Before Rod Strickland loaded all his baggage onto the 16-wheeler for the cross-country trip to Portland, the Knicks were one of several teams that constantly called the Wizards about their veteran playmaker.

	Strickland always finds work, not necessarily friends.

Even knowing that Rocket Rod isn't just a headache, but a major-league migraine.

Even knowing that Strickland had been arrested three times for drunken driving as a member of the Wizards.

Even knowing that he was constantly late for practices and games.

Even knowing that he was a certifiable team-killer in his four-plus seasons in Washington.

"When Rod doesn't want to play," said Gar Heard, not long after his stint as Wizards head coach ended, "You have no chance of winning. None."

That's happened quite a bit in Strickland's 13-year career. So why do teams continue to take chances on the Rod Stricklands, the Derrick Colemans and the Isaiah Riders of the world?

Easy. It's the talent, stupid.

No matter how bad a guy might be, if he can dribble and shoot and win even occasionally, there'll always be a team for him.

In the case of the Knicks' pursuit of Strickland, which ended when New York traded for Mark Jackson at the trading deadline, they knew exactly what they were trying to get.

"Rod's definitely a headache," said one Knick official. "But when you've got Charlie (Ward) and Chris (Childs) as your point guards, you'll gladly take on that headache because of Rod's talent."

Same goes for Coleman. And Rider. And years ago, Mark Aguirre. Back in the early-80's, the Mavs built their team around the ultra-talented but moody Aguirre, passing up a chance to use the No. 1 overall pick in 1981 on Isiah Thomas.

Then Dallas coach Dick Motta sold the Mavs' ownership and front-office brass on the fact that he could tame the wild mustang in Aguirre. Eventually, Aguirre allegedly tanked games, faked injuries and walked out on his teammates. He finally forced his way out out of town and joined Thomas in Detroit, which was the only way Aguirre could ever win a ring. In his case, he won two.

From the start, Coleman had the skills and size to be one of the dominant players in the game. Yet, he's made the All-Star team only once. His blase attitude toward conditioning/practicing/winning -- all of the above -- has led to a staggeringly mediocre career.

"If Coleman cared just a little bit, he could have been an all-time great," said one Eastern Conference GM. "It's like he's wasted his talent, and I'm saying that about a guy who's averaged 24 points and 13 rebounds in the playoffs."

But like a lot of the bad guys, Coleman has never won. Dennis Rodman certainly was no angel. It took everything Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson had to keep Rodman in line -- in line for him, that is -- when the Bulls were winning their last three titles of the 90's. Then look what happened when Rodman went to the Lakers and Dallas. He was more trouble than he was worth.

	Sprewell

	Iverson

The bad actors don't always stay bad. Some, including Allen Iverson and Latrell Sprewell, change for the better.

Iverson's habitual tardiness even extended to the All-Star team practice two years ago, but he's cleaned up his act this season and has been the MVP, at least on this scorecard. It hasn't been a joyride, entirely.

When Larry Brown left the team for a few days back in December and contemplated walking away, several friends say it was because Brown had had it with Iverson. But for the most part, Iverson has settled down, as much as he can, and has learned to incorporate his teammates into his game.

Sprewell had his share of troubles at Golden State, long before he ever tried to choke P.J. Carlesimo. But since coming to a winning situation in New York, he has bought into the team concept, posed very few distractions and has thrived under the most intense media scrutiny anywhere. This season, he was named an All-Star by David Stern, when the simple fact of the matter is that he should have been tabbed by the coaches.

Even Anthony Mason, another player with a checkered past and rap sheet to match, has stayed off the police blotter in Miami this season and has been a big reason for the Heat's success. Perhaps because he knows any more brushes with the law will wind up costing him his next and last big contract.

	Maxwell

But some guys like Strickland -- and attention, Mark Cuban, Vernon Maxwell -- never change. A decade ago, Strickland was in San Antonio, unable to get along with David Robinson in two-plus seasons with the Spurs. During his time in Texas, he was caught buck naked in a hotel after dropping a towel in front of some alarmed strangers. He broke his hand in a late-night fight. He was habitually late. And on and on.

At one point, the exasperated owner of the Spurs, Red McCombs, told his young playmaker: "You have this great, great talent, but you act like a spoiled brat. Get past it."

The Rod Stricklands of the world never do.

And yet, many players on the Sixers were in favor of signing Strickland after he had been bought out by the Wizards' Michael Jordan, leading to his release. Before Strickland landed in Portland, his agent, David Falk, had given the Sixers the first crack at signing his client. One of the players who opposed it was Eric Snow, who probably felt threatened by the prospects of Strickland coming on board.

	Stoudamire

Now Damon Stoudamire could be the unhappy one. Along with a few other Blazers. That'd be nothing new. Portland always seems to have an undercurrent of unhappiness, brought on by too many players and not enough minutes. Now they get Strickland, who poses the biggest threat yet to that volatile chemistry. As his track record shows, he needs to dominate the ball so that he can do what he does best: Create off the dribble. Sharing it has never been a great strength. And, as one scout said, "Rod Strickland isn't going to be happy sitting."

For Mike Dunleavy's sake, he'd better stock up on extra-strength aspirin.

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