Rodman Opts Not to Start

Dennis Rodman advised Chicago Bull Coach Phil Jackson to start Jason Caffey at power forward “until I get back the respect from my players and coaches.”

Jackson is heeding Rodman’s suggestion--sort of. “Dennis is taking my advice,” Jackson said Thursday, “and is starting on the bench.”

Unlike Scottie Pippen, who will be out about two more months after undergoing foot surgery, Rodman will play tonight at Boston against the Celtics.

“Twenty-five minutes,” Jackson said. “Half a game.”

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Charles Barkley arrived in the New York area late Thursday night for a meeting with NBA officials that he indicated would go a long way in determining whether he will continue playing pro basketball.

Barkley said he won’t make a decision until he meets with league officials this morning, but indicated the league’s response to his arrest last weekend over a barroom fight in Orlando, Fla., will be a strong factor.

“If I can’t get support from my league, maybe it’s time to go,” Barkley said.

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Three former Olympians--Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons, Christian Laettner of the Atlanta Hawks and Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics--were selected for the U.S. team at next summer’s world championships.

Also picked for the team that will compete July 29-Aug. 9 in Athens, were Vin Baker of Seattle, Terrell Brandon of Milwaukee, Allan Houston of New York, Glen Rice of Charlotte, Chris Webber of Washington and Minnesota’s Tom Gugliotta and Kevin Garnett.

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Former UCLA star forward Ed O’Bannon, a first-round selection in the 1995 NBA draft, has been released by the Orlando Magic. O’Bannon played only 10 minutes in exhibitions, failing to score. The Dallas Mavericks traded O’Bannon and guard Derek Harper to Orlando for forward Dennis Scott in September. . . . The Atlanta Hawks waived forward Ken Norman and put guard Eldridge Recasner on the injured list to reduce their roster to 12 before tonight’s opener at Orlando. . . . Seattle waived swingman Craig Ehlo and put guard James Cotton, who has a sprained right knee, and swingman Nate McMillan, who is recovering from surgery on his right knee, on the injured list. . . . Sacramento King forward Lionel Simmons, 28, hampered by knee problems the last few seasons, announced his retirement after a seven-year career.