When the Hawks signed backup center Nazr Mohammed to a five-year, $25 million contract last summer they may have raised some eyebrows. After all, having worked only 1,223 minutes in three seasons, Mohammed hardly had a chance to prove himself.

But as Mohammed continues to make significant progress in Theo Ratliff's absence, the wisdom to gamble on Mohammed is underlined by the plight of other teams who want to be contenders in the league.

Could Mohammed, averaging 13 points and 9.1 rebounds, help the Orlando Magic or the Phoenix Suns or the Washington Wizards (to name three)? The answer is clearly yes.

In Orlando, Doc Rivers runs a three-headed center, Patrick Ewing, 39, stomping around in slow motion as the most accomplished of the three. Earlier this week, Ewing scored 22 points with 15 rebounds against the Suns after averaging 6.1 points, 4.1 rebounds in previous games.

Ewing's victims were the infamous Two Jakes, Tskalidiis and Voskuhl, two reasons why Phoenix may not go anywhere this season, even with Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion and a revitalized Penny Hardaway.

The Suns, desperate, would love to grab Jahidi White from Washington. Of course, White is playing so badly he's benched. He also has four years, $21 million on his contract. Washington would also love to have a real center to plug in the middle.

Arguably, the Hawks will have the best center tandem in the league when Ratliff comes back, a significant advantage.