PLAYER NEWS: --F Dirk Nowitzki said he's OK with Mavs owner Mark Cuban telling him not to play for Germany at next month's European Championships in Poland. Nowitzki said he and Cuban agreed to a plan that he would take time off from international play if Germany qualified for the 2008 Olympics. Germany qualified and now Nowitzki is sticking to the bargain, he told espn.com. "I'm not mad at Cubes at all," Nowitzki said. "He's been great to me these last 10, 11 years. He always let me chase my dream. And we always agreed that if I made the Olympics, it would be (time) to take a break."
--F James Singleton remains a free agent. The Mavs like Singleton's versatility as a power forward who can also play small forward, or if pressed, a little center when the Mavs go small. The problem is the Mavs have 17 players currently on the roster. Greg Buckner is expected to be released, but that would still put them over the maximum 15. In addition, the Mavs acquired C Nathan Jawai and F Kris Humphries from Toronto in the Shawn Marion deal. Singleton has continued to make appearances at Mavs community events so it's apparent they'd like to work out a deal, if possible.
--F Ahmad Nivins, the Mavs' second-round pick (56th overall) is going to play in Spain. He'll suit up for Manresa in the ACB League, the same league that produced Ricky Rubio, Minnesota's fifth overall pick in the draft. Dallas retains the rights to Nivins, the player of the year in the Atlantic 10 Conference last season. He averaged 19.2 points and 11.7 rebounds. He chose to play overseas because the Mavs are loaded at forward this season. Nivins will get some professional seasoning and could join the Mavs for the 2010-11 season.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Josh Howard (left ankle/wrist surgery) will continue to rehab with the Mavs and is expected to be at full strength for the start of training camp.
DRAFT PICKS:
Rodrigue Beaubois, G, 6-2, France (first round) -- Mavs like his extraordinary wing span, quickness and leaping ability, but he's more a piece for the future than a title run next season.
Nick Calathes, G, 6-5, Florida State (second round) -- Taken by Minnesota at No. 45 and then acquired by the Mavs, who have been fans for some time. He could gain seasoning next year in Greece.
Ahmad Nivins, F, 6-9, St. Joseph's (second round) -- Taken with the 56th pick, the Mavs hope his experience as a four-year college player will translate into immediate spot help on the blocks.
