Mark Cuban does not expect to have difficult contract negotiations with Dirk Nowitzki in the offseason as the Dallas Mavericks expect to keep the star forward for the rest of his career.

“We’ll just sit down and we decide,” Cuban said on Wednesday. “We’ve been doing this for 14 years, so I don’t expect the drill to change.

“I’ve delivered on what I’ve promised, so we’ve got a good relationship.”

Nowitzki is in the final year of the four-year, $80 million deal he signed in the summer of 2010. Cuban believes that breaking the bank and making the most money possible is not in Nowitzki's mindset.

“Making hundreds of millions of dollars,” Cuban said, “will do that to you.’’

The Dallas Mavericks are positioned to have salary cap room in search of superstar talent in the offseason's free agency, and NBA executives expect the organization to target Chris Bosh.

Bosh is a Dallas native and reportedly received interest from the Mavericks in the summer of 2010 as well.

Bosh has won two championships with the Miami Heat since signing with them and forming a big three along with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Mark Cuban revealed on Friday that the Dallas Mavericks received a trade inquiry from the Houston Rockets about Dirk Nowitzki, following the Rockets' signing of Dwight Howard.

“They didn’t make an official offer,” Cuban said. “They just asked if we’d trade him. About three hours after Dwight (Howard) signed. It’s just something rivals do.

“Just, would you trade Dirk?"

Cuban admitted he took offense to the Rockets pursuing Nowitzki.

“Definitely, and I don’t blame them,” he said. “That’s fine. But payback is a bitch. I kept the text. They called Donnie (Nelson) and I said: are you sure? Have them text me. And I kept the text. Now, I’ve brought it on the record just to have some fun with it now that we’ve played them twice we can help them sell tickets next time. I think they need help. Just to build the rivalry up.”

Mark Cuban believes that expansion in the NBA is on the horizon as long as it would be for the right price for the owners.

“There’s a good chance of it happening,” Cuban said, “but I have no idea when.

“I just think the price of the expansion fee has to be so high that the NBA owners think, ‘OK, we’re crazy not to do it.' What that number is, I don’t know. But I’m open to it. It just depends on the price. If it’s the price of the last one, no. I thought that was a huge mistake and I voted against it. It just depends on the price.”

Cuban said he is a firm believer that another expansion will happen before the league relocates a current franchise.

MILWAUKEE – Devin Harris is progressing in his recovery from offseason toe surgery, and he has received clearance to elevate his training to light running and jumping.

“That’s a very good sign,” Rick Carlisle said on Saturday night. “From there, it’s how he tolerates it until his next visit to the doctor, and then hopefully things can be ramped up again.”

Carlisle remains unsure exactly when Harris will return to the Dallas Mavericks’ lineup, but the organization is encouraged by his advancement through the rehabilitation stages. Harris signed a one-year contract with the Mavericks in the offseason, coming back to the team with which he spent his first four NBA seasons.

“He’s doing well,” Carlisle said. “He’s made steady progress and seems to be in really good spirits. ... He’s going to be valuable to us when he’s ready, but we’re going to make sure that he’s ready.”

Harris averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 assists in his lone year with the Atlanta Hawks last season. Harris, 30, was an All-Star guard with the Nets in 2009, with averages of 21.3 points and nearly seven assists.

Vince Carter has been suspended one game by the NBA for his elbow to the head of Steven Adams.

Carter will miss the Dallas Mavericks' game on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rick Carlisle expects the Dallas Mavericks will send Ricky Ledo to the Texas Legends at some point when the NBA D-League season starts.

The Texas Legends are the Mavericks' affiliate.

Ledo was a second round pick in the June NBA Draft.