ming spoke confidently about his injuries during a press conference held on Friday.

"As to my injury, I don't have any major concerns. Everything's going really smoothly," Yao told reporters.

Yao was wearing sneakers and walking without a trace of discomfort, adding there were no worries about his recovery.

"Do I look like a guy with a foot injury?" he asked.

John Lucas III, who played 13 games for the Houston Rockets last season, likely will be signed to a three-year contract by early next week, the Houston Chronicle is reporting.

"We like him. We've had preliminary talks, and we'll just try to get together on the terms," said Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson.

Vassillis Spanoulis has reached a three-year contract worth more than $5 million with the Houston Rockets, the largest initial contract they had ever offered a second-round pick.

Spanoulis told Athens newspaper Eleftheros Typos that he would officially accept the contract offer sometime on Wednesday or Thursday.

As the Phoenix Suns continue to search for a backup point guard to play behind MVP Steve Nash, their latest quest may lead them to Minnesota free agent Marcus Banks.

It would take a large chunk of Phoenix's $5.2 million midlevel exception to close the deal but probably would not be far removed from the $3.7 million salary that John Salmons turned down Thursday, according to the Arizona Republic.

Banks attracted initial interest from the Los Angeles Lakers until they signed Vladimir Radmanovic, Minnesota until it signed Mike James and Atlanta until it signed Speedy Claxton. Cleveland's interest also has cooled, leaving the Suns to duel with Houston and Miami. The Rockets also have all of their midlevel exception remaining.

The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets traded Kirk Snyder to the Houston Rockets for future considerations.

The Rockets did not have to give up a player to add Snyder, sending cash and future draft considerations ? likely no more than switching second-round draft positions ? to the Hornets.

John Lucas has parlayed his impressive play in the Vegas Summer League into quite a few offers for guaranteed NBA contracts. He is currently looking at no less then 5 offers for two-year guaranteed contracts from teams in search of a backup point guard.

The two teams believed to be in the lead currently are his current summer league club Houston as well as the Phoenix Suns, who like his potential to push the tempo of the game and run their dynamic offense behind Steve Nash.

Lucas is currently averaging 23.4 points per game in Las Vegas (2nd in the league) and 7.6 assists (1st in the league) on 51% shooting from the field and 43% from behind the NBA 3-point line.