LOS ANGELES -- Greg Oden is itching to get his delayed NBA career going, but he's still forbidden from any 5-on-5 action until September.
Oden's rookie season was over before it even started when he had right knee surgery last September. Recovery can take six months or more, and the Portland Trail Blazers decided their No. 1 pick would sit out the season.
He said he expects to be cleared to play again in September.
Until then, Oden is taking a summer school biology class at Ohio State, where he left after leading the Buckeyes to the 2007 national title game -- a loss to Florida.
"I'm still classified as a freshman," the 7-footer said, grinning.
Being back on campus, though, is a constant reminder that he can't play basketball just yet.
Oden called his rehabilitation "tough and long," but he said his teammates kept him in the loop last season. Full story
Celtics sign center O'Bryant
BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics signed free agent center Patrick O'Bryant, a former first-round pick who played 40 games for Golden State last season.
The Celtics did not disclose terms of the deal announced.
O'Bryant, the ninth overall pick in 2006, averaged 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game last season. He scored a career-high 10 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 16 last year.
The 7-footer out of Bradley also played eight games for the Bakersfield Jam of the Development League last season, averaging 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game.
Knicks' Gallinari dealing with sore back
New York Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari has a sore lower back and is listed as doubtful for the remainder of the Las Vegas summer league.
The forward from Italy, the No. 6 overall pick, was hurt during the Knicks' opener, a 97-94 victory over Cleveland on Monday. He rebounded from a scoreless first half to finish with 14 points, shooting 5-for-7 after halftime.
Gallinari didn't dress for New York's game against San Antonio. An MRI revealed no significant findings, and he will rest and get treatments the rest of the week in Las Vegas before returning to Italy.
Forward Renaldo Balkman sprained his left ankle in Wednesday's game. X-rays were negative and he is listed as questionable for Friday.
Raptors sign Croatian guard Ukic
TORONTO -- The Toronto Raptors signed Croatian guard Roko Ukic to a three-year deal.
Ukic, who was the Raptors' second-round pick (41st) in the 2005 draft, played in Italy last season with Lottomatica Virtus Roma. He averaged 11.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 19 games, shooting 54.5 percent from the field.
He began his professional career in 2000 with KK Split in Croatia, where he spent four seasons. He played in Spain for two more years, winning the Spanish national championship twice.
