Chris Tomasson writes about the Nuggets cap space and interest in LA Clipper players once the season ends.

A good article to let you know where the Nuggets will stand this offseason.

Mark Cuban is what you may cal a "hands-on" owner of the Mavericks. He goes to every game and most practices. He is often seen shooting baskets with his players during warm-ups. James Dolan is much more "hands-off" with his Knicks.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that Cuban may have a different style than Dolan, but he understands and respects the Knick?s head man and Cablevision chief.

Last month in Dallas, Cuban told a group of New York writers, "If you're not an involved owner, you're an idiot. You live with your [salary-cap] mistakes longer than you live with some spouses." At the time, that remark could have been interpreted as a shot at Dolan.

Cuban elaborated on Dolan?s situation. "If you haven't noticed, the cable industry is going through some challenges right now in the stock market," he said. "I don't blame him at all for focusing on Cablevision. He has a huge, unjust luxury tax bill to pay that impacts [Cablevision's] bottom line. As a shareholder, I want him doing exactly that."

"He has great people [working for him] at the Knicks," Cuban added. "I think [Scott] Layden is a good GM and [Garden president] Steve Mills is doing a great job running the team. Just because the media is impatient doesn't mean they are doing the wrong thing. If I had a company the size of Cablevision to run, it would be impossible to spend as much time on the Mavs as I do."

The rich will get a little bit richer today as the Dallas Mavericks are expected to sign Antoine Rigaudeau. Dwain Price of the Dallas Morning News reports that the French forward has completed the buyout of his contract from his Italian team and is expected in Dallas today.

After passing his physical, Rigaudeau will sign a three year contract, worth approximately $5 million with the third year at the team?s option. Mavs coach Don Nelson is hopeful that Rigaudeau will be productive for his team.

"A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work for this day to come," Nelson said. "I'm happy, ecstatic and relieved that it's finally here."

Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News reports on the Nuggets 86-71 loss to the Mavericks.  The Nuggets are close to averaging 20 turnovers per game.  That number skyrockets against good teams like Sacramento and Dallas.

The already international Dallas Mavericks could soon be adding a new flavor to the mix according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News.

According to Sefko Antoine Rigaudeau, a 6-7 guard regarded as one of the best shooters in Europe, could be close to signing with the Mavs, a source close to the team said.

The Frenchman is currently under contract to Virtus Bologna for $3M that runs through the 2003-04 season, but the agent for the Frenchman apparently has been negotiating a buyout of that deal that would allow him to join the Mavs.

Marco Madrigali, president of the Virtus Bologna team, has agreed to the buyout, according to Rigaudeau's New York-based agent, Kenny Grant. The Mavs could contribute $350,000 to the buyout, according to NBA rules.

The Mavericks do not own the rights to Rigaudeau, meaning that any NBA team could sign the talented youngster.  Dallas remains tight lipped on their plans.

"We have nothing to report at this time, so au revoir," said president Donnie Nelson.

With center Raef LaFrentz recently falling out of favor with coach Don Neslon, the New York Knicks are once again preparing to try to swoop on the 6-11 bigman.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports that Knicks president Scott Layden has coveted the 6-11 forward for three years and nearly traded for him 11 months ago before the Mavs made a deal with Denver on the eve of the trading deadline.

To land LaFrentz the Knicks would have to give up reliable big man Kurt Thomas, whose departure from Dallas following the 1998 season was labeled a "franchise error" by Nelson last week.

A trade of Thomas-LaFrentz would need to include additional players from New York's end due to a big difference in salary.  

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told reporters last week he does not envision his team making any trades.

The Nuggets travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks.  The game starts at 6:40pm and is on Fox Sports Net.

Juwan Howard, considered one of the nicest guys in the NBA, thought his luck had finally changed when he was traded from the Washington Wizards to the winning Dallas Mavericks.  

Howard had spent most of his career in the NBA losing games and he had finally paid his due.  While every player in the NBA has dreams and ambitions of championship rings, Howard's hopes took a dash when he was traded to the Denver Nuggets in a mid-season trade last year for Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel, the latter of whom complained bitterly about the losing.

Now we all see a happy Van Exel, his team owning the best record in the NBA, his Mavericks set to meet Howard's Nuggets tonight.

"Nick is a guy who is a lucky man," Howard said. "I know he is smiling and having fun because he is in a great situation. I know, I just left there. I love him as a player and respect him as a person. The truth is, I think Dallas really wanted Raef; Nick happened to be an extra added plus to the trade. I have no bitter feelings about Nick or the trade."

"You know, someone always told me that in this league, good guys finish last. I told them, 'I probably need to change my identity, then."'

"When I got traded to Dallas, I was like, 'Wow, here goes my chance.' I waited and waited patiently, and now I get an opportunity to maybe win a title. But once the (Denver) trade happened, I was back in the situation I was in before. I think this may be a test from God. ... But you never know - there may be something special for me in the future."

The Dallas Mavericks have put out-of-form center Raef LaFrentz on the same conditioning regimen that Shawn Bradley undertook during the offseason in an effort to improve his agility, quickness and stamina.  

The extra efforts means LaFrentz probably will have to fight through fatigue because of the extra workout sessions, but whatever the outcome he claims he is not lacking effort.

I've said everything I'm going to say, and I'm sure Nellie has said what he has to say," LaFrentz said. "Now I'm going to continue to work toward finding my rhythm. My game's not broke. I'm not lacking confidence. I'm not lacking effort. I'm just lacking rhythm."

"I don't expect immediate results with Raef," Nelson said. "It's a long-term deal. We're going to continue working him hard."

There was never a decision to take him out of the rotation," Nelson added. "I don't [have a choice], unless I go small. I'd like to play him more. But I can't do it until he's playing better."