Malone getting closer to retirement

According to the Los Angeles Times, it appears that Malone has told the Lakers that he will not be ready to start the regular season. He is in recovery from off season knee surgery and has told Lakers owner Jerry Buss that he is not ready to come back yet. Malone's agent says that even if he did want to play today he could not and that it should be played by ear as Malone's condition improves.