Nick the Pr -- er, Slick, had worn out his welcome with the Nuggets by mid-season. However, in all fairness, the Nuggets had pretty much exhausted the patience of everyone who bothered to watch them in 2001-2002. Still, when the pouty point guard demanded a trade, it was all the Nuggies could to shop him and his multimillion-dollar contract. Finally, Daddy Warbucks, aka Mark Cuban, owner of the Mavericks, stepped up and snatched Van Excel in a flashy package deal. At least Nick's not warming the pines here.