With a win over Atlanta on Saturday, without the help of Michael Finley, Don Nelson won his 1,000 game, a milestone reached only by Pat Riley and Lenny Wilkens before him, reports Kevin Lyons of the Star-Telegram.

I've got the perfect solution for a situation in which two teams are relatively unhappy with the status quo.

I know it's early, but trade Calvin Booth for Shawn Bradley.

After all, neither center is playing for their respective teams, neither team is enamored with their long-term signings and the trade is very viable.

First, in Seattle. Booth signed this summer for $34 million over six seasons. He was supposed to be the Sonics' answer for their void in the middle, a shot-blocking big man with a little offensive skill.

So far, Booth has played a grand total of 279 minutes. He is averaging 6.2 points (4.6 if you take away his one big game of 24 points), 3.6 rebounds and, worst of all, less than a block a game. He is getting almost more fouls a game (3.1) than boards.

Granted, Booth has been injured, suffering from a sprained ankle and subsequent tendinitis, but, as Sonics coach Nate McMillan said about him, "I feel like if you are able to go, then you are healthy. I don't try to force guys to play. I talk about playing with pain, but if you feel like it is going to hamper you in any way, then you don't play."

There has been an undercurrent of rumblings among the team that Booth is giving them nothing. And they are actually playing well with undersized Art Long in the post.

In Dallas, Bradley, who was rewarded with a seven-year, $30 million deal in the summer, has not played in the Mavericks' past six games because he has been so ineffective.

In 23 games, he has averaged 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.57 blocks, leading to some grumbling from his teammates as well.

"If we're going to improve on last year, Shawn's got to be a big part of it," Dallas co-captain Michael Finley said. "You can learn a lot sitting on the bench. If he has any love in his heart for this game and love for the guys on this team, I'm sure what he saw from the bench will help him."

Dallas loved Booth when he played there last season, particularly after he hit the big shot that enabled the Mavericks to come back from a 2-0 deficit to Utah in the playoffs and win the five-game series.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban said he would do whatever it took to keep Booth, but he could not circumvent salary cap rules and match Seattle's offer of $4.539 million this season.

Well, he can have Booth back now. Bradley makes $4.5 million, so the players' salaries are close enough to work under the league's stringent trade rules.

At 7 feet 6, Bradley would give Seattle the inside presence they have been looking for, and have still been unable to find. He does not demand the ball, he has stretches of decent play - which is why the Mavs gave him such a big contract - and he can change a game with his height.

Granted, it is not like the Sonics are finding a diamond in the rough. Bradley is what he is: big, soft and occasionally intimidating.

But so far, Booth has been just big and soft.

Making the deal may or may not help, but it certainly couldn't hurt.

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* Reach staff writer Frank Hughes at 253-597-8742, ext. 6120, or frank.hughes@mail.tribnet.com

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Around the league: WESTERN CONFERENCE

A Rocket on the rise

Houston's Eddie Griffin, the fourth-youngest player in the league (after Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler and Gerald Wallace) had been making 29.7 percent of his shots.

But because half the Rockets are injured, Griffin made three starts last week and averaged 19 points, 9.7 rebounds and two blocked shots, and made 22-of-45 shots (48.9 percent).

"He was sensational," Houston guard Moochie Norris said of Griffin's breakthrough week. "Eddie is stepping up. Once again, he's a gunslinger. He knows he can take those shots out there. He knows he can block shots. He knows he can play this level. We believe in him. The coaching staff believes in him. And he believes in himself."

Miles away, but still there

Minnesota's injured point guard, Terrell Brandon, gets bored watching his teammates play on television. So he created an inventive form of support.

"I'm always two-waying, paging everybody during timeouts,'' Brandon said. "They don't get the messages until after the game, but I'm always two-waying guys with 'Good play.' Chauncey (Billups) dunks two-hands against New Jersey, I page, 'Good dunk, man!'So I'm always with them. They feel me. They know how much I love them and how much I am?a part of this organization, so I don't feel detached at all.''

Um, come again?

After New Jersey's Kenyon Martin flagrantly fouled Utah's Karl Malone last week, a play for which Martin was suspended, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said:

"Our team has been considered a dirty team for a long time, but I don't ever remember us being involved in any situation like that," he said.

