As bad as things have been for the Mavericks, their attention has not yet turned to next season.

That's why one recent online report that Antawn Jamison would relocate this summer to his hometown Charlotte Bobcats caught the Mavericks by surprise. That it has virtually no chance of happening made it surprising, too.

The most surprised person might have been Bobcats general manager and coach Bernie Bickerstaff. He cannot talk about players until May 5, but Bickerstaff outlined his strategy for building the Bobcats' roster, and it certainly didn't sound as if the Mavericks' sixth man is in Charlotte's future.

The gossip was that the Bobcats would part with their first draft pick, No. 4 overall, and acquire Jamison, who has four more seasons on his contract at a total salary of more than $57 million.

"Our first pick is very valuable to us," Bickerstaff said. "It would have to be something monumental for us to consider" moving it.

Bickerstaff also said the team is not interested in a long-term, max- imum salary such as Jamison's.

"The veterans that we want are guys with one or two years left [on their contracts] who are good in the locker room and can help our young kids," Bickerstaff said. "Our kids are going to be the show."

Though Jamison, 27, was born and raised in Charlotte and remains heavily involved in the community, his immediate future figures to be in Dallas. "I knew that wasn't going to happen," he said. "That's too much salary [$12.584 million next year] for them."

As much as playoff possibilities hovered over Friday night's Mavericks-Heat game at AmericanAirlines Arena, there also was a tangible subtext.

Fueled by rumors, but strong enough to elicit responses from both parties, is the notion that Pat Riley could emerge from the Heat front office to take over next season on the Dallas sidelines.

The reports have coincided with the Mavericks' inability to produce quality, Riley-like defense during Don Nelson's coaching tenure.

With one year left on his front-office commitment to the Heat, Riley said there is no credence to the speculation.

"It is absolutely irresponsible journalism," he said. "If anybody throws my name out there, like that, for any team, any organization, it's absolutely irresponsible and it's wrong.

"It's irresponsible because there's nothing to it, absolutely nothing to it. I have to deal with it, we have to deal with it, but when my owner looks at it, he's wondering and it's not fair."

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Dallas Mavericks guard Michael Finley did not dress for Wednesday night's game against the Indiana Pacers because of a strained right calf.

Finley was injured in Monday's 107-98 loss to Philadelphia. He scored 10 points in the game.

Finley is Dallas' second-leading scorer, averaging 18.9 points a game.

Rookie Marquis Daniels started in his place.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Dallas Mavericks center Scott Williams was ejected from Wednesday night's game against the Indiana Pacers for arguing with referee Ron Garretson.

Williams drew his first technical at 10:07 of third quarter after picking up a foul on the defensive end. Williams continued to jaw at Garretson on the Mavericks' ensuing possession and received his second technical, which brought the ejection, after teammate Dirk Nowitzki was whistled for an offensive foul.

Williams' second technical was the sixth technical of the game, four against Dallas and two against Indiana.

NEW YORK (AP) Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $10,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for inappropriate public comments after a loss to the Spurs on March 5.

In the game, Mavericks forward Michael Finley was ejected for elbowing Bruce Bowen. But television replays showed both throwing elbows, and Bowen said after the game they bumped each other.

The Spurs won 113-100, and Cuban said in published reports that he asked one of his players to retaliate against Bowen.

``I told one of our guys when you get up close, slap the ball right into his face and I'll pay the fine,'' Cuban said. ``That's just not right. Different refs have different characteristics in how they call games and that was par for the course.''

At the beginning of the season, Dallas coach Don Nelson called Antoine Walker his "best player". Lately though, his production has fallen.

Walker is averaging only 7.5 points over the past six games and his playing time has taken a major hit. After Walker played just 18 minutes against the Phoenix Suns on Monday, the fifth consecutive game his minutes had fallen, he sounded off.

"It's tough to do anything in 18 minutes," Walker told the Dallas Morning News. "This is the first time I've dealt with this in my eight-year career. I can't give you what you want in 18 minutes. It's not going to happen. It's not in my makeup. I have to be able to play."

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Dallas coach Don Nelson sent an e-mail to Golden State guard Avery Johnson on Thursday offering him a spot on the Mavericks' coaching staff beginning this postseason.

Nelson spoke of the e-mail when asked by The Associated Press how often he's in contact with Johnson, who played for Nelson during his first stint with the Warriors and also in Dallas.

Johnson has said he plans to go into coaching soon. He could not be reached immediately for comment.

``He's got a standing offer from me to join my staff at any time,'' Nelson said before Dallas played the Sacramento Kings. ``I was hoping he would join us for the playoffs if they don't make it and be a part of our organization again. I love working with the guy. I think he will be a good head coach.''

The 5-foot-11 Johnson, who is in his 16th NBA season, seldom plays for the Warriors. Johnson turns 39 later this month and has said he will retire sooner than later _ but hasn't given a definite timeline.

``I'm just keeping everything open and enjoying today,'' he recently told the AP. ``I don't really want to be interested in timelines, five years from now, two years, three years from now. Today is the only thing that you have.''

As a player, Johnson averaged double figures in scoring in five straight seasons, starting in 1993-94 with Golden State, which hasn't been back to the playoffs in the nine years since. His best season came the following year in San Antonio, where he averaged 13.4 points and 8.2 assists.

Johnson returned to the Warriors last August in a nine-player trade that also brought Nick Van Exel to Oakland and sent forward Antawn Jamison to Dallas. Johnson is a calming influence on Van Exel, known for his occasional outbursts.

Last May, Johnson delivered a motivational speech to the Mavericks before they beat the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series. The word he used most was ``will,'' underlining it four times on a message board.

``I definitely think Avery can help us out,'' Jamison said. ``I've heard a couple stories how he ran a couple practices. He knows the game well. He knows the Xs and Os. He knows how to motivate people. If we have an opportunity to add a guy like that, it's a plus. The guys speak very highly of him.''

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Dallas Mavericks point guard Steve Nash missed his second consecutive game Wednesday with a stomach virus.

Nash sat out Tuesday's 107-96 victory over Seattle in Dallas. He did not accompany the team to Minneapolis for the game against the Timberwolves.

Rookie Josh Howard replaced Nash in the starting lineup Wednesday.

The Mavericks said Nash would likely join the team in San Antonio for Friday's game.

Nash, in his seventh year out of Santa Clara, is averaging 14.4 points and 8.3 assists per game this season.

DALLAS (AP) Dallas Mavericks point guard Steve Nash missed Tuesday night's game against the Seattle SuperSonics due to a stomach virus.

Mavericks coach Don Nelson said Nash also will miss Wednesday night's game at Minnesota. Nash could rejoin the team for the final two stops of a three-game road trip at San Antonio and Houston.

Nash is averaging 14.4 points and 8.3 assists in 56 games.

Rookie Marquis Daniels made his second career start in place of Nash.

``This will give us a chance to play some young players,'' Nelson said.

Mavericks rookie forward Josh Howard also missed Tuesday night's game because of a strained right groin.