SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- While the San Francisco 49ers hold their breath, Terrell Owens is getting ready to pursue his hoop dreams.

Next weekend, the 49ers' All-Pro receiver will begin his pro basketball career with the USBL's Adirondack Wildcats. As a heavily muscled 6-foot-3 shooting guard, Owens will risk injury and his football salary -- upwards of $4 million -- while donating most of his paltry basketball salary to charity.

"I don't think (general manager Terry) Donahue is taking it too well," Owens said Friday at the start of San Francisco's mini-camp. "But the way I look at it, I could go out and get hurt playing in a pickup game, which I've been doing since my first year in the league. I could go out and get hit by a car."

The 49ers sent a letter to Owens' agent, David Joseph, in which they outlined their concerns. Though they don't intend to stop him, the team probably wouldn't have to pay Owens' salary if he's injured in the USBL.

Owens, who made his second straight Pro Bowl after catching 93 passes for 1,412 yards and 16 TDs last season, played basketball for three seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga, and he's an avid competitor in pickup games during the offseason.

He plans to play with the Wildcats during breaks from the Niners' summer camp schedule, but he holds on to the hope that he's good enough to someday pursue an NBA career -- and given Owens' athletic abilities, it's impossible to dismiss his dream out of hand.

"I've worked on my shot, my endurance, a lot of things," Owens said. "The way I play now, I wish I'd played that way when I was in college. Back then, I was a role player. ... Now, I think I can do more."

Both Owens and coach Steve Mariucci were in good spirits as the 49ers welcomed their new draft picks to mini-camp. Apparently, the good feelings generated in the frequent combatants' meeting in Atlanta earlier this month still haven't evaporated.

"We're fine. I think he's the greatest guy in the world!" Owens said with an ironic grin.

Mariucci, determined to maintain detente, was diplomatic when asked whether the 49ers would prefer Owens kept his feet on the ground.

"Obviously, you'd prefer your guys to think about football all year round ... but we'll keep our fingers crossed and hope that he stays healthy and has some fun," Mariucci said.

Perhaps the most concrete sign of a truce was Owens' use of Mariucci's friendly nickname.

"Things happen at certain times, and emotions at the time are running wild, but at this point, I'm happy," Owens said. "Mooch and I have talked about it. I think it was a lack of communication on both parts."

The relationship had been deteriorating ever since Mariucci suspended Owens for one game in September 2000 because of two outlandish touchdown celebrations in Dallas.

Owens has criticized Mariucci's play-calling, his relationships with other coaches and Owens' prominence in the 49ers' offensive scheme, and Mariucci has fired back on occasion.

Owens again was displeased after catching just four passes for 40 yards in last season's playoff loss at Green Bay, but the offseason has brought calm to a delicate situation.

Too often last season, Owens said he attempted to relay messages about offensive suggestions or unhappiness with the game plan through receivers coach George Stewart. During their meeting in Atlanta, Mariucci told Owens to take his complaints directly to the top.

"He told me to cut out the middle man," Owens said. "Basically, it's communication. We can only get better."