Report: Strickland to Portland

Point guard Rod Strickland, released on Thursday by the Washington Wizards, will return to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to the Washington Post. Strickland, who played four seasons in Portland before landing in Washington in 1996, will sign with the Trail Blazers when he clears waivers on Monday, according to the report.

The Post said Portland will give Strickland its $2.25-million exception. He would serve as a backup to Damon Stoudamire and compete for minutes with Greg Anthony.

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Kevin Garnett received a warning about the NBA’s tampering policy for saying he wants Joe Smith of Detroit to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Stu Jackson, the NBA senior vice president of basketball operations, called Garnett on Friday. He asked the forward to refrain from such comments about Smith, who becomes a free agent this summer.

After the Timberwolves beat Detroit, 111-100, on Wednesday at Target Center, Garnett said: “Everybody wants him back. We’ll start a campaign. I’ll be the leader.”

Under NBA tampering rules, no player, coach or management person may entice a player under contract to another team to play for his team.

Smith signed with Detroit on Nov. 20 after NBA Commissioner David Stern voided his contract with the Timberwolves. Stern ruled Minnesota circumvented the salary cap by signing Smith to a secret long-term contract before the 1999 season.