Caron Butler
The Dallas Mavericks’ intentions are to sign unrestricted free agent Caron Butler to a long-term contract, agent Raymond Brothers said Wednesday.
During the playoffs and again after the Mavericks won the NBA championship, Brothers said Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told him the club wants to re-sign the nine-year veteran.
“After the championship was over,” Brothers said, “Donnie texted me and told me he wanted Caron to be part of the team long term.”
ESPN.com
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Dirk Nowitzki will try to help his country reach the Olympics again.
Chris Kaman, Dirk Nowitzki
The German Basketball Federation announced on Friday that both he and fellow NBA big man Chris Kaman will play for the national team at the EuroBasket in Lithuania.
Should Nowitzki and Co reach the Final, they will book a place in the London Games.
If they come in third, fourth, fifth or sixth, the German national team will be invited to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Real GM
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Jason Kidd has some time to enjoy himself after a long playoff run that resulted in the Dallas Mavericks’ first NBA title. What better way than joining the likes of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and former Stars Mike Modano and Brett Hull?
Jason Kidd
When asked of his future plans Saturday during an on-course interview with Jimmy Roberts during the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe, Kidd had this to say:
“Hopefully I got three years left. I have a year on my deal and then I would like to get past 40 and then watch the young guys play.”
Inside Hoops
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Rudy Fernandez
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported on Sunday that Real Madrid will offer a six-year deal to Rudy Fernandez worth $4.35 million annually.
Fernandez is due $2.2 million next season and would become a restricted free agent in 12-13.
The forward was traded to the Mavericks on the night of the draft.
Fernandez is expected to honor the remainder of his NBA contract and then return to Spain.
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According to sources, there has been minimal conversation between the Mavericks and Tyson Chandler about an extension since Dallas won the first championship in franchise history on June 12.
Tyson Chandler
As badly as the Mavericks want the vocal Chandler back to reprise his role as the most impactful frontcourt sidekick Dirk Nowitzki has ever played with, team officials are apparently determined to see exactly how restrictive the new salary-cap rules are after the lockout before trying to re-sign the Team USA big man.
Chandler finished third in the league last season in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting after averaging 10.1 points and 9.4 boards while playing in 74 of 82 games despite concerns about his injury history.
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According to a team source, the Knicks intend to make a run at reacquiring Kurt Thomas this summer, or whenever the expected NBA lockout ends. The veteran power forward is a free agent who spent last season with the Chicago Bulls and has made it clear that he wants to play at least one more season.
Kurt Thomas
Thomas will likely decide between the Knicks and Bulls, although he remains hopeful that his hometown Dallas Mavericks will reach out to him as well. Thomas attended all three NBA Finals games in Dallas.
“I’m working out and staying in shape,” Thomas, a Knick from 1999-2005, said over the telephone. “I definitely want to play again.”
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Rodrigue Beaubois
Rodrigue Beaubois underwent surgery for the second time on his left foot after suffering a fracture in it last August while working out for France before the World Championships.
The Mavericks said that the procedure was to address “lingering symptoms” from the injury sustained last summer.
He is expected to make a full recovery.
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The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Raymond Felton from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for guard Andre Miller, while sending Rudy Fernandez and Petteri Koponen’s NBA rights to Dallas as part of a three-team trade.
Raymond Felton
Portland also acquired the draft rights to Jordan Hamilton (taken 26th overall) and Tanguy Ngombo (taken 57th overall) from Dallas for Fernandez and Koponen.
Hamilton’s rights were then sent to Denver as part of the Felton trade and Portland is currently in discussions to trade Ngombo’s rights.
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Rudy Fernandez
The Dallas Mavericks are already gearing up to defend their title, trading both their draft picks Thursday night to get Portland Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez.
The deal was arranged before the Mavericks were on the clock with their first selection at No. 26, sources had confirmed to ESPN.com senior NBA writer Marc Stein.
“So happy to be in the best team in the nba!!!dallas!!!” Fernandez tweeted.
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