SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Dallas at Cleveland (8 p.m. EDT). LeBron James averaged 35 points on 53 percent shooting in two games against the Mavericks last season.
TRADES
The New Jersey Nets opened two roster spots Monday, sending swingman Bernard Robinson, center Mile Ilic and cash considerations to the New Orleans Hornets for veteran guard David Wesley. The Nets have told Wesley not to report and the team will waive him and pay the guaranteed portion of his $1.75 million contract, general manager Ed Stefanski said. … The San Antonio Spurs traded Beno Udrih to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a protected second-round draft pick in 2008.
REJECTED
BA’s smallest venue. New Sonics chairman Clay Bennett last month issued a demand for arbitration, hoping to buy out the remainder of the lease unless a deal on a new arena could be reached by month’s end. In response, the city sued, trying to force the Sonics to honor the terms of a deal reached in the mid-1990s: In exchange for $74 million in renovations to the old Seattle Coliseum, the team agreed to play all of its home games there through Sept. 30, 2010.
RETURN
Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway is officially back in the NBA, after the Miami Heat placed him on their season-opening roster Monday. Hardaway signed a nonguaranteed contract this summer after a strong tryout. He hasn’t played in a regular-season game in nearly two years because of knee problems and has been limited for several seasons by an array of injuries.
SPEAKING
“I’m still a Laker. I’m here. I’m ready to play.” – Kobe Bryant on Monday after an eventful offseason in which the shooting guard demanded a trade, criticized his teammates and called Los Angeles’ front office a mess.