Brendan Haywood has meetings scheduled with the Mavericks, Cavaliers and Heat on Thursday, a league source said. Haywood will conduct the meetings in Charlotte, NC.

The Nuggets, Knicks, Bulls and Raptors also have interest, the source said.

Brian Windhorst reports that a double sign-and-trade involving Shaquille O'Neal could lead Haywood to Cleveland.

Just as Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson was set to board a plane to Germany, he was informed that Dirk Nowitzki is headed back to the United States as free agency approaches.

"Mavs announce that team prez Donnie Nelson, just before boarding flight to Germany, informed Dirk now flying back to States on Thursday," ESPN's Marc Stein wrote on his Twitter page.

Nowitzki plans to be back in the United States on Thursday, when free agency begins.

Some believe that his decision to return from Germany could be a disadvantage for Dallas as the All-Star forward might be planning to meet with other teams.

The Mavericks inquired about the availability of Al Jefferson prior to last week's NBA draft, according to sources close to the situation.

Sources with knowledge of the Mavericks' thinking, however, told ESPNDallas.com that Jefferson is a "down the list" target for the team who is unlikely to be pursued further until after Dallas makes a series of sign-and-trade bids for top free agents.

Mavericks president Donnie Nelson plans to be in Germany when free agency starts to show Dirk Nowitzki how sincere the team is about re-signing him.

Nowitzki recently faxed the Mavericks official paperwork regarding his decision to opt out of the final year of his contract.

Nelson says retaining Nowitzki "is our No. 1 priority -- period."

Dirk Nowitzki has sent official notification to the Mavericks that he is opting out of the final year of his contract, according to sources.

Nowitzki faxed an official opt-out letter to Dallas and also mailed a signed copy to the team from Germany before Wednesday's opt-out deadline.

The move had been expected since a report in mid-May that Nowitzki planned to hit the free agent market.

He was scheduled to make $21.5 million next season and is eligible to receive a four-year, $96 million deal from the Mavericks.

The Cavaliers have no interest in being a part of a sign-and-trade with LeBron James, according to ESPN's Ric Bucher.

The report could mean that the Mavericks are out of the race to land James before he even hits the market.

Dallas is over the salary cap, which means a sign-and-trade is their only chance of acquiring the superstar.

The Mavericks will explore a sign-and-trade deal for Joe Johnson, sources tell Yahoo!

Dallas is unlikely to seriously pursue LeBron James and Johnson has become a realistic target.

Johnson might prefer a sign-and-trade with Dallas over signing outright with the Knicks or Bulls, sources said.

?New York is far from his first option,? one source with knowledge of Johnson?s thinking said.

Sources believe he?s far less likely to sign with a team under the cap and cost himself millions than having his agent Arn Tellem aggressively pursue a sign-and-trade.

Johnson also wants to receive the sixth year of a new contract.

The Mavericks were hoping they'd be able to sign Dirk Nowitzki to a contract extension, but he'll hit the free agent market instead.

A source confirmed to the Dallas Morning News that a extension between the two sides is now unlikely.

Nowitzki said last month that he would exercise his early termination option and explore free agency for the first time.

He was scheduled to make $21.5 million next season.

The Mavericks were hoping to be able to sign Dirk Nowitzki to a contract extension, but that is now unlikely according to a source.

Nowitzki said last month that he would exercise his early termination option and explore free agency.

When Nowitzki opts out, he will be leaving $21.5 million on the table. A new deal could start at a lower number, but would provide more security by stretching over four years.

The Mavericks believe they are in the race to land LeBron James when he becomes a free agent on July 1, but a source told ESPN's Marc Stein that they are no more than a "dark, dark horse" in the sweepstakes.

Dallas has a first objective of re-signing Dirk Nowitzki when free agency begins at midnight on July 1.

The Mavericks would have to land James via sign-and-trade with the Cavaliers.