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The Toronto Raptors and Peja Stojakovic on Thursday completed a buyout that puts the former All-Star sharpshooter on the open market.

The team did not disclose the financial details of the buyout in announcing it had released Stojakovic, now in his 13th season.

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Stojakovic is determined to return to the Western Conference and join a playoff contender once he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, with three teams at the top of his list: Dallas, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Raptors publicly acknowledged almost immediately after acquiring Stojakovic from New Orleans that a buyout would be considered if no follow-up trade could be swung. But the Raptors, reluctant to take on long-term salary, were unlikely to find a workable trade, with Stojakovic earning $15 million in the final season of an original five-year deal he signed with the Hornets in the summer of 2006.

"We were clear from the beginning that our trade with New Orleans was made with the future in mind, so a buyout or trade of Peja's contract was a likely option," Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo said in a prepared statement. "Although he did not fit into our plan of developing our young core talent, I'm sure that Peja will add significantly to any veteran team that signs him."

The Mavericks, sources say, are considered the favorite to land Stojakovic. They have minutes to offer at small forward and a well-chronicled need for perimeter shooting. And joining the Mavericks would enable Stojakovic to live within short flying distance of his wife and children, who remained in New Orleans after he was dealt to the Raptors.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Former Lawrence North High School star Greg Oden isn't putting a timetable on a return from his latest season-ending surgery.

The Portland Trail Blazers center's goal is just to return to the court at some point.

Oden, making his first comments since having micro-fracture surgery on his left knee in November, is off crutches and using a walking cane to help support his fragile 7-2 frame.

"I'll be back," Oden said. "All I can do is control myself and what I'm doing. So right now I'm just rehabbing as hard as I can to get myself back out there and get healthy."

Oden, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007 NBA draft, was expected to anchor the middle for the Trail Blazers.

Instead, he has watched more than played during his four seasons.

He’s 20. Is Rubio’s Fine Future in the Past?

Rarely would a 20-year-old basketball player be considered over the hill.But Ricky Rubio set the bar high for himself with his precocious play. Along the way, he has won championships at every level. Rubio made his professional debut at 14 with DKV Joventut in the ACB league of Spain, mesmerizing spectators with his creativity and basketball acumen.

In 2009, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him fifth over all in the N.B.A. draft. He elected to stay in Spain, moving across town to F.C. Barcelona, one of the most prominent basketball teams in Europe.

The team won a Euroleague title last season with Rubio playing a somewhat secondary role. For much of the decisive action of the Euroleague Final Four, he watched from the bench. Rubio was just a rookie at this level, and people said he still had a lot to learn.

Last summer, Rubio had a golden opportunity to showcase himself as the future of Spanish basketball, playing for the national team in the world championships in Turkey. With Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon out with an injury and Pau Gasol electing to stay home after winning an N.B.A. title with the Los Angeles Lakers, this was Rubio’s ship to steer.