Steve Nash says he signed a free-agent contract with the Phoenix Suns because they wanted him more than Dallas.

?For the whole time I just thought I was coming back to Dallas,? said Nash.

?To come back and within 24 hours to be going to Phoenix was a bit of a shock. It was bittersweet.?

?I thought they'd come a lot closer than they did?

?To me it was like they never really had any aspirations of keeping me.?

In the wake of the mass exodus going on in New Jersey, vacationing point guard Jason Kidd has let it be known through the grapevine that he'd have no problem with the Nets exiling him to the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs or Dallas Mavericks. The Nets, opting not to match the Denver Nuggets' massive offer to Kenyon Martin, are in a "re-loading" stage, also having jettisoned longtime starting shooting guard Kerry Kittles in a cap-cutting trade to the Los Angeles Clippers and reportedly asking injured center Alonzo Mourning to shelve any idea of a return.

The Spurs aren't expected to have the financial flexibility to trade for Kidd, who nearly signed outright with the club last summer as a free agent. New deals for forward Tim Duncan, guards Brent Barry and Manu Ginobili and center Rasho Nesterovic make money tough to come by.

The Lakers don't appear interested in taking on Kidd's contract, which would impair their cap for many more years when coupled with the contract Kobe Bryant just signed.

Kidd's best bet may be the Mavericks, where he started his career, but owner Mark Cuban's hesitancy to top incumbent Steve Nash's $36 million offer from the Phoenix Suns makes absorbing the five years and $90 million left owed Kidd, recovering from knee surgery, a long shot.

The Dallas Mavericks signed 7-5 Russian center Pavel Podkolzin today. Podkolzine was selected #21 in the draft by the Utah Jazz and later traded to the Mavericks.

'A 19-year-old Russian originally was an early entry candidate for the 2003 draft before withdrawing his name. Last season, he appeared in 22 games for Varese in Italy's top league and averaged 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds.'

'Podkolzin played in six games in the Mavericks' summer league, averaging 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes.'

Vince Carter remains keen on bolting from Canada and Mark Cuban and company are still reportedly considering scenarios to acquire the former North Carolina star.  In what should be no surprise to anyone, newly acquired players from Washington, Jerry Stackhouse and Christian Laettner are available.

The Mavericks 7-5 rookie center Pavel Podkolzine could sign his rookie contract as early as Tuesday.

Podkolzine, who was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 21st overall selection in the June 24th Draft, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks that same night for a future first-round pick.

His deal will pay him $2.85 million over three years with the Mavericks holding a $1.62 million option for a fourth season.

Calvin Booth is returning to Dallas for a second stint as the Mavericks traded forward Danny Fortson to the Seattle Supersonics to re-acquire Booth on Monday.

Booth left the team during the summer of 2001 when Seattle offered him a contract slightly above the Mid-Level Exception which Dallas couldn't match.

"It came down to a business decision. It wasn't a feeling that I wanted to get out," Booth said Monday night. "I definitely had had a good experience there."

He is excited to be back after three seasons.

"I'm definitely excited to be coming back," Booth said. "I had a nice experience [in Dallas] before, and they have a very good team. I'm going down there with the idea of competing for the starting position. I know Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley and Antoine Walker are going to get their minutes, but I also know there are spots up for grabs and the lineup is flexible."

Antoine Walker seems himself playing for the Knicks next season.

After a conversation with fellow Chicago native Isiah Thomas, Walker said he believes he'll eventually wind up playing in New York this season.

"I think I'm going to be in a Knick uniform," said Walker. "That's my prediction, but we'll wait and see."

Walker added, "I've got to go. There's too many negative things with the situation in Dallas."

For a Knick deal to work, it's believed that the Mavericks would need to bring in a third team.  Mark Cuban wanted to figure out a way to get Vince Carter to Dallas but was rebuffed by Toronto.

Kurt Thomas would likely wind up in Dallas in such a scenario, and Dikembe Mutombo would be important to the deal because of his expiring contract.

Meanwhile, Jamal Crawford's agent, Aaron Goodwin, said Thomas and Bulls GM John Paxson can finish off a sign-and-trade deal for Crawford if the two sides sit down and talk.

"I think if they can get together, they can make something happen," Goodwin said.

If the offers for Antoine Walker remain sub-par, the Mavericks won't pull the trigger on a deal.

Mavs' president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said the club is not opposed to starting training camp with the 6-9 forward still with the team.

"We're getting a lot of calls," Nelson said. "I think people realize that Walk has value, not only because of his ability but because he's going into the last year of his contract. Wherever he plays, he's going to have a big season. But there's nothing close right now."

The Mavericks are believed to have interest in Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert and/or Willie Green (though more players would have to be included to make the deal work).  Glenn Robinson is on the block in Philadelphia, but the Mavericks are not too high on acquiring Big Dog.

The Knicks and Isiah Thomas also covet Walker and may have some pieces to make a deal work, especially through a multi-team deal.

We've all heard the rumors surrounding the Maverick's Antoine Walker, but until now he hadn't heard them directly from him.

Walker has had enough.  He wants out of Dallas and wouldn't mind playing for the Knicks or the Sixers - two teams in the media most with various potential trade combinations - with New York being where he believes he'll end up.

"I've got to go, but obviously I'm under contract, so they don't have to move me,'' Walker said.

"I don't know if the grass is greener for me elsewhere, but there had been too many negative things with the situation in Dallas. They left me unprotected [in the expansion draft] and all the trade talks and they made moves like Steve [Nash] going the other way [signing with Phoenix].''

"I think I'm going to be in a Knick uniform. That's my prediction but we'll wait and see,'' Walker told ESPN.com Friday.

According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram the Orlando Magic and the Dallas Mavericks are discussing a potential deal which would see young forward Drew Gooden move to Texas in exchange for either Jerry Stackhouse or Christian Laettner, both of whom arrived via the draft night deal with the Washington Wizards, as part of a multiplayer deal.

Laettner, who is in the last year of his contract, would provide the Magic with cap relief once the season is over while Jerry Stackhouse would add additional scoring help for new star Steve Francis.

It is speculated that either deal may need to include Magic center Andrew Declercq for it to work under league rules.

The Mavericks have also had discussions with the Celtics about a potential sign and trade for center Chris Mihm, but a deal is unlikely due to salaries.