Owner Mark Cuban has denied a published report that he's trying to trade center Raef LaFrentz to the New York Knicks.

According to the Daily News of New York, the Mavericks are attempting to ship LaFrentz and another player to the Knicks for power forward Kurt Thomas and point guard Charlie Ward. The article said the deal can't take place before Tuesday because of salary-cap constraints.

But Cuban said the Mavericks are not in any discussions to trade LaFrentz to the Knicks, and coach Don Nelson has a policy against discussing potential trades.

Thomas left the Mavericks for the Knicks via free agency on Jan. 22, 1999, during the lockout-shortened season. Thomas had agreed to sign with the Mavericks, but shocked Nelson when he bolted to the Knicks, who offered him approximately $200,000 more than the Mavericks.

A former TCU and Dallas Hillcrest High School standout, Thomas could give the Mavericks the tough-guy persona they're missing down low. Thomas, who turns 31 on Oct. 4, has two years left on his contract and will earn $5.394 million next season and $5.8 million in 2004-05.