MIAMI -- If you read a quote by a named Pacers official or an unnamed source denying Jermaine O'Neal is being shopped, do not fall for it.

Too many reliable fountains of information claim the All-Star forward is definitely available for a team's best big player, or an elite draft pick and the team's second best player.

Do not bank on the Raptors to relinquish their pick of the litter for O'Neal.

In fact, don't bank on any of the top four picks to be traded with Texas center LaMarcus Aldridge rapidly emerging as the favorite to go No. 1 overall.

As long as I'm disregarding reports, by all means obliterate the one that contends the Raptors are considering swapping coveted duo Charlie Villanueva and Mo Peterson for Jamal Magloire and Mo Williams.

Only way Toronto takes Magloire in any deal remotely resembling that one is if the Bucks substitute T.J. Ford for Mo; team president Bryan Colangelo is intent on motoring like his former Suns.

Tell you something else to discount totally that's being floated out there by wastes of space.

Wizards owner Abe Pollin, back to work after a month or so of poor health, is not holding off on extending coach Eddie Jordan's contract in order to pounce on Larry Brown when (not if) the Knicks finally cut the umbilical cord.

Washington is very pleased with how Jordan has guided the team to two straight postseason tournaments and has every intention this summer of retaining him past next season.

Jordan, by the way, isn't vaguely the only rising lame duck coach.

Also in that position are Mike Dunleavy (my Paper Clips own next season's option and are hoping to lock him long-term in the next month or two), Mike Fratello, Rick Carlisle, Sam Mitchell, Bob Hill, Bernie Bickerstaff (plus a team option), Bryon Scott and George Karl, who's down for one more year, at which time Denver has a three-year option.

BRUCE BOWEN, fresh from college graduation in San Antonio, attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals and an advertiser's party beforehand hosted by commissioner David Stern.

Being at the Finals in civilian clothes, "is like seeing your old girlfriend with your best friend," the brokenhearted Spurs forward told me. "I want to say to her, 'You know I took better care of you than he is.' "

As mentioned previously, I cast my MVP vote for Dirk Nowitzki. Evidently, I think he can play a little bit.

At the same time, ABC's Mark Jackson should have his mouth washed out with German chocolate cake for stating Dirk is better than Larry Bird.

Avery Johnson couldn't have put it out in public any plainer to his players after Game 4: with the notable exception of Jerry Stackhouse, they're being punked by the Heat's physical play and had better start pushing back or you know what.

Stackhouse was assessed a fraudulent flagrant and suspended for Game 5 for sending the intermittent-breaking Shaq sprawling into the stands.

On the refs' scale, the foul was measured excessive.

How could it not be exceptionally hard, it says here, when Stack had to come across Shaq's expansive chest in an attempt to play the ball!

If I'm Pat Riley, I'm particularly pissed at Jason Williams for not simply finishing the break himself with an unmolested layup.

Instead, he half-halted, turned and passed to Shaq. That allowed the angling Stackhouse to catch up and attack.

Naturally, Shaq downgraded the collision to a fender bender.

"My daughter tackles me harder. I'm the last player from the old school. You've got to take the hit, get up and move on. Actually, it felt pretty good. I appreciate that, Jerry Stackhouse."

My favorite postgame question was posed to Stackhouse, who single-handedly kept the Heat in Game 3.

The reporter wanted to know if Jerry had some insight into Dirk's inaccurate shooting (2-14) in Game 4.

Who better to ask than a player who was 7-27 in his last two outings!

THE NUGGETS are prepared to trade any player on their roster exempting Carmelo Anthony.

Any team can have Kenyon Martin essentially for nothing, no joke, if you classify $71 million over the next five seasons nothing . . . Orlando is looking to obtain an established off guard in case it loses DeShawn Stevenson to free agency . . . The Sonics and Blazers are thinking about merging franchises and moving to Vancouver.

With the Hawks' ownership seemingly in question, it figures to be difficult for GM Billy Knight to make a command decision such as the possible acquisition of Allen Iverson, who would be an instant gravitational pull in the stands.

He's exactly what the incredibly athletic Hawks need to improve dramatically in the standings as well.

Naturally, Marvin Williams or Josh Smith would have to part of any exchange program.

Brendan O'Connor, one of Larry Brown's assistants, is expected to join Eric Musselman's staff in Sacramento . . . There's a lot of trade conversation involving Mike Miller and Shane Battier. Both don't figure to be Grizzlies next season.

The agent for Mr. Miami, "I'll sacrifice everything to win a title as long as I'm well compensated for it," has been alerting teams client Alonzo Mourning is about to become a free agent.

Lakers are looking at Kwame Brown exclusively as a center. Meaning, Andrew Bynum can be had.

The question is, for what Since he has no college experience and only one unrevealing year of pro ball, nobody really knows what the New Jersey 7-footer is worth.