During the course of his six-year career, Mashburn has appeared uninterested on the court, more often than not belying his supreme talent level by settling to be a role player.

He did it in Dallas, and was shipped out after three-and-a-half unproductive seasons. He had been going through the motions with the Miami Heat for the past three seasons, but something finally caught Mash's attention. A five-letter word that could have the snowball effect on an NBA career that has yet to fulfill its potential: T-R-A-D-E.

Fed up with his team's lax attitude after a humiliating home loss to the Chicago Bulls last week, Heat coach and president Pat Riley vowed changes in personnel were in store. A day later, word leaked that Riley contacted the Philadelphia 76ers and dangled Mash as bait.

The object of Riley's affection was Sixers second-year swingman Larry Hughes -- a talented, but raw player who'd drawn the ire of coach Larry Brown with poor practice habits and has worn out his Philly welcome with an inability to mesh with resident superstar Allen Iverson.

"There are trade talks happening everyday in this league," Mashburn said. "Every player in this league has been the subject of trade rumors. It's part of the business. I can't let that stuff bother me or get to me. I can't be concerned with where I might play or what's going on in the front office. Trades happen all the time in this league."

Riley, a master motivator, has used bizarre tactics over the years to get his point across to a team. He dipped his head in a bucket of water for an extended amount of time to illustrate that winning is just as important as air. He gave his team a pair of pink women's underwear to show his displeasure with their soft play.

But never has Riley had to motivate a player by threat of trade.

"If that motivates them, I don't want them here anyway," Riley said earlier this week.

Now, this isn't to say that Riley doesn't have a genuine interest in Hughes or trading Mashburn. But since the trade rumor surfaced, Mashburn has played like a player fighting for his NBA life.

"I think he likes a little bit of drama in his game," Heat point guard Tim Hardaway said. "I guess it makes him more focused. But he's a professional. He hasn't mentioned it at all."

Focused would be the appropriate word to describe Mash since he first learned of the possible trade.

In his first game after he got word of his days in Miami possibly being numbered, Mash dropped in 28 points against the Atlanta Hawks. It was his highest scoring game this year since the fifth game of the season when he hit for 34.

The next game against Houston, he scored 17. He took some initiative in Riley's motion offense and looked for his own shot rather than relying on double teams of Alonzo Mourning or assists from Hardaway.

Tuesday night against Boston, Mash ripped the nets for eight quick points in the first quarter before heading for an early exit in Miami's 115-89 drumming of the Celtics. Mash finished with 11 points and 3 assists in 27 minutes.

So what gives? The only way Mashburn plays up to his capability is by threat? Seems like the T-word solved one of the NBA's enigmas.

Jamal Mashburn could still be dealt before the Feb. 24 trading deadline.(AP)

"I'm not sure if it lit a fire in him or not," Mourning said. "All I can say is that he's been the ultimate professional. He's still giving his all out there and put the distractions aside."

When he came to the Heat four years ago, Mashburn was thought to be one of the building blocks. With Mourning and Hardaway, Mashburn was to provide the perfect third option. Miami already had the banger ('Zo) inside, the driver (Hardaway) on the perimeter and needed a slasher (Mash) to compliment the other two components.

But more often than not, Mash has made cameos rather than become a consistent threat. He's missed considerable time each of the last four seasons with a variety of injuries, including a bone contusion in his left knee that caused him to miss 26 games last season and a fractured thumb that caused him to miss nearly half of the 1997-98 season. And when he has been able to play, Mash was a non-factor in the playoffs each of the last four seasons.

If the trade talk sparked Mash's sudden resurgence he isn't telling, and with good reason. If Riley doesn't want him now, just think about how he'll feel if Mashburn admits the rumors finally made his passion catch up to his talent.

There's only one way to tell. There's been more talk of Mashburn being traded, this time in exchange for Charlotte's Eddie Jones. And the Hughes deal is reportedly on the table awaiting Riley's acceptance.

The NBA trading deadline is Feb. 24.

We'll see if Mash's passion still exists beyond that date.