Around The Rim

Nuggets general manager Dan Issel, who last year, when he was still a Denver radio talk-show host, dubbed Denver rookie Tony Battie El Busto, offered Battie and the No. 3 pick in the June 24 draft to the Grizzlies for the No. 2 pick, which Issel would have used to select Pacific center Michael Olowokandi. But Vancouver, which is seeking a polished veteran and a top pick for the No. 2 selection, politely declined, just as it did when the 76ers offered the No. 8 pick and forward Tim Thomas....

Center Keon Clark, 6'11", who has the talent to be a lottery selection but whose off-court woes at UNLV have diminished his chances of being selected among the top 13, will be considered by the Magic, which has three first-round picks and can afford to gamble on one of them....

There may be questions about Notre Dame forward PatGarrity's speed but not about his strength. During a recent workout with the Bucks, the 6'9" Garrity, who weighs 231, bench-pressed 185 pounds 21 times....

Encouraged by the strong showing of Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, teams are studying another European big man, 22-year old Radoslav Nesterovic of Slovenia, who averaged 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds for European league champion Kinder Bologna this season. The 6'11" Nesterovic has a year left on his contract with Bologna but likely will be chosen in the first round anyway....

The Mavericks, who will pick sixth in the draft, like precocious St. Louis guard Larry Hughes.