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Washington Wizards: Forward Kwame Brown was optimistic that he can recover from his broken foot sooner than expected after a promising medical report Friday.

"I got some good news," Brown said. "It encouraged me a lot. I can go out there and shoot and move around some."

Brown was injured in a summer pickup game and had surgery in early August. Earlier this week, he said doctors had told him he would be practicing at full speed by the end of November. The Wizards open the regular season on Nov. 3.

Brown isn't expected to be ready by then, but Friday's examination by the team's doctor appeared to speed up his timetable.

"He said, 'As soon as you show enough progress that you're good enough to play, then we'll let you play,'" Brown said.

"Kwame's progress is sound and moving along," coach Eddie Jordan said. "He's doing some more work on the floor and shooting without jumping. It was good to see him out there. He is on track and doing everything to get back as soon as possible."

The Wizards are in training camp at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Los Angeles Lakers: Forward Brian Grant said his sore neck was better Friday, but he still missed the day's practice session in San Diego.

Grant originally hurt his neck during summer conditioning and then aggravated it during a team scrimmage Wednesday night.

He missed morning practice Friday while being treated with a muscle relaxant.

"Anytime you have to sit out and watch others working, especially me as a 10-year veteran coming from Miami, I know how easy it is to fall behind guys," said Grant, acquired in an offseason trade.

"But I also know it's too early to worry about not playing. It's better for me to be healthy on Nov. 1 [for the start of the season]."

The Lakers held their fourth day of training camp at the University of San Diego with Nate Johnson, Luke Walton and Vlade Divac also sidelined.

Johnson sprained his right Achilles tendon in a scrimmage Thursday night. His status is day-to-day. Walton was withheld from practice, pending further examination, after twisting an ankle the previous day.

Divac remained out after undergoing a scheduled treatment on his back on Thursday.

The Lakers play their first exhibition game Tuesday against Seattle at Anaheim.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press