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Editor's note: The daily column of ESPN.com's new senior NBA writer, Marc Stein -- "The Daily Dime" -- debuts with updates on some 11th-hour personnel maneuvering before training camps open Tuesday.
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The Los Angeles Clippers have joined the hunt for Wang Zhizhi, who has spent the whole offseason in L.A. and would love to join them, by signing the outside-shooting center to an offer sheet Monday night. The sides exchanged salary figures before agreeing on a three-year contract, but it won't be that easy: Wang is a restricted free agent and Dallas is determined to match so -- and has 15 days to do so -- as not to lose an asset for nothing, even though that could damage the Mavericks' good name in China.
Dallas will happily surrender Wang in a sign-and-trade deal and wants a first-round draft choice in return. Issue is, the Clippers never like to part with draftees who will be locked in for five years -- and Miami, another team highly interested in the 7-foot lefty, also can't afford to surrender first-rounders as it starts to (sorry, Riles) rebuild. Stay tuned here. Odds are more than 50-50 that Wang is heading elsewhere.
Mark Jackson will clear waivers Tuesday and join the Utah Jazz, with whom he has already agreed to join for the veteran minimum of $1 million.
Detroit and Denver will complete their Rodney White trade Tuesday, but that could well be followed by another trade. The Pistons are in talks with San Antonio about moving Denver's Mengke Bateer to the Spurs for Erick Barkley and a future second-round choice.
Since we've mentioned Wang and Mengke, why not China's biggest name? Chinese officials say they won't discuss the prospect of finalizing Yao Ming's contract with the Houston Rockets until after the Asian Games in mid-October. One reason: China was deeply embarrassed by its inept showing at the Worlds in Indianapolis (12th place), meaning Yao and his teammates have to redeem themselves before anyone considers the future. Indications are that Chinese sports ministers might then ask the Rockets -- or even the NBA -- to sign documents guaranteeing the "immediate" return of any Chinese national upon request. The anger over Wang going AWOL for the Chinese in May runs deep, especially because he is likely to be re-employed by an NBA team fairly soon. Yet the Rockets remain confident Yao will be signed and safely in Houston by late October at the latest.
Terrell Brandon is being examined by the Minnesota Timberwolves' doctors today in an attempt to determine if his knee can withstand a comeback. Warned that the news might be bad after a summer of limited activity, Brandon is said to be bracing for all eventualities, including enforced retirement.
Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. E-mail him at marc.stein@espn3.com.
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