Dr. Richard Steadman, the noted knee specialist who performed microfracture surgery on Greg Oden's left knee last November, cleared Oden to take part in limited practice activities when the Blazers open training camp today. Oden said he can shoot, run, pivot and cut, but cannot take part in full-contact drills or full-court play.

"I'm still a ways away from (no limits practice)," Oden said. "We want me to progress. We don't want to push me out there too soon and do anything too bad. Don't get me wrong. I want to get out on the court. It's been two years now. I want to compete. But I want to make sure I'm ready. We don't want anything else to go wrong."

There will be no timetable for Oden's return, and the team has said it will allow him to decide when he his ready to return to the court. The Blazers' 66-game schedule begins Dec. 26 against Philadelphia and ends April 26.

"I'm not putting any time tables, I've always said that. I want to be 100 percent when I get back out there," Oden said.