Don Nelson's plan to fix the Mavericks was simple: Start over.
When he was named Dallas' general manager on Feb. 7, Nelson immediately released hefty and unhappy Oliver Miller. A week later, he traded Jamal Mashburn to Miami for three players.No one, though, could have anticipated Nelson's blockbuster trade Monday night, when he dealt five players, including Jim Jackson and All-Star Chris Gatling, to New Jersey for 7-foot-6 center Shawn Bradley and three others.
Nothing like making an impression at the new job.
Along with Bradley, Dallas got point guards Robert Pack and Khalid Reeves and forward Ed O'Bannon. The Nets also received guards Sam Cassell and George McCloud and center Eric Montross.
The trade was believed to be the largest between two NBA teams in the last 25 years. In 1964, there was an eight-player deal between Detroit and Baltimore.
Nelson refused to name names, but said swift change was necessary because of an abundance of bad attitudes in the club's locker room.
"There were just so many negative things about this ballclub," he said. "This locker room shocked me. It's not acceptable and will not be acceptable from this point on . . . I observed it, watched it and basically got sick about it."
Vancouver GM and coach Stu Jackson can certainly relate to feeling ill as his Grizzlies lost at home to the Mavericks - all eight of them - 100-95.
The Mavericks had just three reserves on the bench in Vancouver. And one of them, rookie Samaki Walker, was activated from the injured list before the game.
"The game was fun," said Derek Harper, who had 17 points in 40 minutes. "It was something that I will look back on later in life and it will be one of the highlights of my NBA career. A group of guys who really looked short-handed before the game started. I was asking people in the stands if they wanted to suit up and join us."
A.C. Green, acquired from Phoenix earlier this season in the Jason Kidd deal, led the Mavs with season-highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds. Michael Finley, who arrived with Green, added 21 points.
While Nelson's aim was to clean house, the Nets cleared some room under the salary cap by dealing Bradley. New Jersey freed up $14 million under the cap in the next two years, allowing first-year coach John Calipari to pursue top free agents.
Hornets 124, Magic 110
At Charlotte, Glen Rice scored 40 points to lead the Hornets past Orlando and its embattled coach, Brian Hill.
The Magic's fourth loss came one day after a broadcast report that Hill's relationship with his players has deteriorated to the point that he might be fired. Magic general manager John Gabriel, who was at the game, denied that Hill's dismissal was imminent.
Hill refused to address questions about his future, but said the matter doesn't seem to have unduly distracted the players.
Anthony Mason finished with a season-high 28 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists for Charlotte.
Pacers 105, Raptors 103
At Indianapolis, Reggie Miller made three free throws after being fouled with one-tenth of a second remaining.
Miller, who finished with 25 points, took a last-second, off-balance 3-pointer with his team down 103-102.
When Doug Christie was whistled for the foul with less than a second left, Toronto coach Darrell Walker argued vehemently, grabbed the ball from referee Monty McCutchen and slammed it to the floor. He was charged with a technical foul and ejected.
Miller hit the technical to tie it, then sank two of three foul shots to win it.
Rockets 127, Hawks 98
Charles Barkley scored 21 points and Hakeem Olajuwon led an early second-half charge for Houston, which handed Atlanta its sixth straight loss at The Summit.
Bullets 95, Bucks 93
At Landover, Juwan Howard had 20 points and nine rebounds as Washington escaped after blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead.
Cavaliers 108, Nets 101
At Cleveland, Terrell Brandon scored 22 points and Tyrone Hill added 17 and a season-high 19 rebounds as Cleveland won its third straight.
Sonics 113, Celtics 108
Gary Payton scored 26 points and Detlef Schrempf added 24 as Seattle won its fourth straight since the All-Star break.