AROUND THE NBA : Olajuwon May Be Sidelined Even Longer

There is a 50-50 chance that Houston Rockets center Akeem Olajuwon will require eye surgery, and a doctor says that with or without the surgery he will be out of action two months instead of the earlier prediction of one month.

Dr. Robert B. Wilkins, a top eye-injury expert, on Monday told Olajuwon that possible complications from the injury could affect Olajuwon’s vision if surgery is not performed.

Olajuwon was injured Thursday night when he was struck in the face by the elbow of Chicago Bulls center Bill Cartwright.

Olajuwon suffered a blowout fracture of the floor and medial walls of the orbit, the bone structure that houses the eyeball, doctors say.

Wilkins told Olajuwon there is no way he will be playing basketball again within four weeks, which was used earlier as a ballpark figure for his return.

“He can expect to be out a lot longer than four weeks,” said Wilkins, who examined Olajuwon with two other doctors. “It’s quite serious. We will evaluate extensive X-rays, and I will make a decision on whether he needs to have surgery.

“At this point, I’d say it’s 50-50 whether surgery will be needed. But it doesn’t appear he will have any loss of vision.”

The surgery cannot be performed until the swelling completely goes away, doctors say. It could be delayed until early next week.

“There is always a potential that something like this could be career-threatening,” Wilkins said. “But I’m probably more positive now than I was before I examined him.”

u The Denver Nuggets are actively entertaining trade offers for veteran swingman Walter Davis, saying they hope to place him with a title contender.

The Nuggets apparently are seeking a No. 1 draft choice for the 36-year-old Davis, who still possesses a dangerous jump shot.

“We are trying to accommodate Walter Davis,” Nuggets General Manager Bernie Bickerstaff said. “Several teams are interested in him.”