O’Neal May Miss Opener

Shaquille O’Neal remains bothered by a strained left hamstring, yet the center acquired last summer from the Lakers hopes to play Wednesday when the Miami Heat opens its season at New Jersey.

O’Neal sat out most of Miami’s practice Monday, sparking concerns that the injury is worse than feared. The Heat, however, did not place O’Neal on the injured list.

Still, Heat Coach Stan Van Gundy was clearly disappointed that O’Neal -- who sat out practices Friday and Saturday, and sat out three of Miami’s seven preseason games -- wasn’t able to work out much Monday. O’Neal did some defensive drills, but wasn’t on the floor for five-on-five work.

“We thought we’d have him back full today, and we didn’t,” Van Gundy said.

“It’s a concern from the sense that obviously his health is the biggest thing, and the second thing is we haven’t practiced with him in a long, long time. That obviously, in terms of our offense, affects what we’re doing.”

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The Houston Rockets signed two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady to a contract extension.

Houston television station KRIV reported that McGrady was given a three-year extension worth as much as $63 million.

McGrady now has a six-year deal with the Rockets worth as much as $110 million, KRIV reported.

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Reiterating a vow he made during the preseason, swingman Latrell Sprewell says he’ll ask to be traded if the Minnesota Timberwolves don’t sign him to a contract extension by Wednesday’s opener.

Asked if he would play out the season and test the free-agent market, Sprewell, 34, said: “Why would I want to help them win a title? They’re not doing anything for me. I’m at risk. I have a lot of risk here. I got my family to feed. Anything could happen.”

Sprewell, due to make $14.6 million this season, said he didn’t want to take a pay cut and described the team’s latest offer, reportedly between $27 million and $30 million over three years, as “insulting.”

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Point guard Tony Parker agreed to a six-year, $66-million contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs.

By extending Parker’s contract, the Spurs locked up the core of their team for the foreseeable future. Tim Duncan (seven years, $122 million) and Manu Ginobili (six years, $52 million) are under contract through the 2009-10 season.

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Portland forward Zach Randolph agreed to a six-year, $84-million contract extension with the Trail Blazers, just shy of the maximum $86 million allowed under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

Randolph will make an additional $2 million if he is named to an All-Star team at some point during the contract, according to his agent.

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Guard Jason Richardson and forward Troy Murphy agreed to six-year contract extensions with the Golden State Warriors. According to ESPN, Richardson’s deal is worth between $70 million and $71 million and Murphy’s is worth about $60 million.

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The Philadelphia 76ers placed veteran forward Glenn Robinson on the injured list because of left ankle tendinitis and will try to trade the former No. 1 pick after recently demoting him from the starting lineup.... Rookie Devin Harris, not veteran Jason Terry, will open the season as the Dallas Mavericks’ starting point guard, Coach Don Nelson said.... Net guard Jason Kidd will open the season on the injured list while recovering from knee surgery, but center Alonzo Mourning will be on the active roster less than a year after receiving a kidney transplant.... The New York Knicks put guard Allan Houston (knee) on the injured list.... The Cleveland Cavaliers put guard Dajuan Wagner (ankle) on the injured list.... The Chicago Bulls bought out the last two years of forward Eddie Robinson’s contract for $10.5 million.... The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward Bo Outlaw, 33.... Former USC forward David Bluthenthal was released by Sacramento.