During Wednesday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mavs' owner Mark Cuban said that the team is not pursuing a trade for the Los Angeles Lakers star.

"We haven't talked to them," Cuban told ESPN's Lisa Salters during a sideline interview. "It's not gonna happen. We've got a great squad. We like it."

Cuban was asked if the team has any interest at all in Bryant.

"We're always looking for bargains, but I don't think they're going to give us any bargains," he said.

According to ESPN's Ric Bucher the Lakers are now actively looking to move the nine-time All-Star.

To make room for Juwan Howard, the Mavericks waived center DJ Mbenga.

Mbenga averaged 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds in 79 games the past three seasons for the Mavericks. The 7-footer played only 21 games last season before tearing ligaments in his right knee Feb. 7. He played in only one preseason game, and had five rebounds and two blocked shots in 12 minutes.

"DJ needs an opportunity to play and develop," Nelson said in a story on the team's Web site. "We're hopeful that with playing time, whether it's in the NBA or Europe, he'll be able to join our team in the future."

The Mavericks also exercised a third year contract option on guard Maurice Ager. Selected by the Mavericks in the first round (28th overall pick) of the 2006 NBA Draft, Ager averaged 2.2 points last season.

The Mavericks picked up some much-needed frontline help by agreeing to terms with free agent Juwan Howard today. The contract can?t be completed until Howard clears waivers tomorrow

Howard (6-9, 253) hit the open market after Minnesota bought out his contract and should join the Mavs on the season-opening two-game road trip, perhaps as early as Wednesday night at Cleveland. The power forward has averaged 16.1 points and 7.1 rebounds over his 12-year career, including a stint in Dallas over parts of two seasons (2000-01 and ?01-02).

?Juwan was too big of an opportunity to pass up,? president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told mavs.com. ?Juwan is a winner, he?s a leader and he knows the Maverick way.

?He can swing from the ?4? to ?5,? so it gives us tremendous flexibility on the frontline.?

Dallas Mavericks' forward Josh Howard was cleared to practice Monday, six days after he sprained his left wrist in a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls.

Doctors removed the cast from his wrist. He now wears a removable splint.

Howard will travel with the Mavericks on their upcoming road trip. Their season opener is Wednesday at Cleveland, and they play again Friday at Atlanta.

But Howard will miss both games because of his suspension for an altercation with Sacramento center Brad Miller in an earlier preseason game. Howard hit Miller in the back of the neck with a forearm after Miller shoved Mavericks' guard Devin Harris to the ground.

The Timberwolves negotiated on Saturday to buy out the contract of veteran forward Juwan Howard, a move that once finalized will get them to their 15-player roster limit by Monday's 5 p.m. deadline.

The Wolves also are expected to release Wayne Simien -- acquired with Antoine Walker and Michael Doleac in Wednesday's trade with Miami -- by Monday. Simien is the only one of those three players who was told not to report to the team.

"We've finally gotten down to a number," said Wolves coach Randy Wittman, who added that another roster move always could happen but that he doesn't expect one. "We can move forward now."

Howard hugged teammates goodbye after Friday's exhibition finale at Target Center and did not attend the Wolves' public scrimmage there on Saturday evening.

On Friday, newly acquired Antoine Walker -- who, like Howard, was a former Chicago schoolboy star -- joined the Wolves. By Saturday, the teammate he knew longest was gone.

"I'm disappointed," said Walker, who, at age 31, is three years younger than Howard. "I was looking forward to it. Me and Juwan grew up as kids together. He was in high school when I was in elementary school. He was a big star in Chicago. I know he's thinking of trying to play for a championship, so hopefully best of luck to him."

Expect him to choose to play for a list of teams such as Boston, where he'd finally get a chance to play with Garnett, Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio, Miami and Phoenix.

Mavs' owner Mark Cuban was in New York on Thursday for the NBA's owners meetings, where Kobe Bryant trade talk figured to be the talk of the town.

Cuban, however, said Thursday by e-mail that he has not discussed the Los Angeles Lakers' disgruntled star with team owner Jerry Buss. "Nothing new to talk about," Cuban wrote.

The Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday waived forward Darvin Ham and guard Jared Newson from their preseason roster.

Forward Josh Howard had an MRI performed on his left wrist this morning.  The results revealed a moderate sprain. Howard will be re-evaluated in about a week.  The injury occurred in last night?s game against the Chicago Bulls.

Howard was the team?s leading scorer in the preseason averaging 16.1 points a game while shooting 55.1% from the field.  He also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 20.1 minutes in seven games.

As usual, Monday's performances were summarized. Mark set out to entertain but didn't impress the judges. Jane was thrilled to be compared to Edyta, who is only in her 20's. Cameron was pleased with the intense chemistry that he had with Edyta. Jennie joked that while she might not have Bruno's support, Len was on her side. Sabrina's hot and heavy Rumba earned her another ten. Helio had a setback but tried to laugh off Len's dentist comment. Maks dorked out about getting to meet the Spice Girls. Marie's collapse was saved for last, and additional footage from during the commercial break was shown. Not cool. In an interview, Marie explained that she occasionally gets winded and passes out in response to stress. She was an amazingly good sport about all of it. I saw a promo for Entertainment Tonight, and they actually made her watch it again on-camera. Morbid much?

The leaderboard read as follows: Marie Osmond and Mark Cuban were tied for 7th, with 21 points; Helio Castroneves was in 6th place, with 23 points (his lowest score so far); Jennie Garth came in 5th, with 25; Cameron Mathison and Jane Seymour tied for 3rd, with 26 points; Sabrina Bryan was a close second, with 28 points; finally, Melanie Brown was in the lead (for the first time ever) with 29.