Smith, having survived his own assignment from Brungardt while tending to his sprained right ankle, graduated from the sidelines to the court Tuesday. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, apparently satisfied with the results of Smith's workout, is expected to let him play tonight against Portland.

"I think I passed my test," Smith said after playing some fullcourt three-on-three. "I feel like I'm at 98, 99 percent. But I still can't jump."

Smith, of course, has been waging a losing battle with gravity long before he jammed his ankle against Chicago on March 14. Able to count his dunks this season on a single hand ? if not a single finger ? he has instead become the league's leading 3-point shooter.

While Smith still keeps in touch with Rasheed Wallace and other players from last season's team, it's a safe guess he no longer has Blazers president Bob Whitsitt's phone number on speed dial. Believing management had diminished his role by overstocking the team's roster, Smith asked for either a contract extension or a trade last summer.