Dallas ? In pursuit of turning a negative into a positive, the Dallas Mavericks are ready to start sorting out the possibilities in the wake of Raef LaFrentz’s ankle injury.

While a definitive answer for how long the 6-foot-11 center/forward from Kansas University will be out should come today, the Mavericks are bracing for the worst which could be several weeks without LaFrentz.

While he is not one of the Big Three, it would be foolish of the Mavericks to think they won’t feel the impact of losing one of their most versatile players and second-leading rebounder from last season.

“It’s going to be a test for us,” assistant coach Donnie Nelson said Sunday. “It’s unsettling is what it is. For the vast majority of teams out there, it would be a big setback.”

The Mavericks aren’t most teams, however. They are blessed with considerable depth, which they will rely on heavily beginning tonight against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center.

Nelson, along with his father and head coach Don Nelson, will be back on the sideline after serving two-game suspensions.

The elder Nelson has built a career by adjusting lineups and creating matchup problems. This would seem to be a chance for him to do what he does best.

If it is, Nelson isn’t tipping his hand.

“We’ll put another guy in there,” he said. “We’ll try not to play with four players on the floor.”

His assistant coach/son was considerably more enlightening.

“Nellie is creative as anybody as far as getting around these problems,” Nelson said of his father. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for someone else on the front line to step up. There are plenty of candidates, starting with Shawn (Bradley) and Eduardo (Najera). I think you can look to extend some of their minutes.

“And we’re comfortable playing (Evan) Eschmeyer, and there are some creative small-ball lineups that could involve just about anybody off the bench.”

In other words, the Nelsons will do what they do best mix and match in a time of necessity. And while Najera and Bradley are off to good starts early in the season, it’s probable Walt Williams also will see increased duty.

“When you lose a shooter and Raef was very good at stretching the defense you like to replace him with a shooter for at least part of the time,” Donnie Nelson said. “In our system of drawing (the defense) and kicking (the ball to an open man), Raef was one of our most versatile guys. And there will be added emphasis on shooting for the guys filling in.”

“Everybody is going to do what it takes to hold the fort down until he comes back,” Bradley said. “He’ll be sorely missed. But we have to do whatever it takes while he’s gone.”