Owner Mark Cuban denied published reports out of Chicago that the Mavericks have discussed a trade that would send guard Michael Finley to the Bulls for forwards Marcus Fizer and Donyell Marshall, another player and the No. 7 pick in today's NBA Draft.

Theoretically speaking, the trade does makes some sense, because Fizer and Marshall would give the Mavericks a low-post presence as scorers and rebounders. And the No. 7 pick could wind up being shooting guard Mickael Pietrus, who some scouts are projecting to be a star in the NBA.

The trade also would bring the Mavericks some luxury-tax relief, because Finley, 30, is approaching the third year of a seven-year, $102.2 million contract that pays him $13.28 million next season. Fizer, who turns 25 on Aug. 10, is up for an extension and becomes a restricted free agent next summer, while Marshall, 30, has two years remaining on his contract at salaries of $5 million next season and $5.5 million in 2004-05.

Henry Thomas, the Chicago-based agent who represents Chicago native Finley, said it's almost comical that trade rumors involving Finley going to the Bulls have surfaced three years in a row.

"I don't think the Mavericks will trade Mike, but it's that time of the year when these kind of things are talked about," Thomas said. "But because Mike is from Chicago and since the [Bulls'] dynasty ended [in 1998], they keep talking about how they could have drafted Mike.