AROUND THE NBA : Mavericks Put Tarpley on Suspended List

Roy Tarpley, who has an inflamed pancreas and has not completed a team physical, was put on the suspended list by the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday for the start of the season.

The decision, which reduced the team’s roster to the NBA limit of 12 players, means the Mavericks will pay nothing toward Tarpley’s $3.9-million salary.

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In other NBA news:

--Power forward Terry Cummings signed a one-year contract to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, a team he led to the playoffs five times from 1984-89. Terms weren’t disclosed. Cummings, who played the last six seasons in San Antonio, was an unrestricted free agent. At 6 feet 9 and 250 pounds, he provides the Bucks with much-needed bulk at the power positions.

--Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller is preparing contract extension offers for Karl Malone and John Stockton that could carry them through to the end of their careers. “I don’t think it will be long until we have some kind of announcement,” Miller said. Malone is entering his 11th pro season and Stockton his 12th, all with the Jazz.

--Damon Bailey, Indiana basketball’s favorite son since the eighth grade but buried by an abundance of point guards on the Indiana Pacers, was released.

--Shaquille O’Neal (broken thumb) was put on the injured list and Orlando waived Todd Mitchell and Kevin Pritchard.