Clone Michael Jordan? Forget that. How about cloning Jeff Van Gundy?
There could be as many as a dozen coaching openings this summer, and the number of marquee candidates appeared to dwindle last week when Orlando's Doc Rivers and Philadelphia's Larry Brown said for the first time they will not take other jobs.

``If I'm back anywhere next season, it will be with the 76ers,'' Brown said. ``I want to coach as long as I'm physically able.''

So if Brown is to be taken at his word, forget speculation he could end up with the Knicks or Nuggets.

Meanwhile, Rivers said he would not consider trying to get out of his contract to coach the Knicks: ``I'm the Magic coach, and I'm going to stay the Magic coach. I love New York, but I love where I'm at more.''

That leaves Van Gundy and Mike Fratello as the two most attractive candidates. Fratello seems the natural choice to replace Don Chaney in New York.

Van Gundy could have his choice of several jobs: Golden State (where Brian Winters has little shot of returning), Portland (Maurice Cheeks probably must make the playoffs and advance), Phoenix (Scott Skiles' future is tenuous), the Clippers (if owner Donald Sterling believes Alvin Gentry cannot get them to the next level) and Philadelphia (if Brown retires).

Although Van Gundy likes California, the most appealing situation might be Toronto, where management would consider replacing Lenny Wilkens if the Raptors don't make a serious playoff push in a diluted Eastern Conference.

And that doesn't include possible openings in Miami (where Heat assistant Stan Van Gundy and Fratello would be the top candidates if Pat Riley were to leave), Denver, Memphis and Atlanta.

By getting out of a no-win situation in New York, Van Gundy has set himself up for a bidding war that could result in a $6 million-a-year contract. Sheer brilliance.


ALL-STAR REACTION

Players who received All-Star snubs expressed mixed reaction:


Portland's Rasheed Wallace: ``I couldn't care less. It just frees me for the weekend to party.''

The Clippers' Elton Brand said he will ``use the time to be with my wife and kids. Oh, yeah. I don't have a wife and kids.''

Denver interim coach Mike Evans, on Nick Van Exel's omission: ``There's no better talent you're going to find at his position.''

Cleveland coach John Lucas said he's to blame for Andre Miller's exclusion: ``I felt I let Andre down. Three or four more wins probably puts him in.''

Nets F Kenyon Martin's exclusion from the Eastern team -- which was justifiable -- seemed to bother coach Byron Scott more than Martin. ``There's no logic to it,'' Scott said. Said Martin: ``I'm not upset. Why should I be? We're in first place.''
Scott took a swipe at Hawks F Shareef Abdur-Rahim's selection: ``If we needed him to, Kenyon could put up those kind of numbers.''


Then there was this from Bucks coach George Karl: ``All-Star weekend reminds me of the burning of Rome. It reminds me of the celebration of extravagance, and the game needs more fundamental direction and awareness.''

AROUND THE LEAGUE


Having seen PG Jamaal Tinsley slow down considerably after a great start, Pacers president Donnie Walsh said he will not grant impending free agent Travis Best's trade request. ``He wants me to stay with the team this season and play with more enthusiasm,'' Best said.

Insurance will cover 80 percent of the $38.8 million C Bryant Reeves is due on his contract through 2004. Reeves, 28, retired with back pain last week, but his salary won't come off the Grizzlies' cap until the summer of 2003.
``Surgery could have caused paralysis, and that wasn't something I was willing to risk,'' he said.

The Grizzlies received a $4.5 million injured player's exception for Bryant but decided not to use it.


When Magic C Horace Grant missed Wednesday's Lakers game with an intestinal flu, some wondered whether he wanted to avoid a matchup with former teammate Shaquille O'Neal. Somebody in the Lakers locker room wrote on the chalkboard: ``Where's Horace? Shaq-arreha.''
Said Rivers: ``I liken Shaq to a giant, and everyone else is an ant. You can put a bigger ant or a smaller ant on him, and it won't really matter.''


Former Knicks president Dave Checketts is considering creating a group to buy the Magic. Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo also has shown interest.

Forced to suit up so his team could practice five-on-five last week, Sonics coach Nate McMillan and four reserves beat Seattle's starters. ``I still have game,'' he said. ``I'm a little concerned we beat the first unit. With some of the plays I was making, they couldn't respond.''

Phoenix, eager to upgrade over Jake Voskuhl and Jake Tsakalidis at center, offered SF John Wallace and a No. 1 pick to Golden State for C Marc Jackson. The Warriors are waiting for something better.

Coach Doug Collins, on the Wizards staying around .500: ``No way anybody would have thought we would be anywhere near this point,'' especially with Richard Hamilton and Christian Laettner missing 17 games each.

For Bulls PG A.J. Guyton, being yanked on and off the injured list doesn't compare with the angst of playing for Bob Knight at Indiana. ``I don't think you understand where I went to school. I'll be able to handle anything.''

This, apparently, was the best Lakers coach Phil Jackson could come up with when speaking with President Bush at the White House last week: ``This group showed the country and NBA basketball how to work together as a group. I only hope you and Congress can do as much.''

Bucks PG Sam Cassell is mulling signing a three-year extension for the maximum $17 million rather than becoming a 2003 free agent at age 34. . . . Although Raptors C Hakeem Olajuwon will miss four to six weeks with a quadriceps injury, new starter Keon Clark was outplaying him anyway. ``It actually makes it easier for the coaches,'' F Jerome Williams said. . . . The Hornets received more than 7,600 season-ticket requests in their first week of seeking deposits in New Orleans. The NBA still must approve the team's move from Charlotte.

Clippers coach Alvin Gentry, on Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki: ``Everyone wants to compare him to Larry Bird. He's closer to Rick Barry. He's quicker, more athletic than Bird. He makes passes off the dribble better than Bird.''

Tuesday's Florida-Kentucky matchup in Gainesville was the first major college basketball game attended by Magic F Tracy McGrady. ``I was looking for Ashley Judd,'' McGrady said of the actress and avid Wildcats fan.