Pacers’ O’Neal May Skip Athens

Indiana Pacer forward Jermaine O’Neal may forgo playing in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens if his recurring back injury does not heal.

O’Neal and point guard Kenny Anderson (hamstring) will sit out at least two exhibition games, Pacer Coach Rick Carlisle said Friday.

O’Neal’s back has bothered him since he crashed into a camera during a game two years ago.

O’Neal aggravated it Tuesday night in an exhibition game against Chicago, when he collided with Bull guard Kendall Gill.

*

The Utah Jazz picked up the fourth-year option on forward Andrei Kirilenko, who averaged 12 points and 5.3 rebounds last season as the team’s primary reserve. He led the Jazz with 175 blocks.

*

The Golden State Warriors exercised the fourth-year options on guard Jason Richardson and forward Troy Murphy for the 2004-05 season. Richardson averaged 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Murphy averaged 11.7 points and 10.2 rebounds.... The Sacramento Kings exercised the option on forward Gerald Wallace for the 2004-05 season. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 47 games last season.