Somehow, Sloan forgot that Malone has been suspended four times - for hitting Isiah Thomas with an elbow (1991-92), for hitting David Robinson in the head with an elbow (1997-98), for taking a swing at Vancouver's Othella Harrington (1998-99) and for "backhanding" Dallas' Christian Laettner in the face while posting up (2000-2001).

Road tests coming for Clippers

Yes, the Los Angeles Clippers are off to a great start. But through Jan. 1, they'll have been home for 22-of-30 games. Afterward, they'll be on the road for 16-of-21 through the All-Star break, and 9-of-13 after it for a grand total of 25-of-38 on the road.

How the mighty have fallen

If the playoffs started today, the Blazers wouldn't qualify for the first time since 1982.

Does anyone look in the mirror?

After Shawn Marion dunked on the Blazers in a game that the Suns held control of, some Blazers players took offense.

Said Ruben Patterson: "We all seen that. We'll all remember that. Next time he tries to dunk against us, somebody will put him on his head."

Patterson forgets that he tried to dunk on the Sonics in the closing seconds of Portland's blowout of Seattle earlier this month.

Sweet music, sweet friend

The Kings' Chris Webber recently played in front of family and friends. Among the "friends" was supermodel Tyra Banks.

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Around the league: EASTERN CONFERENCE

Davis still suffering

Former Sonics guard Emanual Davis, who now plays for Atlanta, still is suffering from the accident he had on the Sonics' team plane that caused him to contract Bell's Palsy.

Two and a half weeks ago, Davis was elbowed by Allen Iverson of the 76ers.?The effect was instantaneous, what they call post-concussion syndrome. Davis lost his balance and his wits.

"Allen grabbed me," Davis said, "and asked me, 'Are you OK?' Well, I wasn't. I could hardly keep my balance."??

He has not been able to play since.

Smooth move, Jerry

Apparently, Tim Floyd's breaking point came when the Bulls were activating Ron Artest and Floyd wanted to put little-used Dalibor Bagaric on the injured list. Problem is, Bagaric was drafted by Jerry Krause and is Krause's pet project, so Krause ignored Floyd and placed A.J. Guyton on the injured list instead, even though the Bulls have only one point guard.

Grasping at straws, err, dreads

Miami's Brian Grant cut his dreadlocks, hoping it would snap him out of his season-long malaise.

"Each and every player on the team has to look at his performance and decide if they're giving the team everything that they can give," said Grant, averaging under 10 points and about seven rebounds. "I'm admitting it, putting it out there. I'm telling you right now, you're not getting Brian Grant out there. Like missing layups and everything. It's frustrating stuff."

By the way, the Heat is the only team not to reach 100 points in a game this season.

Maybe MJ can make a call to help

Washington's Richard Hamilton ordered a Microsoft Xbox video game system from a store in San Antonio because he could not find one in any of the other places he looked. After purchasing the Xbox, he had it shipped to his home in Maryland.

When his little brother opened the gift box Christmas morning, he dug through the Styrofoam packaging only to find two San Antonio phone.

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Rim shots

books and no Xbox.

"I couldn't believe it," Hamilton said.

"Tim Floyd was in an impossible situation. He didn't do anything wrong. Maybe taking the job."

- Orlando coach Doc Rivers

"If someone wants to offer us $700 million, I'm sure I can have my desk cleared out in a few hours."

- Celtics CEO Rich Pond, referring to the sale of the Red Sox.

The art of almost Zen ... but trying

Before the Pistons' game in Seattle last week, Jerry Stackhouse was reading "Anatomy of the Spirit," by Carolyn Myss.

"I've got my own little Zen thing," Stackhouse said, referring to the Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who likes to hand out books to his players.

Of course, less than an hour later, Stackhouse was getting himself tossed out of the game in the second quarter.

The Zen lessons are going slowly.

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Frank's Five

Staff writer Frank Hughes' five best centers in the NBA:

1. Shaquille O'Neal - Most dominant player in the game.

2. Vlade Divac - A big reason for Sacramento's success in Chris Webber's absence.

3. Jermaine O'Neal - Undersized, but a star of the future.

4. Dikembe Mutombo - One of the best shot blockers ever.

5. David Robinson - A shadow of what he once was.

Dallas coach Don Nelson might not approve if an opponent sticks his head in during a pregame or halftime strategy session. Other than then, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is quite willing to let visitors see his team's sparkling new locker room.

