Help for Low-Revenue Teams

The NBA Board of Governors approved a plan to provide up to $3 million per year of financial assistance to low-revenue teams.

Between five and eight teams are expected to qualify for the payments, which will come from a special account the league has been accumulating for four years.

“We’ve been leaving it there for what we’d call a rainy day, and it’s just begun drizzling,” Commissioner David Stern said last week.

The fund, which has grown to about $50 million, came from market extension fees--money paid into a central fund by teams that broadcast their games beyond a 75-mile radius.

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Dallas Maverick forward Jamal Mashburn will suit up for Friday night’s season opener and could play, depending on his recovery from knee surgery that caused him to sit out most of last season.

“I don’t know if I’ll even play or how much, but I’ll be suited up and ready to go,” said Mashburn, who last week expected to start the year on the injured list.

“I went through a full practice [Tuesday] and I feel OK. Unless I have some major setback, I hope to contribute and start working my way back in.”

The Mavericks had trimmed their roster to 14 by waiving Terry Davis, Jimmy King and Herb Jones. Dallas must still pay Davis’ $2.28 million salary even if he is picked up by another NBA team. King is guaranteed $330,000.

“We want to be competitive,” Coach Jim Cleamons said. “How can I look my team in the face and talk to them about winning if we don’t do everything to win? Why invite people to camp if they really don’t have an opportunity to make the team?”