NEW YORK -- Larry Brown's teams historically struggle at the outset of his rule. It takes time for the players to figure out what he wants.

The Detroit Pistons are no different, but have been quicker to respond as evidenced by their 13 straight wins.

Why?

Brown has bent as much as the players.

"He's allowing them to do what they do best. At the same time, he's making them better," one exec theorizes. "He's coaching to the players' strengths instead of harping on what they can't do."

The Hawks and Blazers don't appear any closer to firming up a swap of Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Chris Crawford for Rashweed Wallace. My feeling is, Portland is delaying things a tinge in hopes the Mavericks come across with Antoine Walker (and more) vs. Antawn Jamison, Tony Delk and Eduardo Najera.

At any rate, sources say agent Bill Strickland is trying to involve the Knicks or Cavaliers in a three-way deal with the Blazers/Hawks. Supposedly those are the only two teams Wallace will commit to long-term; he loves the idea of playing in New York or with LeBron James.

Certainly that should get the Cavs' attention. I've been alerted all along they would be interested if they knew positively Wallace would re-sign with them.

Clearly, the Knicks don't have sufficient resources to compensate the Blazers and/or the Hawks (so the Knicks must bide their time until summer to talk directing to Rashweed), while the Cavs boast Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Of course, the Hawks already have a center, Theo Ratliff . . . for the time being, anyway. At the same time,the game plan of the new owners is to dump salary not exchange it for the same amount and number of years.

That's what a swap of Ilgauskas and Abdur-Rahim would be; both have two years left at $13.5 million and $14.6 million.

In other words, simply switching Shareef for Rasheed makes infinitely more sense.

Pacer management has received several distress signals over the last few weeks from Al Harrington. Sources say the Jersey-born-and-bred forward wants to play somewhere (preferably New York) where he can be a leading man, not an understudy.

Because there's no way Indy intends to trade him, short of getting a rising superstar in return, contributing significantly to the East's elite unit, playing 30 minutes a game and being the top candidate for the Sixth Man Award will have to suffice for this season.

Still, plenty of pledges keep rolling in. Like everyone else, Jerry West greatly covets Harrington.

Who do the Grizzlies have to offer to make the trade attractive to the Pacers?

Stromile Swift? Bonzi Wells? Mike Miller?

Harrington may not be as good as he thinks he is -- yet -- but, from my pulpit, he's better than all of them, now and forever, amen.

West's chances would be enhanced, I suspect, if he were willing to take Austin Croshere as part of the package.