PORTLAND, Ore. -- Arvydas Sabonis was in town this week to chat with Trail Blazers president Bob Whitsitt and could be contemplating a return to the team.

Sabonis, who took last season off in Lithuania and Spain, had dinner with Whitsitt and the coaching staff Wednesday night and then worked out Thursday with Blazers Damon Stoudamire and Ruben Patterson, The Oregonian reported Saturday.

"The fact that he came over here shows he is definitely thinking about it,'' Whitsitt said. "Can I tell you that he's decided yes? No, he hasn't. But I can tell you he is seriously thinking about it because he is doing his homework.''

The 7-foot-3 center, who turns 38 in December, played six seasons for the Blazers before opting not to renew his contract last season. He spent part of last winter recovering from a broken left foot suffered in a non-basketball incident.

Whitsitt said he always has left the door open for Sabonis to return, and reports are that Sabonis had become bored with his idle time overseas.

Because Sabonis did not play for another team last season, and because the Blazers did not renounce their rights to him, Portland retains what is referred to as his "Larry Bird rights.'' That means the Blazers are not limited in what they can offer Sabonis.

It is thought that Sabonis will ask $6 million to $8 million for one season. He made $11.25 million in his last season with the Blazers.

Whitsitt said money never came up during Sabonis' visit.

"The first thing I need to hear from him is that he really wants to play in the NBA again,'' Whitsitt said. "Then we can talk about putting something together.''