It's no wonder the NBA's billionaire boy is so proud. At the first-year American Airlines Center, Cuban has created the Versailles of locker rooms, although with a few less mirrors.

``Heck yeah,'' said Cuban, when asked if he wants opponents to see the facilities. ``I want them to come in and work out.''

Cuban wants to get the word out to prospective free agents that they should consider signing with the Mavericks. One look at the facilities, and it wouldn't be surprising if there is a line outside next summer of players holding ballpoint pens.

The American Airlines Center is the NBA's newest arena. The 19,200-seat facility has all the usual luxury suites one would expect. With five concourses, it is a massive facility, so it's not surprising it cost a staggering $430 million to build.

Construction already was under way when Cuban bought the Mavericks in January 2000, so he doesn't take credit for much of the arena. But he does take credit for the grandiose locker rooms.

``You've got to take care of your athletes and protect your investment,'' Cuban said. ``It always amazes me that a team will have a $50 million payroll for players and then try to nickel and dime them.''

So where should we start our tour of this NBA Taj Mahal? How about in the main section of the locker room, where players dress? Each wood-grain locker comes equipped with a flat-screen, 13-inch television, a stereo, a DVD player, a CD player and a PlayStation.

``We want players to be able to prepare individually for games,'' Cuban said. ``No more somebody yelling, `Turn that (music) off.' ''

There are plenty of other ways players can prepare. There is a sauna and a steam room. There is a weight room with every type of machine known to man, and some that nobody really knows much about. There is an elaborate practice court.

There is a lavish training room with tables that look like fine china should be sitting on them. There are hot and cold whirlpools. There is a special underwater tank in which injured players can work out while putting less stress on their bodies.

``This would be a perfect place for Zydrunas (Ilgauskas, the often-injured Cavaliers center) to get back into shape,'' one Mavericks official said.

You hear that, Zydrunas? The Mavericks already have plans for you when you become a free agent in 2005.

In the meantime, the Mavericks treat run-of-the-mill centers as if they're a guest being pampered at a luxurious spa.

``This place is awesome,'' said Evan Eschmeyer, who signed with the Mavericks after two seasons with New Jersey. ``It's incredible. I don't know what else as a player you would want. (Cuban) has come in and given us what we want. What he wants in return is our best effort every night. Everything is first-class. Everything from the towels on up.''

Interesting that Eschmeyer mentioned towels. It even is cited in the team's media guide that the Mavericks have the ``best in towels.'' Cuban is very proud of his towels, which he says cost ``four bucks more'' apiece than what most NBA teams spend.

With all the extra money Cuban has spent on the arena, you'd think he would have gotten something extra for himself. Indeed he has. Cuban had a special bunker built underneath the stands for time spent before games and during halftime.

The bunker, about as big as good-sized living room, has couches with smooth black leather upholstery. It has a giant-screen television surrounded by a half-dozen medium-sized TVs. It has a large desk with a computer, where Cuban spends time answering the many e-mails that he receives.

Maybe in future years a big-time free agent will demand his own bunker before signing with the Mavericks. Cuban just might be able to arrange that.

Trivia time

Other than Gund Arena, where the Cavs are 169-117 in eight seasons, the Cavs have a winning record in only one current NBA arena. Name it.

Short jumpers

There was sadness around the NBA last week after Toronto assistant Stan Albeck, the second head coach in Cavs history, suffered a stroke. Albeck has regained strength in his right side, where he suffered some paralysis, but he still is having trouble speaking. Albeck, 70, is a true NBA lifer. He hasn't been a head coach since 1985-86, but he has stayed on as a scout and assistant because of his great love of the game. ``He's at home with basketball,'' said Austin Carr, who played for the Cavs during Albeck's only season with the team in 1979-80. ``He was born to be a basketball coach.'' Carr said he was ``shocked'' to hear of Albeck's stroke because he ``always looked to be in good health.'' Albeck's stint with the Cavs hardly was glorious, as they went 37-45. Albeck then bolted to San Antonio, where he had the best of his seven seasons as an NBA head coach, winning three division titles in three years.

