The Dallas Mavericks expect guard Eddie Jones to exercise his option and remain with the organization in 2008-09, the Dallas Morning News is reporting.

Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban said that his team had opportunities to move up in Thursday's draft but declined because of the steep price that some teams were placing on their assets, the Dallas Morning News is reporting.

"One of the teams drafting very high in the second round called and told us we could have their pick for $2 million and a second-rounder," Cuban said Saturday.

"It was outrageous. A team offered us half-a-million for [pick] 51, and we turned it down. People were asking, 'Why aren't you buying up?' We turned down half-a-million because we really, really like Shan."

The Mavericks selected Shan Foster with the 51st pick.

According to the Chicago Tribune, former Bobcats' coach Bernie Bickerstaff is believed to be close to finalizing a deal to become an assistant on  Vinny Del Negro's staff in Chicago.

The Bulls also hope to add former Lakers' coach Del Harris, whose negotiations have hit minor snags.

Ron Artest will exercise his Kings' option to become a free agent, according to Pete Vecsey of the New York Post.

He also reports that the Lakers, Spurs, and Mavericks are the teams that will be most interested in him.

The Dallas Mavericks are planning on offer their full mid-level exception to Nets' free agent DeSagana Diop, the Dallas Morning News is reporting.

Diop was with the Mavs for the last three seasons before being shipped to New Jersey in the Jason Kidd trade.

Teams cannot negotiate with free agents until July 1, and contracts cannot be signed until July 8.

Team USA have started to extend formal invites to players to be part of the American Olympic basketball team, with Jason Kidd receiving a call to let him know that he has made it, the Dallas Morning-News is reporting.

Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of USA Basketball, would not disclose the makeup of the team until it's announced, but Colangelo spoke highly of Kidd's credentials.

"Jason is a great candidate to be one of the 12 because he is a leader; he is the ultimate distributor at the point guard position; and he has great relationships with many of the guys who will be on this team," Colangelo said. "He's undefeated in international play in his career."

"If you had a ledger sheet and put down the plusses and minuses, it's pretty overwhelming on the plus side."

A dispute over money that Don Nelson believes the Mavericks owe him from the previous ownership looks as though it will be to arbitration after an attempt to settle the situation on Monday failed, the Dallas Morning-News is reporting.

"We're not sure what Cuban's legal reasons are going to be as to why he doesn't have to pay an employee wages he's already earned," said John O'Connor, Nelson's attorney. "It's clearly not going to settle and is headed to arbitration."

Asked what Cuban's basis is for fighting in court, O'Connor said, "In this instance, I can't figure out what it is."

The Mavericks don't have a first round pick in this month's draft but they are looking to acquire one, according to The Dallas Morning News.

"I don't think there's any doubt that we'll try," new coach Rick Carlisle said. "But first-round picks this time of year, everybody gets enamored with them. Unless they have multiples, they're not that interested in giving them up. But you know Mark [Cuban] is going to be aggressive."

Dallas is also looking to retain free agent Devean George.

"I like him as a player," Carlisle said. Re-signing George "is certainly something we're going to aggressively explore. He can do some things that we need."

The Heat, Mavericks, and Jazz could target soon-to-be free agent Keyon Dooling this summer, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Magic GM Otis Smith, however, is still holding out hope that the team will be able to retain the guard.

"I'm sure there will be other teams looking at him closely this summer," said Smith. "We like him. We'd like to keep him, but that said, he is unrestricted. You like a guy but at what number?"

Dooling, an eight-year veteran, made $3.6 million last season.

"I can't speculate on what might happen," Dooling said. "But there is definitely interest out there. When a team has success like we did, your value goes up."

The Heat and Mavericks will share a Development League affiliation next season with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds.

The Iowa Energy had been the Heat's affiliate last season before a round of D-League expansion led to the latest shuffle. The Heat's initial D-League affiliate was the now-defunct Fort Myers franchise.