DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki is willing to hop on a plane at a moments notice. [url=http://www.cheapknicksjerseyschina.com/joakim-noa

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DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki is willing to hop on a plane at a moments notice. Joakim Noah Jersey . Mark Cuban wont have "Shark Tank" tapings that interfere with recruiting. The Dallas Mavericks and their star player and owner are ready for a run at Dwight Howard when free agency opens late Sunday night. Its been two years since the Mavericks dismantled key parts of their only championship team in the name of salary cap space. They are a summer removed from getting spurned by point guard Deron Williams -- while Cuban was on the set of his reality TV show -- in their first big pitch with money to spend. If Howard does the same thing, Dallas isnt planning to wait another summer to give Nowitzki some help so the 35-year-old German can try to remain relevant in the championship picture for his last couple of years as an elite player. "We made it clear to everybody that were exploring different options," Cuban told reporters during practice for Nowitzkis celebrity baseball game Friday. "Its just not one approach. Last year it was one-year deals because we wanted to get to this year, not just because of the big names but there were other names that we really liked. This year its not going to be about one-year deals." A second straight season with a bundle of expiring or one-year contracts cost Dallas a 12-season playoff streak when Nowitzki missed the first two months after knee surgery. At his age, he might need a headliner more than a sidekick, but he definitely needs one or the other. "If Dwight or whoever says no, weve got to have some other options," Nowitzki said. "We dont want to get too excited for one thing." First things first, though -- and thats Howard. Cuban said meetings are already set in Los Angeles with "a couple of different players." Howards future with the Los Angeles Lakers appears much murkier than point guard Chris Pauls potential return to the Los Angeles Clippers. Thats because the Clippers grabbed coach Doc Rivers from Boston in a deal that cost them a future first-round pick. Nowitzki has already reached out to Howard by phone, and knows what can happen when he has a defensive-minded centre around the basket. That was Tyson Chandler in 2011, when the Mavericks won the title but chose financial flexibility over bringing back Chandler on a long-term contract under the new labour deal. Dallas hasnt won a playoff game since, and is now remaking the roster for the third straight year. "I guess hes just weighing out his options," Nowitzki said of his conversation with Howard. "He didnt really say anything newsworthy. Im sure hes got a couple of meetings set up for whenever that might be and hopefully the Mavs are one of those teams and well go from there." If Howard doesnt return to the Lakers, Dallas, Houston and Atlanta -- his hometown -- are considered the most likely destinations. Players cant sign before July 10. The Mavericks signalled during the draft Thursday night that free agency is their first priority by trading down twice to save cap space. They ended up with the 18th pick in Miami point guard Shane Larkin, the son of Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin, and like him enough that they could keep him. With or without Larkin, the Mavericks have more work to do to clear enough room to give Howard a maximum contract in the range of $20 million for his first season. President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson says the team can get there, and that cap manoeuvring was why 2012 first-round pick Jared Cunningham, another point guard, was included in draft-night dealings. "The financial piece of it is pretty critical at this juncture," Nelson said after the draft. "Weve got to go into the off-season with the decks clear and clean." The Mavericks have just seven players on the roster, Larkin and second-round pick Ricky Ledo of Providence included, and only two starters in Nowitzki and forward Shawn Marion. Larkin and Ledo dont figure to start, so Dallas presumably is still looking for front-line players at point guard, shooting guard and centre after the experiment of Darren Collison, O.J. Mayo and Chris Kaman didnt work last season. Mayo looks like the only one of those three with a remote chance of returning, and even that is unlikely with him expected to get better offers. "Were trying to accumulate high-quality, high-energy, high-motor, skilled players to put around Dirk Nowitzki," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "Weve got to enhance his ability to do what he does and weve got to enhance the opportunity to keep him playing as long as possible because he loves to play and hes great. So thats a priority, and it will continue to be one this summer." With or without Dwight Howard. Frank Ntilikina Jersey . - Urijah (The California Kid) Faber finds himself in an unaccustomed position Saturday night at UFC 175 — on the preliminary card. Enes Kanter Jersey .com) - Carmelo Anthony tallied 