[Tony tha Mavs fan]

Money isn't everything, apparently. Just look at the teams that have the most money to spend on free agents. After the initial wave of agreements, San Antonio, Denver, Utah, the Clippers and Miami are still looking for their first. .. . How did outgoing Clips coach Dennis Johnson find out that Mike Dunleavy was going to succeed him? Johnson had Dunleavy's contract inadvertently slipped under his hotel door. Both were staying at the same hotel for the L.A. Summer League. As only they can do, the Clips botched the delivery. ... Now that the Mailman is gone, Utah is targeting Andre Miller, the Clips' restricted free agent. They've been after him for years. But they've got competition from Denver, which has offered Corey Maggette $7 mil per ... The Heat is courting Gilbert Arenas, with Lamar Odom as the backup plan. The Clips say they'll match any offer on Odom, but Riley is thinking of a $50 million contract. Miami is also looking to take on Terrell Brandon, for the sole purpose of using his salary (around $13 mil) to take off their books in 2004. They'd probably send Eddie Jones to the T-Wolves, giving Kevin Garnett this supporting cast: Jones, Sam Cassell and Juwan Howard, who can get their $4.8 mid-level exception if he wants it. Plus, they still have Troy Hudson. ... The Jazz entertained two late sign-and-trade offers from two Western powers for Malone, before he agreed to take the Lakers' $1.5 million exception. Utah didn't want the Kings' Keon Clark. Bobby Jackson and Hedo Turkoglu were also discussed, but Clark was the deal-breaker, not surprisingly. The Mavs were the other team involved, dangling Shawn Bradley for the Mailman, according to reports. ... With Larry Bird taking over basketball operations for Indiana, Isiah Thomas has to be looking over his shoulder. Bird's guy is Rick Carlisle, at the top of the list among coaches looking for jobs.... Before he left for the Lakers, Payton tried to get Miami to give him $11 mil per, provided they also re-signed Alonzo Mourning at a figure he wanted. The Heat couldn't swing it. ... Portland reportedly offered Arvydas Sabonis and Jeff McInnis in a sign-and-trade for Payton. ... The Mavs' contract offer to Mourning was loaded with conditions dealing with his kidney problems. In the end, 'Zo told the Mavs that he felt that staying East would be easier from a physical standpoint. Not to mention from a competitive one, as well.