The end is near for former Cavalier forward Danny Ferry, in his second


``I signed a two-year contract (before this season),'' said Ferry, 35, who faces his old team tonight in San Antonio. ``There's a good chance I would probably stop playing after next season, but I don't need to worry about that now.'' Ferry, who averaged 5.6 points in 21.1 minutes last season while starting 29 times, has seen his role reduced. He's averaging 4.3 points in 11.5 minutes. ``I knew what my role would be coming in,'' Ferry said. ``We brought in (starting small forward) Bruce Bowen to match up with Kobe (Bryant of the Lakers). I'm not starting, but I'm hoping I can still play a valuable role down the stretch.'' Ferry, a Cav from 1990-2000, was valuable last season against his old team, averaging 13.5 points in two games. Ferry admits it's not as dramatic facing the Cavs this season. ``It's different because the coaching staff has changed and I played with less of the guys they have now,'' he said. Only four former teammates of Ferry's will suit up tonight.
ANOTHER HOMECOMING -- Cavs first-year coach John Lucas, head coach of the Spurs from 1992-94, hopes tonight's showing will be a bit different than when he returned to San Antonio for the first time as Philadelphia's head man. ``We got a whipping,'' Lucas said of the 112-86 loss in 1994-95. Lucas admits leaving the Spurs with a year left on his contract turned out to be a ``dumb move. I knew (Gregg Popovich) wanted to coach,'' Lucas said. ``That's why I left.'' Popovich took over as Spurs general manager in 1994. He fired Bob Hill, Lucas' replacement, early in the 1996-97 season and took over as head coach. Lucas, who also was the 76ers general manager, said he also wanted the challenge of rebuilding a team. After going 84-49 with the Spurs, Lucas was 42-122 in two seasons with Philadelphia before being fired.


NOTABLE -- Austin native Chris Mihm is never healthy when the Cavs visit Texas. Last season, the forward missed the San Antonio game with a sprained ankle and combined for 10 points in consecutive games at Dallas and Houston while slowed by a knee injury. Heading into tonight's game, Mihm has a sprained left ankle. ``It's frustrating,'' said Mihm, who has scored just seven points the last two games after getting hurt last Saturday. ``Hopefully, I can get it straight''. . . . The Cavs' other starting forward, Lamond Murray, also will play on a sprained left ankle. Murray, injured in Wednesday's 107-94 loss to Dallas, said he's doing better. . . . Lucas said forward Jumaine Jones, who had 20 points against the Mavericks, might be ``better'' at power than small forward. ``It doesn't matter where I play as long as I play,'' Jones said.