NBA -- Rockets Waive Maxwell, Who Admits He Faked Injury

HOUSTON - The NBA champion Houston Rockets waived Vernon Maxwell and are considering suing him for faking an injury and leaving the team, the Houston Chronicle reported today.

The newspaper said the Rockets actually cut Maxwell, a veteran guard, on June 30 - one day before league owners announced a player lockout, stopping all player transactions.

Maxwell left the team because of a purported leg injury after Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, then admitted he walked away because of diminished playing time.

The Chronicle said the team would have to file a breach-of-contract suit against Maxwell to avoid paying him the $1.8 million it would owe for the last year of his contract.

Maxwell, suspended for 10 games and fined $20,000 by the NBA for punching a fan in Portland during a February game, admitted a supposed hamstring injury was a front for his frustration over losing playing time to Clyde Drexler.

Dissidents challenge lockout

NEW YORK - NBA players seeking to dissolve their union have taken legal steps to challenge the league's lockout.

Attorneys for the dissident players filed for a preliminary injunction yesterday. They also added nine players' names to the original seven, led by Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing, that first brought the class action.