NBA - Sports Rumors - Dallas Mavericks

The New York Daily News reports representatives of the New York Knicks will meet Wednesday with free agent and former Dallas Mavericks' guard Jason Kidd(notes).

A league source told the Daily News Monday night that Kidd is scheduled to sit down with Knicks president Donnie Walsh and head coach Mike D'Antoni early Wednesday. Kidd said in January that he would strongly consider signing with the Knicks.

Kidd, who helped the Nets reach back-to-back NBA Finals before being traded to Dallas two years ago, is giving the Mavericks the first chance to re-sign him. The future Hall of Fame point guard will speak with Dallas officials before he talks to the Knicks. It is believed that Kidd also will talk to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to the Daily News.

The Knicks could sign Kidd to the mid-level exception or try to negotiate a sign-and-trade with Dallas. Since the Mavs traded Devin Harris(notes) two seasons ago for Kidd, Dallas figures to make a strong push to re-sign Kidd or at least get compensation for having mortgaged its future.

Source: New York Daily News

While the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets have made moves to improve themselves to contend with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks have been quiet. However, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said the team has been working behind the scenes.

"Wait," said Nelson. "One shouldn't confuse silence with inactivity. We're prepared for a very active summer."

Just because Vince Carter(notes), Richard Jefferson(notes) and Shaquille O'Neal(notes) have moved to contending teams doesn't mean the Mavericks won't be able to find just as much of a helper, according to the Dallas Morning News.

It will almost certainly have to be a trade of some sort, with Stackhouse's $7 million contract, which can be bought out for $2 million, and Erick Dampier's(notes) expiring $11 million deal as the primary trade chips.

As far as straight free agency goes, this summer will not be the frenzy it's going to be in 2010. But can the Mavericks afford to wait a full year to make their big play for help for Dirk Nowitzki(notes)?

Source: Dallas Morning News

For the first time in his career as the man directing basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson is in the spotlight on draft day, according to the Dallas Morning News.

The Morning News wrote: This is the off-season Nelson either makes enough moves to help the Mavs become an elite team in the Western Conference again or becomes known as the guy in charge when they descended into NBA irrelevance. Right now, we all know the Mavs aren't good enough to compete against the conference's best team. They're not even close.

According to the Morning News, the Mavs don't have enough shooters to take pressure off Dirk Nowitzki(notes), and they don't have enough quality defensive players to win games when they struggle offensively.

Nelson has to fix those flaws.

Source: Dallas Morning News