The Dallas Mavericks have explored center options to add depth in their frontcourt.

Jermaine O'Neal has reportedly received interest from the Mavericks but is undecided on his playing future.

“I don’t know if he wants to come here," Mark Cuban said. "(There are) a lot of decisions to be made before then.”

“When we get the right guy, we’ll get the right guy. No rush.”

Charlie Villanueva signed with the Dallas Mavericks to attend training camp on a non-guaranteed deal and earned a roster spot.

The Mavericks have praised Villanueva's readiness and shooting in limited minutes. He has averaged 11.3 points in 13.9 minutes over the last four games.

“All he needs is minutes. He can fill it up,” Chandler Parsons said. “He can really shoot the ball, probably our best shooter on the roster. He just has a knack for scoring and we need that.” 

Added Dirk Nowitzki: “He’s got a flamethrower out there, and it’s always ready to roll. He’s been fun to watch.”

"Teams can’t lose him or leave him. If they do, he makes them pay for it," Tyson Chandler said.

The Dallas Mavericks have assigned Ricky Ledo and Dwight Powell to the Texas Legends, the team’s NBA Development League affiliate.

The assignments are the 81st and 82nd of the 2014-15 campaign and Ledo and Powell are two of 33 NBA players to have been assigned to the NBA D-League this season.

Josh Smith has agreed to sign with the Houston Rockets.

Smith was waived this week by the Detroit Pistons.

Smith has been promised a spot in the starting lineup and now has the opportunity to play beside former AAU teammate Dwight Howard. Smith only would consider clubs offering a starting spot, which limited his options to the Rockets and Miami Heat

Smith will likely sign a deal with the Rockets for the biannual exception of $2 million once he clears waivers at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday. 

The Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings also had interest in Smith.

Donnie Nelson is confident of the Dallas Mavericks' chances of signing either Jermaine O'Neal or Josh Smith.

The Mavericks need to improve their frontcourt depth after their trade of Brandan Wright in the deal for Rajon Rondo.

"I feel pretty good that we'll be able to come to terms with one," Nelson said Tuesday on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM. "Certainly to come up with both would be just hitting a grand slam home run. Look, there's a long line for suitors on both fronts.

"I think the fact that Jermaine has chosen Dallas to be his home in the long term certainly has its place and resonates with time with family and such. And here's a guy who has a long history not only with our coach but with our point guard/quarterback. That certainly has a place.

"With Josh, again, we're one of a number of potential teams and suitors. It's got to be right with him and with us. We're kind of in the swings of putting our best foot forward. If we're able to hit that one home, it just would be a real, real nice get for us."

The Houston Rockets have improved their position as frontrunner to sign Josh Smith.

Beyond Smith's close friend Dwight Howard, there's confidence among Rockets' players that they'll be able to sign him.

The Rockets tried to acquire Smith in the 2013 offseason, but were unable to put together a sign-and-trade deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Before ultimately signing a four-year $56 million deal with Detroit, Smith had long had interest in finding a way to join the Rockets, sources said.

Houston can use its biannual exception, worth $2.077 million annually, to sign Smith.

The Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat also have interest in Smith.

The Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks will all have interest in signing Josh Smith once he clears waivers.

Smith was waived on Monday by the Detroit Pistons.

The Kings were interested in trading for Smith in the offseason.

Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Houston Rockets are also interested in Smith. The Rockets can offer Smith its bi-annual exception, which gives them an advantage over other clubs.

Stein added that the Miami Heat also have interest in signing Smith.

Rajon Rondo had six points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals and four charges in his debut with the Dallas Mavericks, a 99-93 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

“I love it here,’’ Rondo said. “The fans have been great, the reception tonight was amazing, and that’s what it’s all about.’’

“It’s not going to take long, for the most part it’s basketball. I’ve been watching these guys from afar.

“It’s NBA players, I have the [NBA League Pass], I watch them all the time and they know how to play off each other. It’s a very intelligent team, I’m not too far behind, and I’ll keep watching film and keep learning my guys’ system.’’

The Dallas Mavericks have an undeniable edge to sign Jermaine O'Neal after the acquisition of Rajon Rondo, according to sources.

O'Neal is "highly intrigued" about the idea of joining the Mavericks.

O'Neal maintains his offseason home in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and has long been interested in joining the Mavericks to reunite with Rick Carlisle

Rajon Rondo and Mark Cuban both expressed a desire not to rent the new situation together with the Dallas Mavericks, who acquried Rondo in a trade from the Boston Celtics.

“Obviously, we wouldn’t give up picks if we didn’t think it was long term,” Cuban said. “We’re past the days of rent-a-player.

“If he’s not the definition of a cornerstone, I don’t know what is. But let me qualify that. With him side by side with Monta (Ellis) and (Tyson) Chandler, there’s no one guy who will be the cornerstone of the team. So having a good young nucleus — for us the young nucleus used to be 35 — to get that number down to 28 or 29 is something we want to keep together.”

Rondo could sign a five-year, $107 million max contract with the Mavericks next summer.

“I’m definitely excited and optimistic about the situation here,” said Rondo, who’ll make $12.9 million this season. “And like Mark was saying, being alongside a guy like Monta and they just re-signed Chandler, the future seems bright and I’m just looking forward to winning a championship as fast as possible and hopefully we can keep this team together.”