31 points to help the New York Knicks continue their improved play of late with a 100-92 victory over a short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder squad. http://www.cheapknicksjerseyschina.com/ . Raonic, the No. 8 seed from Thornhill, Ont., had 18 aces in the match. He needed one hour 39 minutes to complete the victory.CHICAGO - Cubs fans got on their feet and roared, a rousing ovation for the person they hope will lead their favourite team to prominence.Joe Maddon was the man of the moment Saturday, and the reception for Chicagos new manager was every bit as warm as it was loud.Maddon is quite popular around town these days, particularly on the North Side. After all, many believe the long-suffering franchise is poised for bigger things and hes just the guy to lead them there.Bring on the expectations, he said.The Cubs did just that this off-season, signing ace Jon Lester to a six-year deal worth $155 million at the winter meetings in December. But the move that signalled they really were ready to accelerate their rebuilding project happened in late October, when they hired Maddon away from Tampa Bay.Never mind that they had already told Rick Renteria he would be back for a second season. The Cubs couldnt resist going after one of the games top managers.Now, hes got a team that features a three-time All-Star in Lester at the top of the rotations established young players such as shortstop Starlin Castro and first baseman Anthony Rizzo in the lineup and a line of promising prospects that the Cubs hope can help them end a World Series championship drought that dates to 1908.All that optimism aside, the fact remains — Chicago has five straight fifth-place finishes in the NL Central. The Cubs won just 73 games last season, although that was an improvement from 66 in 2013. And while prospects such as Javier Baez and Jorge Soler arrived at the majors, there are still big questions surrounding this team.Please hold us accountable, President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein told fans. Were trying to win. Were also continuing to try to grow the organization. That means were going to be throwing a lot of young players out there. We ask for your patience with them because its a process. But hold us accountable.Its not just the roster that has a different look.The long-awaited renovation to Wrigley Field is finally underway, a five-year, $575 million overhaul of a ballpark that turned 100 last season and the surrounding area.President of Business Operations Crane Kenney said the organization discussed playing a year or two at Miller Park in Milwauukee but decided against that. Youth Knicks Jerseys. The left- and right-field bleachers are being replaced this winter, but they wont be ready until May. The centre-field bleachers will also remain closed until then because of the construction.The team also said the left-field videoboard should be ready by April 5, but the smaller one in right wont be until May.Meanwhile, Chairman Tom Ricketts confirmed the Cubs bought several neighbouring buildings and plan to run them as rooftop businesses.He also said Sammy Sosa remains estranged from the organization and that some things have to change before he is welcomed back. Ricketts would not say exactly what those things are for the former slugger whose huge home run totals were tainted by drug suspicions.The Cubs arms are wide open for Maddon, a two-time AL Manager of the Year.He deftly guided several young Tampa Bay teams to contention in the AL East, leading the Rays to two division titles and a pennant in 2008, and his new bosses are looking for similar results.There are some differences.Instead of managing in a dreary stadium, he will be working at what he referred to as the finest cathedral in all of major league baseball — Wrigley Field. He will have to contend with more day games, which he acknowledged wont be easy for someone who is not a morning person.On Saturday, he faced a wide range of questions.One young fan wanted to know who will play third base — Luis Valbuena, Mike Olt or prized prospect Kris Bryant?Who do you want? Maddon said.Kris Bryant, the boy responded.Maddon praised Bryant as a wonderful young man who is a huge part of our future but said who plays third will be determined at spring training.Another fan asked if he would go for a shot and a beer. In fact, Maddon offered to buy a shot and a beer for everyone at his introductory press conference at a bar across from Wrigley.There was another question about his RV — the Cousin Eddie. Maddons interview with Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer happened outside the Winnebago at an RV park in Pensacola, Florida.Cousin Eddie is in Mesa, Arizona, near Maddons children and the Cubs spring training complex. He is not sure if he will have someone drive it to Chicago.Ill keep you posted on that, Maddon said. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap NBA Jerseys Wholesale NHL Jerseys Wholesale MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Wholesale NCAA Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys Wholesale Basketball Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '