Mavericks to meet with Nowitzki, Haywood on Thursday

Dirk Nowitzki(notes) may be an unrestricted free agent and free of the Dallas Mavericks for the first time in his 12-year career, but that doesn't mean he's leaving town.

Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears reports that Mavs president Donnie Nelson will make the 7-footer an offer Thursday.

"I'm going to show up on his doorstep, get on one knee and hope he says, ‘I do,'" Nelson said. "We're hopeful and optimistic he will re-sign."

A source close to the situation told Spears: "They're going through all the hoops, but I'd be shocked if he went anywhere else. He's going to get [a new contract] done before they change the rules and structure of the collective bargaining agreement."

Spears also reports that Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is meeting with free-agent center Brendan Haywood(notes) in Charlotte, N.C., in the hopes of re-signing him. The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons also are interested in Haywood's services, Spears notes.

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Cuban: Lebron Could be on his way to the BIG D!!!!

Mark Cuban is no stranger to bold statements, and the Dallas Mavericks owner has expressed his interest in acquiring soon-to-be free agent LeBron James(notes).

The outspoken billionaire, in an interview this week with CNNMoney.com, said “anybody” would be interested in James. Cuban said it would be tough to sign the two-time defending league MVP in free agency, but a sign-and-trade deal with Cleveland is something he would look at.

If James does not reach a deal with the Cavaliers by July 1, he would become an unrestricted free agent.

Cuban’s remarks could fall under the league’s tampering rules. NBA rules state that a “no comment” is the proper response when the media asks about pending free agents before July 1.