Since Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby came out in 1975, there have been 18 players drafted by the NBA directly out of high school, 14 in the first round. Excluding Leon Smith, a 1999 draftee who never played in the NBA, the fewest games any of the first-rounders has played as a rookie was 21 by Al Harrington with Indiana in 1998-99. (That was during a 50-game lockout season. For an 82-game season, the low was Jonathan Bender's 24 games with the Pacers in 1999-2000). Harrington, at 2.1, also has the lowest scoring average. But Cavs rookie center DeSagana Diop, who has a microscopic average of 0.5 while having appeared in just four of his team's first 29 games, could top (or is that bottom?) both of those lows.

Heading into last night's game at Chicago, the Cavs were 6-6 since Ilgauskas returned from his latest foot injury. During the past six seasons, the Cavs are 70-53 when Ilgauskas plays. When he doesn't, they're 115-169. But if Ilgauskas, who is being restricted to 24 minutes per game, were able to play more, the Cavs might have a slightly better record since his latest return. When Ilgauskas has been on the floor this season, the Cavs have outscored foes 450-435. When he has not in the game, the Cavs have been outscored 703-699.

It was a game of big numbers:

1,000 for the number of career victories Dallas coach Don Nelson now has.

490 for the end of Mavericks guard Michael Finley's streak of consecutive games, due to a hamstring injury.

23.2 for the average age of Atlanta's starting lineup.

In the end, the numbers that mattered most were 113-97, the final score of the Mavs' ninth straight victory, their longest streak since the 1987-88 season.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports: Pat Riley suggested his thought process about dismantling could change if the Heat falls further behind in the race for the eighth playoff spot.

The Heat is seven games behind No. 8 seeds New York and Charlotte. Riley admitted his interest would be piqued if a team offers the Heat a potential high lottery pick. And a source insisted that Grant and Jones are available in a trade.

Speaking at length for the first time this season about the Heat's long-term future, Riley didn't address his own future, but said he hopes the team will be competitive this season and next before more than $20 million in cap space becomes available in the summer of 2003, when Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton and Antonio McDyess headline a rich free agent class.

Despite that philosophy, Riley was asked whether he has given more thought recently to major changes.

``There will be a day,'' Riley said.

``Until we're 20 games out of a playoff spot, I don't know. It could get better quick.''

In a related article, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports: Pat Riley acknowledged just how much the Heat misses the veteran point guard.

Asked if the team had anyone who has stepped into Hardaway's role of late-game decisiveness, Riley said, "No, no, not close."

"Tim had a special gift that none of these players have -- he had a cannon," Riley said. "He had one with his arm and one with his mouth. That's what I loved about Hardaway."

Trae Thompson of the Star-Telegram reports that, in tonight's game against Atlanta, coach Don Nelson will be shooting for his 1,000th victory.  When he attains that milestone, he'll have been only the third coach to do so, joining Pat Riley and Lenny Wilkens.

Nelson won't have a full complement of players to help.  Omar Cook, who never played, has been waived.  Center Evan Eschmeyer will miss the game with a badly sprained left ankle (he might be replaced on the active roster by Gregg Buckner or Johnny Newman).  And Michael Finley is day-to-day with after straining his left hamstring against Chicago.  If Finley misses the game, it will break his streak of 490 consecutive games.

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have requested waivers on guard Omar Cook.

Cook was signed as a free agent on Nov. 20 but had not appeared in a game for the Mavericks. He was drafted in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft by Denver.

Jode Valade asks Omar Cook about his New York background, his decision to leave college and what he does in his offtime.

There's not anything that can happen in an NBA game from a mental standpoint that I haven't already faced growing up and playing in Chicago," Finley said. "There's nothing that anyone could say or do to me that I haven't already experienced."

That goes triple for the Mavericks, who have three Chicago natives in Finley, Tim Hardaway and Juwan Howard. All three travel home Wednesday when they face the Bulls at the United Center. All three credit their upbringing for providing their foundation of toughness and gritty basketball style.

Of course, they all have heard the legends of New York playgrounds ? how the best games are there, the greatest talent is on those asphalt courts. That only makes them develop a deeper pride for their own Windy City childhood.

Through votes counted by Dec. 26, no Mavericks player was in the top three among vote-getters at their respective position.

Dirk Nowitzki was fourth in fan balloting for Western Conference forwards, Michael Finley was fifth among guards, and Steve Nash was ninth among guards.