Trade Deadline Thursday passed with only two cosmetic changes for the Dallas Mavericks. Dirk Nowitzki had his locks trimmed. Steve Nash sat still long enough for a haircut, too.

	Shawn Bradley needs to come up big if Dallas is to survive in the West.

Now to see if the Mavericks, without the benefit of making a deal, can still make changes that actually matter.

They are trying. They insist change of some consequence continues to be attainable, even after the deadline, possibly as soon as Thursday night's showdown with the Sacramento Kings or maybe early next week.

They also know where to look.

"All eyes," acknowledged Mavericks assistant coach and personnel chief Donnie Nelson, "are on the front line."

The frontcourt will be the focus when the Kings visit American Airlines Center, because frontcourt play is what really separates these play-alike teams. The change management wants to see is a show of manhood from its big men. So frustrated, Mavericks coach Don Nelson announced on his weekly radio show Wednesday that he plans to "put my size 16s directly in their behinds every day" from now on to rouse some consistency from Shawn Bradley and Raef LaFrentz.

Nelson and Nelson know that their 44-13 record, gaudy as it sounds, doesn't count for much in the playoffs unless Bradley and/or LaFrentz is productive. That's why Nelson Sr. was pushing for the Brian Grant trade. Forget the haircuts; he was hoping to give Nowitzki a new sidekick.

Mike Bibby and Bobby Jackson outplayed Nash and Nick Van Exel in last spring's second round. Doug Christie neutralized Michael Finley. But Nelson believes those are matchups the Mavericks can turn around and win. They're not overmatched in those matchups.

The real difference-maker in the comparison between the West's top two seeds, besides Sacramento's more consistent bench, is the tag team of Chris Webber and Vlade Divac. Unless Bradley or LaFrentz can give Nowitzki some tangible help -- especially Thursday when Dallas' fearless Eduardo Najera is suspended -- Nowitzki is going one-on-two. Against one of the league's toughest twosomes.

All of the above explains why the Mavericks' off-court focus is suddenly locked on Tyrone Hill, who said goodbye to his Cleveland teammates Thursday morning and is said to be weighing offers from the Mavericks and 76ers. It will take another 48 hours for Hill to clear waivers, but then the Mavericks will try to beat out Philadelphia and any additional suitors to convince the 34-year-old (35 on March 19) to join a title chase.

	“	(T)here are no clear-cut favorites this year. There were some years where the Bulls would have had to drop dead not to win the championship. This year there's no clear-cut favorite. Until somebody unseats L.A., they're still the team to beat. But they're not clear-cut. ”
		— Mavericks guard Avery Johnson

It would be a dream scenario for the Mavericks to get Hill now ... without having to part with Van Exel, as the Grant trade stipulated. It would feasibly require the release of Popeye Jones to make roster room for Hill, but with Najera working himself back into shape after a long injury absence, Dallas would feel worlds better about its frontcourt rotation. A healthy Najera and a signed Hill would essentially amount to adding two impact newcomers to the team that got off to a 14-0 start and once stood at 31-5.

Problem is, the competition for Hill figures to be fierce, given Hill's rebounding skills and defensive know-how and with Dallas expected to offer Hill a contract solely for the remainder of the season. Once he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, Hill will undoubtedly be looking to secure the best future he can. Larry Brown wants Hill back in Philadelphia badly and appears to have the inside track, especially if the Sixers are willing to offer Hill something for next season as well.

Thus the Mavericks can't count on landing Hill, which undoubtedly explains why Nelson Sr. is vowing to be "an SOB" with Bradley and LaFrentz for the rest of the season. "Every day I ease up on them," Nelson said on the radio, "… they both disappear."

The coach's latest source of frustration came Tuesday night in Orlando, where Bradley and LaFrentz combined for two rebounds in 29 minutes. Yes, two. That wiped away much of the optimism derived from the evening events on Trade Deadline Thursday, when a community blanketing of Tim Duncan helped leave Duncan with 11 points and seven turnovers before Finley unintentionally poked the Spurs' MVP contender in the eye.

Given all of the above, Nelson's success with his size 16s is more important than whatever happens against the Kings. A win would be an undeniable boost, but it wouldn't fix everything, just as beating San Antonio last week didn't.

After a solid start that earned him widespread praise, Bradley's minutes have dwindled below the 20-a-game plateau during Dallas' 13-8 stutter. LaFrentz, still coming back from a twisted ankle, is averaging career lows in points (8.8) and rebounds (5.1). They also both know that management is looking for bigger help

The letdown of not getting Hill, then, looms as another potential psychological blow. If the Mavericks can't beat out Philly for Hill, after electing not to take on the onerous financial commitments tied to a trade for Miami's Grant, Dallas will have to build back its self-belief from within.

The problem there is worse than bad hair: Dallas types have this nagging habit of questioning their own credentials publicly, calling themselves overachievers.

"Personally I don't like those quotes," said Mavericks guard Avery Johnson, the club's veteran voice. "Even if we've got work to do, I don't like those quotes. I think we should be looked upon as one of the best teams. We are capable of winning a championship.

"But there are no clear-cut favorites this year. There were some years where the Bulls would have had to drop dead not to win the championship. This year there's no clear-cut favorite. Until somebody unseats L.A., they're still the team to beat. But they're not clear-cut."

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, send Stein a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.