According to the Washington Post, Dallas Mavericks Coach Don Nelson, whose team had been dunked on for three quarters Saturday night by Washington Wizards center Brendan Haywood, said the rookie big man was the difference in the outcome, not Michael Jordan's fourth-quarter heroics.

Teams have been calling, trying to acquire the 7-footer from North Carolina. The Wizards say Haywood, who has already been traded by Cleveland and Orlando in his young professional career, is unavailable.

The Wizards (7-12), who gave up reserve guard Laron Profit and a future first-rounder to the Magic for Haywood, find themselves with a player who has created a buzz through the league in only seven games. He missed the first 12 games with torn ligaments in his left thumb.

"Brendan is a good anchor back there," Wizards Coach Doug Collins said. "He really has a good grasp defensively. He can really jump out on the screen-roll and get himself back into the play. The one thing that we'd like to be able to do, especially with Brendan, is get him where he can catch the ball on the block and be able to make a move, use the jump hook or jump shot on the baseline that he does so well.

"With his growth, hopefully, there will be some point and time where we can use him as an offensive weapon, rather than Michael."

Haywood will continue playing as a reserve. Beefy starter Jahidi White has allowed Collins and his staff to employ a boxing-like strategy. Soften up the middle with White early, then finesse it for a lengthy stretch in the middle with Haywood and let scorers Richard Hamilton and Jordan deliver the knockout blows late.