TJ Ford Update

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ford update: Bucks guard T.J. Ford, who missed all of last season after undergoing spinal surgery, had another round of medical tests last week.

"The MRI came back very encouraging," Harris said. "There was no change, which is good. It has not gotten any worse and has not created any kind of problems for the doctors where they need to cut back his workouts."

Ford's Los Angeles-based surgeon, Robert Watkins, is evaluating the latest tests and will recommend the next step in the point guard's rehabilitation process. But even if Watkins were to allow Ford to engage in contact drills, Harris said the Bucks had decided to keep their 2003 first-round pick out of any summer league action.

"I'd rather he be in a controlled environment out of the box," Harris said. "We're not letting him go out there against five other teams and play five days straight."

There still is no definite timetable for Ford's return, but he continues to do extensive non-contact drills in Houston.

"I don't want to get too ahead of myself because it is a long process," Harris said. "But it is encouraging, yes."

Harris repeated that the Bucks would not try to factor in Ford's progress while making their choices in the upcoming draft.

"If the best player is a point guard, be it at one or 36 (the Bucks' second-round pick), we've still got to look at that," Harris said. "We're going to need some depth, anyway, and it's more than just T.J.'s health. The draft has no bearing on T.J.'s situation at all."</div>

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