Lucas, who will turn 48 next month, knows he will have his hands full with the Cavs when training camp opens Tuesday morning. Before he decided to leave his job as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets and take his third head coaching position in the NBA, he talked to everybody even remotely connected to the team, including most of the players. He knows the Cavs rank third in popularity among the top three pro sports in Cleveland, and he knows they're not ready to contend for the championship.

But he says this is not his biggest challenge. Asked the toughest job he ever had, Lucas paused for a long moment and then said quietly, "Staying inside my skin. Being me."

MARISSA SILVERA of the Miami Herald reports: Six-foot-nine forward/center Lari Ketner will ``probably sign [today],'' with the Heat according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein.

In other News, Dwight Manley, the agent for Jazz free agent center Olden Polynice, said Thursday afternoon he was still waiting to hear from Heat general manager Randy Pfund. He didn't seem concerned about the possible signing of Ketner.

``That doesn't sound threatening to the situation,'' Manley said. ``I left a message for Randy. It seems like Olden is a perfect fit in Miami.''

The Cleveland Cavaliers said the Heat no longer seems interested in trading its $3.3 million trade exception to the Cavaliers for free agent center Chris Gatling. Without a trade, the most Miami could offer Gatling is $1 million.

Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas might wear size-16 shoes, but he says he's taking ``baby steps.''

Ilgauskas played in a fullcourt game yesterday for the first time since breaking his left foot in December. During an informal workout at Gund Arena that included four other Cavs players, head coach John Lucas, assistant Keith Smart and three local players, Ilgauskas struggled

The Pioneer Press reports that fan favorite Reggie Slater won't return to Minnesota next season. The 6'6" power forward who went from training camp fodder to Playoff hero will attend training camp with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Wolves officials had said it might be difficult to fit Slater, or any other player, onto the team because the Wolves' payroll is so close to the luxury tax threshold, which is expected to be about $54 million. However, Wolves coach Flip Saunders told KFAN radio last week that the team still might sign a veteran free agent before the season begins.

One possibility: Gary Trent, a forward who is recovering from offseason knee surgery and also has drawn interest from Denver and Cleveland. Saunders and Trent's agent did not return phone calls.

Because of Zydrunas Ilgauskas' track record -- he's played 29 games in the past three NBA seasons -- the Cavs' deep thinkers felt they had to come out of the 2001 draft with a big man.

They needed height in the worst way. The college game is no longer producing centers that can play in the NBA. While preparing for the draft, Cavs coach John Lucas became infatuated with Oak Hill Academy center DeSagana Diop.

Now comes the disturbing news about Diop's "stress reaction" to his left foot. Cavs team physician Dr. Richard Parker said the condition is a symptom of overuse. Diop was fitted for a protective boot and his activities will be severely curtailed for two weeks.

Michael Jordan is back. That's good news for the Cavaliers, who geared several season-ticket plans around that possibility.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports: The Heat continues to pursue Cleveland free agent center Chris Gatling, but is apparently reluctant to pay him much more than $1 million. The Cavs would be receptive to trading Gatling for a draft pick and all or part of the Heat's $3.3 million trade exception.

The Heat also has expressed interest in Jazz free agent center Olden Polynice.

Ex-Heat center Rony Seikaly, who hasn't played in the NBA since 1999 but is mulling a comeback, will work out with Heat players this week with team officials watching, agent Steve Kauffman said. Seikaly, 36, also might do the same with Magic players in Orlando.

Don Cronson, Anthony Mason's agent, said there's a chance Mason will remain unsigned when camps open next Tuesday. Mason, unlikely to return to the Heat, has told Cronson he will sit out indefinitely rather than accept the $1 million veteran's minimum.

Cronson said he has considered European options, but Mason prefers the NBA.

Milwaukee has offered the Heat Scott Williams or Greg Foster for Mason, but the Heat appears disinterested.

ESPN is reporting that the Cavaliers' first round pick, DeSagana Diop has a "stress reaction" in his left foot.

The team announced Tuesday that the injury is not a fracture but an inflammation and thickening of the second metatarsal of his left foot. Diop (Jop) was first examined Saturday and again Monday at the Cleveland Clinic.

Cavaliers team physician Dr. Richard Parker said the condition is a symptom of overuse. As part of his treatment, Diop will wear a boot to immobilize and protect the foot and will be re-examined in two weeks, right around the start of training camp. Parker added that the injury is not related to the acute fracture of the fifth metatarsal in the same foot Diop suffered in February.