INDEPENDENCE: A decision will be made today regarding Daniel Gibson, a key cog in the Cavaliers' playoff run last year, and whether he's ready to play.

If you ask him if he's ready to go against the New Orleans Hornets, you get an emphatic yes.

''I practiced today, so I should be all right,'' he said Tuesday. ''I had a great day, a full day of practice.

''I competed in every drill up and down the floor. It felt good. So if you ask me, I'll tell them that I'm ready to play.''

Idle since the Feb. 20 injury to his left ankle, Gibson said he doesn't expect to have to shake off a lot of rust when he returns.

''I wasn't hesitant today. I made a couple of shots, played some good defense and was still having fun,'' he said. ''It's 10 levels past anxious. I'm just looking forward to it — just being able to play basketball. . . .

''I know there are 10 games left, and it's going to give me the opportunity to get back into the flow of things and start to get to where we need to be, let the other guys get used to me being out on the floor.''

In the time since his injury, the Cavs' entire second team, the one in which Gibson had been a key member, has taken on a different look with the additions of Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak.

''Today was a lot of fun. I know how LeBron felt when we got those guys,'' Gibson said. ''That new burst of energy and life. That's the way I felt today being able to play with those guys today for the first time.''

Gibson said how coach Mike Brown uses him — in the starting lineup or off the bench — isn't really on his mind.

''It doesn't matter to me as long as I'm out there on the floor in the fourth quarter when the game is on the line. That's the only time I would prefer to be on the basketball court.''

Whether Brown gets to use him tonight remains a question, but the coach remains encouraged by Gibson's progress.

''He practiced today for the first time in a while and he didn't come out, so I think he did everything — all the contact stuff, obviously all of the noncontact stuff,'' Brown said.

Wallace still out

Gibson's return may be imminent, but forward Ben Wallace's future remains cloudy.

He's out for tonight's game against the Hornets and Brown doesn't seem to have any interest in rushing him back.

''He's out. We've got to make sure going down the stretch that he gets enough rest with that back so that he can limit its effects going into the playoffs,'' Brown said.

Dribble

The Cavs signed center Lance Allred to a second 10-day contract. He first signed March 13 and appeared in two games.