Marcus Camby, who will have surgery on his left foot this week, expects to be waived by the Houston Rockets on Monday, but he plans to stay around the team and hasn't ruled out a return this season.
"I understand the situation," Camby told KRIV-TV in Houston. "They need healthy guys. Once I get healthy you can expect to see me again."
Camby said he'll have surgery Friday to repair a torn plantar fascia and will be out of action for two or three months.
Camby's agent, Rick Kaplan, told the Houston Chronicle that Camby does not intend to retire, and a source told the paper that he may stay with the team to work with the other centers.
"You'll still see me around the organization," Camby told KRIV. "I have a great deal of respect for the organization and Coach [Kevin] McHale.
"It's tough. I'm going to try hard to get back out there on the basketball court as quickly as possible. They have been great down here in Houston, and you haven't seen the last of me being down here."
The 39-year-old Camby, who has a guaranteed contract worth $1.4 million after signing with the Rockets in July, is the second-oldest player in the NBA behind Steve Nash. The 17-year veteran was the NBA defensive player of the year in the 2006-07 season and has averaged 9.5 points and 9.8 rebounds a game during his career.
