CLEAMONS OVERSEES SHAKEUP.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

Dallas Mavericks coach Jim Cleamons was just getting used to the three new players acquired Friday from Miami.

Then Tuesday came and new general manager Don Nelson traded five players to the New Jersey Nets. Now, the longest tenured Mavericks player is rookie Samaki Walker, who was forced to play in Tuesday night's game with the Clippers so the Mavericks would have the NBA-limit eight players in uniform.

None of the four players acquired from New Jersey (Khalid Reeves, Shawn Bradley, former USC guard Robert Pack and former UCLA star Ed O'Bannon) were present for the game, leaving Clemons guessing as to his team's future makeup.

``I don't know how ready they'll be,'' Cleamons said. ``Let me pull out my crystal ball. Depending on how hard they're willing to work, we'll see how far we progress.''

The players Dallas acquired come with some baggage other than their suitcases. O'Bannon needed a new environment after 1-1/2 disappointing years in New Jersey, Bradley is still a 7-foot-6 project, Pack is explosive but erratic and Reeves lost his starting job to Nets rookie Kerry Kittles.

Cleamons has already dealt with a plethora of obstacles this season. Jason Kidd and Jim Jackson continued their feud into the season, Jamal Mashburn was hurt and reserve Chris Gatling complained about not being pushed for the All-Star team.

Kidd, traded to Phoenix, was one of the first to go. Nelson arrived from a year-exile in Hawaii last week to dump six more players, including Gatling, Sam Cassell, Eric Montross and George McCloud.

``In the Boy Scouts, the motto is be prepared,'' Cleamons said. ``I hope all the years I've been coaching can prepare me for this.''