OAKLAND -- At the end of last season, forward/center Marc Jackson talked freely about how much he looked forward to re-signing with the Warriors as a restricted free agent. So when the Houston Rockets gave the candidate for last season's Rookie of the Year award a four-year, $24.4 million offer sheet this month, it was surprising that Jackson sounded bitterly opposed to returning to Golden State.

   He didn't get his wish because the Warriors decided to meet Wednesday's deadline for matching the offer, and they're stuck with each other for at least 90 days. After that, the Warriors could trade Jackson with his permission, but not to Houston for at least a year.

   Unless today's physical reveals something totally unexpected, he's back with Golden State. Since the Warriors play their first home exhibition game tonight at 7:30 against Denver at The Arena, Jackson probably won't work out with his teammates until Friday.

   Coach Dave Cowens isn't going to fret about Jackson's desire to play elsewhere. "We have to make sure that all the players embrace the guy and he feels wanted, and he has to know that there's a job to do because somebody's paying the bill," Cowens said after Wednesday's practice at team headquarters. "He's not the first guy to be brokered out of a deal . . . but that's just part of the business. Let him sit in our seat and see what decision he would make."