NOTES : RODMAN'S PAY DISPUTE GOES TO ARBITRATOR.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

NBA commissioner David Stern will decide early next week whether Dennis Rodman can return to the Chicago Bulls after the All-Star break.

Stern and Rodman met Friday at the NBA offices, and decided an arbitrator will rule on whether Rodman can go to arbitration in attempt to get back more than $1.1 million in pay lost during his suspension.

``It was a positive meeting,'' NBA union head Bill Hunter said. ``We were trying to get some resolution. I had been insisting on arbitration and had been threatening to go to court to get an arbitrator appointed.''

Rodman was suspended for at least 11 games without pay for kicking courtside cameraman Eugene Amos in Minneapolis on Jan. 15, fined $25,000 and ordered to undergo counseling.

``The meeting was constructive,'' Stern said.

Gourdine wins decision: Simon Gourdine, fired as executive director of the NBA players' union, was awarded $883,738 plus interest by a panel of three arbitrators.

Gourdine replaced Charles Grantham as head of the union prior to labor negotiations that concluded in September 1995. In negotiating the deal, Gourdine fought off a challenge from top agents representing star players, who were pushing for a more aggressive negotiating stance.

The union's board then agreed to a two-year contract extension for Gourdine starting on Nov. 1, 1995, calling for salaries of $500,000 the first year and $600,000 the second year. Just two weeks after the extension was announced in January 1996, players unhappy with the way Gourdine led negotiations forced a vote on the contract, and the union's executive board reversed course and fired him.

Mavs talk to Nelson: The Dallas Mavericks contacted former NBA coach and executive Don Nelson about filling their vacant general manager's job.

Mavericks minority owner Frank Zaccanelli flew to Maui this week to interview Nelson at his Hawaii home, a team spokesman said. Messages left on Nelson's answering machine weren't returned.

The Mavericks have been without a general manager since Keith Grant resigned Oct. 17.