Things have (again) deteriorated so rapidly in Dallas that at least two of the J's are looking to get out.
Forward Jamal Mashburn said he wouldn't be in tears if the Mavs swapped him. "It's all about needing playing time," said the oft-injured forward. "I just want to play, no matter whether it's at Dallas or somewhere else. I just want to know where I fit in."Rumor is the Mavs have offered Mashburn to the Pacers for Derrick McKey, Duane Ferrell and a first-round pick, but Pacers are offering just McKey and a throw-in player.
More surprisingly, Jason Kidd's agent, Aaron Goodwin, said his client is so upset about new coach Jim Cleamons' slower style of play that he isn't having fun and wouldn't mind playing elsewhere.
Incidentally, remember when Kidd and teammate Jimmy Jackson had a much-publicized spat over the affections of singer Toni Braxton last season? After Braxton sang at the recent Billboard Music Awards, comedian Chris Rock ad-libbed, "Wheeeew. Look at sexy Toni. Now I see why the Dallas Mavericks are going to lose 50 games this year."
HIS STYLE: Phoenix coach Danny Ainge couldn't help but admire a play by the Clippers' Eric Piatkowski that led to an overtime win for L.A. over the Suns.
Seems Phoenix had a three-point lead with 3.3 seconds to play in regulation when Piatkowski came off the bench for the first time to set a pick on Suns' guard Kevin Johnson, freeing Brent Barry for a game-tying three-pointer.
Except it wasn't your usual pick. Piatkowski pretended to fall and stuck out his right leg to trip Johnson.
"It was cheating," said Ainge. "It was sweet. That's in my coaching book. I've heard about that play, but that's the first time I've seen it. The old fake slip and trip. His leg conveniently clipped right into KJ."
Ainge, of course, was legendary for similar maneuvers in his playing days. There's a photo in his office of him, while with the Suns, contesting a shot by Boston's Kevin McHale, who has risen for a jumper. Ainge's left hand is squarely in McHale's, uh, shorts.
RODMAN VS. SHAQ: Dennis Rodman says he's got Shaquille O'Neal's number.
Despite giving up seven inches and almost 100 pounds to the Laker behemoth, Rodman maintains that O'Neal can be neutralized because he frustrates easily. He tested that theory during last year's Eastern Conference Finals, during which he repeatedly shut Shaq down in fourth quarters.
In the recent big comeback by the Bulls against the Lakers, Rodman again got a late-game assignment to guard Shaq. O'Neal's last score was a long jumper with 6:52 left in the third quarter.
O'Neal scoffed at suggestions Rodman had stymied him. "Rodman can't hold me," he said. He's too light in the (behind) to play me one-on-one."
A couple days later, O'Neal admitted that he wanted to slug Rodman by the end of that game. Rodman had gotten into it with L.A.'s Jerome Kersey when Shaq jumped in, but before anything could develop the Rodmaniac was tackled by teammates Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
"At that point, I was ready to take a three-game (suspension), to show people he's not that tough," Shaq said. "It's one thing to talk tough, and one thing to be tough. If he would've come at me, I would've gladly (taken) three games."
SHORT STUFF: "Shawn Bradley is working for his fourth coach in his fourth NBA season, and all of them have noticed the same thing: If there is a fire inside of him, it sure is well-hidden." - John Brennan, Hackensack (N.J.) Record
Bulls coach Phil Jackson was asked whether he planned to talk to Rodman when the unruly forward returned to active duty following his recent two-game suspension. "Do you have an idea what I should say to him?" Jackson said. "Dennis has been talked to his whole life. Teachers, superintendents, counselors. He just has to repress that urge to react to referee's calls."
Atlanta center Dikembe Mutombo marveled at the Mavericks' insistence on challenging him in a recent game, which led to many blocked shots. "Do they not have televisions?" Mutombo wondered. "Does it not say on their scouting reports that I can block shots? This shows me no respect. I guess these guys like being part of the ESPN highlights."
Trade talk: There is some early talk about the Warriors dealing Chris Mullin, maybe to a contender looking for that final piece of the puzzle; Detroit is still shopping Stacey Augmon, and reportedly wants Malik Sealy or Terry Dehere from the Clippers, with Dwayne Schintzius thrown in for cap reasons; Suns are still disappointed with Sam Cassell and Robert Horry; the Portland Oregonian printed a rumor of a three-way deal with Kendall Gill going to Indiana, Derrick McKey to Portland, Cliff Robinson to New Jersey; another rumor has Portland talking Robinson for Mashburn.