Roger Montgomery, Maurice Evans' agent, said Saturday the Kings have not aggressively attempted to retain his client.

"Based on their recent acquisitions," Montgomery said, "I would have to infer the Kings are not really into re-signing Maurice. They have not been proactive pre-Bonzi Wells and post-Bonzi Wells. So I'm led to infer they have other plans that don't include Maurice."

The Timberwolves, Spurs, Pistons and Sonics all appear interested in Evans.

Minnesota Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale spoke with free-agent forward ?Mad-Dog? Mark Madsen during Friday evening's summer league opener pitting the T-Wolves against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Target Center.

"We're on the same page, basically working together trying to get it done," Madsen said. "From day one, Kevin's been great, told me he's interested, and it's been a pleasure going through the process. I'm not trying to push for anything. Basically, I'm just trying to find out where I'll be playing next year. I love it here."

Madsen has heard from San Antonio, Utah, Golden State, Seattle and Atlanta thus far.

With 2002 second round pick Luis Scola unable to reach a buyout agreement with his spanish team, Tau Ceramica, the San Antonio Spurs could not wait any longer and have the signed the Argentina national team's starting center Fabricio Oberto to a three-year deal with $7.5 million.

Oberto, 30, averaged 14.2 points and 7.3 rebounds last season for Pamesa Valencia in Spain's top league. He stands 6-foot-10 and is a good passer and solid low-post scorer whose selflessness, toughness and basketball IQ have long attracted the Spurs.

"He's really wanted this for a long time," said Oberto's agent, Herb Rudoy, who also represents Emanuel
Ginobili. "When I told him we had reached agreement, he said, 'I can't talk, I can only tell you same thing Manu said: My body is too small for my heart. I'm so happy; that's how I feel.'"

On the other hand, Scola might not be able to reach the NBA until his contract expires in three years.

His buyout with Tau Ceramica is a whopping $14.5 million.

Because of this, it is also possible the Spurs will trade his rights but the buyout could scare teams away.

Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs told sources that he would like to represent his country in the 2012 games and if they were held in Paris he would consequently retire from international basketball at the conclusion of the games.

To Parker?s dismay they games were awarded to London, which resulted in comments about racial bias from Parker, "It's been three times now that Paris has been refused - 1992, 2008 and 2012. I find that bizarre," said Parker, "We did everything we had to do. I don't know what more we could have done. It proves that the committee is Anglo-Saxon. They prefer the English," he said.

Doherty point outs that the holder of the next and the last games were China and Greece and in 1992 Paris lost out to Barcelona.

The Nets got good news when Shareef Abdur-Rahim turned down a $47 million pact to join the Milwaukee Bucks, according to his agent.
Aaron Goodwin said yesterday his client still is searching for the best possible deal and ideal situation. Milwaukee, meanwhile, will give its five-year, $47 million offer to the Clippers' Bobby Simmons.

Sacramento, San Antonio and Miami can - like the Nets - offer Abdur-Rahim their mid-level exception worth roughly $5 million. But unlike those teams, the Nets can offer Portland their trade exception, worth nearly $5 million, in a sign-and-trade for Abdur-Rahim.

The exception is attractive for capped out teams and can be packaged with cash and or draft picks. The Nets likely will have to execute a sign-and-trade to land Abdur-Rahim since it would allow him to sign a six-year contract worth up to $38 million. That is a year and $10 million more than teams can offer the 6-9 power forward through the mid-level exception.

The Mavs reportedly offered Robert Horry a three-year contract for at least $9 million but Horry decided to return to San Antonio.

"We wanted Rob," Mark Cuban said. "We probably wouldn't have played him much during the season, but we could have used that swagger in the playoffs."

The Heat were also interested in signing the clutch forward.

To Shareef Abdur-Rahim, it's a two-way street for him and the Nets.

"They have a very good team, a team that can win," the 6-9 prized free agent said yesterday on the eve of visiting the Nets for a two-day recruiting trip. "I can complement them in a lot of ways. And they certainly can help me."

But with stiff competition for Abdur-Rahim from the likes of the world champion Spurs, the Nets are trying every ploy they can to ensure that the Portland power forward's road ends in New Jersey.

"Really, for the most part, I like everything about the Nets' situation. Even now, they are one of the top three or four teams in the East," said Abdur-Rahim, 28, who then added the dreaded "but" to the equation.

"But I'm keeping my options wide open. We're speaking to other teams. Although I like the situation, myself and Aaron [attorney Goodwin] will weigh all my options, listen to everybody," continued Abdur-Rahim, who said the Spurs, Heat, Wizards and Kings also are courting him. "I don't want to lead anybody on."

The San Antonio Express-News reported on its Web site Wednesday that Robert Horry will remain with the San Antonio Spurs after agreeing to a three-year deal with the team.

Horry has won six NBA titles, including the 2005 championship while making key shots down the stretch for the Spurs in a seven-game series against the Detroit Pistons.

With his sixth title, the lanky forward joined the elite club occupied by Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Free agents can't sign with a team until the terms of the league's collective bargaining agreement are settled later this month, but that appears to now be a formality for Horry and the Spurs.

"As soon as he is allowed to sign the contract, he is going to sign it," Robert Barr, who represented the 13-year veteran in negotiations, told the Express-News on Tuesday.

Robert Horry, one of the stars of the San Antonio Spurs' championship run, is indicating that he might have an interest in joining the Miami Heat.

"His first choice would probably be San Antonio," said Robert Barr, Horry's agent, "but Miami is close. He wanted to go to Miami last year."

Horry is coming of his championship

"He'd love to play with the Big Fella," Barr said. "If Miami has interest, I'm sure he'd listen."