WESTERN CONFERENCE.

MIDWEST DIVISION

DALLAS MAVERICKS: The team will do everything it can to retain free-agent SG Michael Finley and Cs Shawn Bradley and Calvin Booth in the offseason. PFs Gary Trent and Mark Bryant and SC Vernon Maxwell won't get the same treatment. Entering last season, the team viewed Trent as a key member of its rotation. He was its only legitimate low-post threat, and he seemed a lock to earn a big free-agent contract. But Trent suffered a leg muscle injury early in camp and lost his low-post role when the team traded for PF Juwan Howard. Trent will come back only if he's guaranteed significant playing time, and those minutes probably won't be there for him.--Ken Sins

DENVER NUGGETS: PF Antonio McDyess is big time, and he knows it. He'll get the maximum contract when he becomes a free agent after 2002-03 season, and he doesn't need an agent to get it. So he fired agent Tony Dutt, saying he wants to develop a direct relationship with team owner Stan Kroenke and possibly finish his career as a Nugget. Kroenke has called McDyess a player to build around and has indicated he wants to hang onto the power forward.--Michael BeDan

HOUSTON ROCKETS: The team has been auditioning big men, but small forward candidates might be rushed in. Shandon Anderson has opted out of the third year of his contract, leaving the Rockets thin at small forward and shooting guard. The only draft candidates who have passed through town are Maryland's Terence Morris and Arkansas' Joe Johnson. Morris has the four-year background coach Rudy Tomjanovich likes, but his performance has declined since his sensational freshman year. Johnson is a bright prospect who can shoot and take it to the hole but still is a bit raw. The team loves 7-1 C Pau Gasol, but he isn't expected to be on the board when the team picks at No. 13, and he might opt to keep playing in Spain.--Michael Murphy

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: The team didn't field a summer-league team last year but will take 10 players to a tournament in Orlando, where the Magic and Hawks also will play. One of the most intriguing names on the roster is Yugoslavian PG Igor Rakocevic, who was drafted in 2000. The team still is trying to get permission from the Yugoslavian national team for Rakocevic to play in Orlando. Scouts say he loves to drive and is aggressive defensively. PG William Avery, C Rasho Nesterovic, SF Andrae Patterson and SGs Felipe Lopez and Sam Jacobson will join several free agents on the team.--Johnny Ludden

ANTONIO SPURS: SG Derek Anderson wants to resign with the team--he likes the city and loves his teammates--but has threatened to leave unless he gets an offer between $5 million and $7 million a year. Though Anderson's salary ranked on the bottom half of the Spurs' roster at $2.25 million a year, he was the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points. The team appears to be close to removing one roadblock in its negotiations with Anderson. C David Robinson, the team's top free-agent priority, says he will take a pay cut if it will help the Spurs remain contenders next season.--Johnny Ludden

UTAH JAZZ: The team has three free agents: PG John Stockton is expected to re-sign for one season, SF David Benoit likely won't be back and PG Jacque Vaughn might need to find a new home. The team appreciates his attitude, but after four years he still is inconsistent. In the playoffs, the offense fell apart when Stockton rested.... PG John Crotty, SFs Scott Padgett and Benoit and SCs Quincy Lewis and DeShawn Stevenson rotated on and off the injured list as a sort of taxi squad last season, but the team doesn't plan to play that game again. Owner Larry Miller says the Jazz will have only 12 players on the roster next season.--Loren Jorgensen