Derek Fisher signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder this week a few months after leaving the Dallas Mavericks citing an injured knee and desire to be with his family in California.

“He and Mark (Cuban) had an agreement when he came here that he would come and if things got to where he needed to leave for family reasons, he would do that,” Rick Carlisle said. “That’s what he said was the situation. I’m going to take him at his word.

“Look, he’s one of those guys who have been around this league for a long time. He’s won a lot of rings. My opinion is he’s earned the right to do what’s best for him.

“If Oklahoma City’s a good situation for him, then that’s what he should do. We’ve got to carry on. We can’t be concerned about things like that.”

A league source told Jeff Caplan of NBA.com that the Mavericks' front office was "agitated" by Fisher's decision.

Mark Cuban insists comments he made last week about the Los Angeles Lakers considering use of their amnesty clause on Kobe Bryant were hypothetical.

"Any time you try to explain the CBA, it's hard to do without giving an example," he said. "Whenever the commissioner or anybody talks about the CBA, they talk about Dallas and Tyson Chandler or Dallas and Dirk or whatever. You've got to use examples.

"I was clear saying it was hypothetical and I didn't expect it to be that way, but it was a good example because they have the highest payroll and the highest-paid player in the league. That's the end of the story."

Mark Cuban suggested that the Los Angeles Lakers may have to consider using their amnesty provision on Kobe Bryant this offseason.

Bryant is owed $30.4 million for the 13-14 season, but continues to play at a high All-Star level.

"If you look at their payroll, even if Dwight (Howard) comes back, you’ve got to ask the question: Should they amnesty Kobe?"

Cuban said he wouldn't consider doing a similar move on Dirk Nowitzki. The Dallas Mavericks have made several cost-saving moves in recent offseasons, such as their decision not to re-sign Tyson Chandler. 

"It’s the same reason I wouldn’t get rid of Dirk (Nowitzki). I’ll take a hit for a season rather than get rid of Dirk. That’s just it. I’ve made that commitment to him over the years and he’s returned that commitment. Maybe that’s selfish, but that’s just the way it is."

The Lakers will have the highest luxury tax bill in the NBA for the 12-13 NBA season.

If the Lakers use their amnesty provision, it will more likely be on Metta World Peace and his $7.7 million salary.

Update: Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Lakers will not file a complaint against Cuban for his comments. The NBA, however, is reviewing the matter and can fine him for publicly speaking about the status of another team's player.

The Atlanta Hawks have traded Anthony Morrow to the Dallas Mavericks for Dahntay Jones.

Morrow was acquired last offseason by the Hawks for Joe Johnson.

Dirk Nowitzki doesn’t expect the Dallas Mavericks to make a significant trade before the deadline.

“The luxury tax is so brutal now, it’s going to double and triple, I think not a lot of teams at this point want money back,” Nowitzki said after the Mavericks’ home victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. “That’s just the way it is. I think there’s going to be a couple of big-market teams, like Brooklyn, which has money, and New York and L.A. with the TV deals, they don’t really care much (about luxury tax penalties).”

So in Nowitzki’s assessment, the NBA has three big-spending teams and the Mavericks are one of the “other” 27 franchises.

“All the other teams have got to find a way to have good teams, right around the salary cap, a little over, but below the luxury tax,” Nowitzki said. “That’s the way it’s going to be. No owner is just going to write checks left and right besides those three big markets.”

The Washington Wizards have held trade talks involving Jordan Crawford with both the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards.

Crawford's value to the Wizards has decreased with the addition of Bradley Beal.

Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Celtics would send Fab Melo to Washington for Crawford.

The Dallas Mavericks are interested in trading with Milwaukee Bucks for Beno Udrih.

The Mavericks are on the market for point guard help.

The Bucks are likely to keep Udrih until the approach of the deadline.

The NBA is beginning to see the true impact of its new collective bargaining agreement at the deadline.

Teams have been reluctant to add long-term money via trade in anticipation of the punitive 'repeater tax'.

The Thunder and Grizzlies have traded core members of their team in recent months in deals that were largely made for financial reasons.

Mark Cuban had long been one of the NBA's biggest spenders since becoming owner of the Mavericks, but was one of the first to change strategies in light of the new CBA.

Eric Gordon has been mentioned in trade rumors, though a source says the odds of the New Orleans Hornets actually agreeing to a deal is less than 10 percent.

The Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors are amongst the teams that have expressed interest in Gordon.

Both the Mavericks and Rockets are also saving their cap space for Dwight Howard.

Brandon Jennings has "irreconcilable differences" with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to one source. 

Jennings is frustrated that he was unable to come to terms with the Bucks on a long-term extension, according to sources.

Jennings is also interested in playing in a bigger market.

The Bucks would be able to match any offer sheet Jennings signs this offseason should they not trade him.

Jennings recently changed agents and either wants to be traded before the deadline, or to sign an offer sheet with a rival team in the summer that is difficult for the Bucks to match.

The Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks are viewed as the three most likely destinations for Jennings.

Jennings refuted the report in comments to ESPN's Chris Broussard.

"That is not true," said Jennings. "That stuff never came out of my mouth."