Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel reports: The Dallas Mavericks gained salary-cap flexibility in a three-team trade Friday, and the Heat and free-agent point guard Tim Hardaway could wind up as prime beneficiaries of the transaction.

In the deal, Dallas sent point guard Howard Eisley to the Knicks and second-round draft choice Kyle Hill to the Rockets. New York sent forward Glen Rice to the Rockets and guard Muggsy Bogues to the Mavericks. Houston completed the transaction by signing free-agent forward Shandon Anderson and immediately dealing him to the Knicks.

While Mavericks owner Mark Cuban long has expressed interest in Hardaway, he said Friday's transaction should not be taken as a guarantee of Hardaway landing in Dallas. Instead, Cuban and Mavericks coach Don Nelson are expected to research others who could claim Eisley's salary-cap space. Bogues stands as little more than a throw-in, likely never to make it to the Mavericks, who already have Steve Nash, Darrick Martin and Khalid El-Amin at point guard.

Any offshoots of Friday's trade -- such as a move by Hardaway to Dallas or the possible trade of point guard Charlie Ward from New York to Golden State for center Adonal Foyle -- figure to remain on hold until Rice clears his physical with Houston. That is not a given, with Rice recently coming out of a cast following foot surgery.