Labradford Smith

Baseball Angels: Placed P Markl Petkovsek on 15-day DL due to viral syndrome. Recalled P Brian Cooper from Triple-A Edmonton, effective today. Astros: Placed Orioles minor-league P Jay Powell on 15-day DL, retroactive to May 17, with right shoulder tendinitis. Purchased contract of P Kip Gross from Triple-A New Orleans. Brewers: Recalled P Rafael Roque from Triple-A Indianapolis. Optioned PHoracio Estrada to Indianapolis. Cubs: Announced P Andrew Lorraine cleared waivers and opted to become a free agent.

The Washington Bullets' overcrowded backcourt lost a candidate yesterday when Haywoode Workman signed a two-year contract to play for Pesaro Scavolini in the Italian Basketball League.According to his agent, Frank Capatano, Pesaro more than doubled the Bullets' qualifying offer of $180,000 to Workman, who received the minimum NBA salary of $120,000 last season, when he made the team as a free agent.Workman, 25, was in Italy this week trying out for Pesaro, which was searching for a proven pro guard after failing to acquire John Paxson, who re-signed with the Chicago Bulls last week.

BASEBALL (NL) * Atlanta Braves -- Signed Bill Lajoie (special assignment scout) to a two-year contract extension.* Florida Marlins -- Named Dave Dombrowski general manager and signed him to a four-year contract.* Montreal Expos -- Named Dan Duquette general manager and vice-president of player personnel.* Philadelphia Phillies -- Purchased the contract of Doug Lindsey (catcher) from Reading of the Eastern League.* San Diego Padres -- Agreed to terms with Joey Hamilton (pitcher).* San Francisco Giants -- Purchased the contract of Royce Clayton (shortstop)

North Carolina State guard Rodney Monroe expected to be drafted by either the Atlanta Hawks or Washington Bullets in Wednesday's NBA draft. It's just that he didn't expect to have to wait until the second round -- and for seven other guards to be chosen -- until he went on the 30th pick to the Hawks.There were the lingering questions among pro scouts about his size and ability to create shots off the dribble, but not since Wake Forest's Charlie Davis in 1971 has the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year slipped below the first round.

Washington Bullets forward Harvey Grant, labeled "the instigator" in Wednesday night's scuffle in San Antonio with Spurs center David Robinson, was fined $7,500 and suspended for one game.Grant, who is averaging 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, sat out last night's game against the Mavericks in Dallas. The suspension also will cost Grant a game's salary, or roughly $5,700.Robinson was fined $5,000, but not suspended by Rod Thorn, the NBA's vice president of operations, who reviews films and officials' reports and assesses fines whenever a fight is involved.

EMMITSBURG -- For the second time in three weeks, LaBradford Smith, the Washington Bullets' No. 1 draft choice from Louisville, has agreed to contract terms. Only this time, it should be official, including a new weight clause imposed by general manager John Nash, who said he will complete the deal tomorrow.The muscular 6-foot-3 guard originally signed a four-year deal with the Bullets worth $3.36 million on Sept. 19. But this agreement was voided by Nash when he discovered that Smith had suffered an ankle injury in a Houston pickup game and was not informed by the rookie's agents, attorney James Bryant of Oklahoma City and Tony Dott of Houston.

One or more free-agent guards could be released today, when the injury-depleted Washington Bullets begin a three-day break in their preseason schedule. But coach Wes Unseld is more concerned with his frontcourt, currently operating without all five veteran forwards.Unseld is expected to meet today with general manager John Nash to discuss roster cuts, but shoring up the frontcourt could be another prime topic.Before training camp began Oct. 4, the Bullets had lost scoring leader Bernard King and reserve forward Mark Alarie, who both required arthroscopic knee surgery.

The New Jersey Nets and Washington Bullets, who close out the first half of the NBA season at the Capital Centre tonight, are trying to improve their present standing and outlook for the next three months.Both teams appear long shots to make the playoffs, but Nets coach Bill Fitch and the Bullets' Wes Unseld have taken different approaches to end the downward spiral.Fitch seemingly escaped an early dismissal when New Jersey won 12 of 15 games in January, but rumors resurfaced after the Nets began February with five straight road losses.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Tom Gugliotta, the Washington Bullets' No. 1 draft choice, was missing as expected when coach Wes Unseld took roll call of his rookies and free agents at training camp last night.Under the NBA bargaining agreement, a player cannot participate in camp without a contract. Gugliotta, the sixth player chosen overall in the 1992 draft, remains unsigned.But the 6-foot-10 forward from North Carolina State could be closer to coming to terms because Notre Dame forward LaPhonso Ellis, the fifth pick overall, signed a five-year deal yesterday with the Denver Nuggets worth a reported $13 million.

The Washington Bullets are down to their last week of practice and a final roster cut before their season opener in Charlotte on Friday night after completing their seven-game preseason schedule with a 104-98 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.After Friday's game in Knoxville, Tenn., Wes Unseld cut free-agent guard Tom Garrick, who had played previously for four other NBA teams. That left the Bullets with 13 players, one over the 12-man roster limit.With 12 guaranteed contracts, the man squarely on the spot is free-agent guard Doug Overton, of La Salle, whose outstanding play since joining the team two weeks ago has made it difficult for the Bullets to release him.Overton, who failed in his bid to make the Detroit Pistons as a second-round draft pick in 1991, has averaged in double figures and scored a team-high 16 points against Milwaukee as the Bullets finished their preseason with a 4-3 record.