Dirk Nowitzki hasn't ruled out returning to the Dallas Mavericks for the 19-20 season.

Nowitzki has maintained that he plans to wait until the summer before making a final decision. Nowitzki has begun to feel better of late for the first time since undergoing ankle surgery last spring.

Nowitzki also would like the chance to play with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.

"I'd love to be there for the young guys one more year, but I think it depends on how the body feels," Nowitzki said. "I've had some issues, obviously, this year. I had some knee swelling here the last few weeks, actually before the All-Star break, so it's not all great. But like I said, I am feeling better. I am feeling a little stronger.

"I think I'm going to make that decision later on, but I think the future's bright. I think Luka and KP, if they stay healthy, stay together, they should be a great combo. They should play great off each other. Both have an incredible skill set for their size, incredible playmaking ability for their size. They should jell well, but we have to see how it goes next year."

Porzingis has quietly lobbied for Nowitzki to play next season. Porzingis grew up idolizing Nowitzki. 

Luka Doncic's success has many current and former players weighing in on whether young European prospects are more prepared to play in the NBA than their American counterparts.

“One thing about the European prospects: They are a little bit more fundamentally sound, better than we are. Over there, they practice the basics. Over here, we rely a lot on our talents: jumping, shooting, running. Europeans have always been like that, and Doncic looks pretty good," said Shaquille O'Neal.

Wes Matthews pointed to the differences between a professional European setting and college basketball.

“A lot of rookies in the States right now, they’re young...they’re not quite as seasoned as far as practice times and film sessions and all that kind of stuff. If you would’ve drafted me after my freshman year in college, all I would’ve known is high school, where I could’ve essentially done whatever I wanted to do because I was the best player,” said Matthews.

The debate comes on top of Mark Cuban's comments comparing AAU basketball to Slovenia's basketball system, although Jaren Jackson Jr. defended AAU basketball. 

"I had fun playing AAU. I don’t really look at it like it’s a negative...I would just say, ‘Play more AAU games.’ They’re fun. I like them," said Jackson. 

Dwyane Wade said that Luka Doncic's accuracy in passing under pressure was "LeBron-like" following the Miami Heat's 112-101 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

"Quote me right where I say this – it’s LeBron James-like from the standpoint of how he’s able to rope that pass to shooters in corners, getting blitzed. There’s not many guys who can do that and put it right there. He does an amazing job of it," said Wade following the game.

Wade also exchanged jerseys with Dirk Nowitzki after the final whistle. 

Kristaps Porzingis had a wish list of four teams for a potential trade with the Dallas Mavericks omitted. 

Porzingis had the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors on his list, according to two people with knowledge of the list.

The initial reporting following the trade indicated that Porzingis planned to sign the qualifying offer with the Mavericks as a restricted free agent. Comments made since then have suggested a long-term deal between the Mavericks and Porzingis now has a better probability. 

The New York Knicks attempted to engage the Sacramento Kings on a trade for Marvin Bagley III in addition to De'Aaron Fox as they gauged the market for Kristaps Porzingis.

The Kings were not interested in discussing a deal involving Bagley for Porzingis.

The Knicks ultimately traded Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in a package that included Dennis Smith Jr.

Bagley was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, selected ahead of Luka Doncic.

Luka Doncic said that a bigger court is one reason why it's easier to score in the NBA than in Europe.

“Here [in the NBA] it's easier to score compared to Europe, of course. In Europe, the court is smaller and here there is the three seconds rule. I think it’s easier to score here," said Doncic.

Doncic is averaging 20.6 points in his rookie season.

Doncic then reiterated his excitement to play with Kristaps Porzingis.

“It’s something special what we’re going to have here with Porzingis. He is a great player and we can do many good things. We already knew each other, we played many times against and now, finally, we play together. We can do great things.”

The Charlotte Hornets had interest in trading for Harrison Barnes ahead of the deadline.

Charlotte was only offering its own first round pick if the Dallas Mavericks took on money they didn't want.

Barnes was eventually traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Barnes has a $25 million option for next season.

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) breaks down a wild trade deadline with Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA), Tim Cato (@tim_cato) and Fred Katz (@FredKatz) of The Athletic.

They discuss how Philadelphia acquiring Tobias Harris affects their long-term future, Dallas’ huge move for Kristaps Porzingis, Washington becoming a seller and much more.

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LeBron James highlighted the hypocrisy between a team trading a player and a player asking for a trade in an Instagram post about Harrison Barnes getting traded to the Sacramento Kings. 

The trade was announced as Barnes sat on the bench in the fourth quarter of the Mavs' win over the Hornets. Barnes had 10 points in the game.

"So let me guess this is cool cause they had to do what was best for the franchise right??? Traded this man while he was literally playing in the game and had ZERO idea. I'm not knocking who traded him because it's a business and you have to do what you feel what's best but I just want this narrative to start to get REAL/CHANGE and not when a player wants to be traded or leaves a Franchise that he's a selfish/ungrateful player but when they trade you, release , waive, cut etc etc it's best for them! I'm ok with both honestly, truly am. Just call a ♠️ a ♠️!!", wrote James on Instagram.

James' post was liked by Anthony Davis.

Barnes knew before the game that a trade to the Kings was imminent but still wanted to play.

The Sacramento Kings have agreed to acquire Harrison Barnes from the Dallas Mavericks for Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph.

The Kings will no longer have max cap space this offseason assuming he exercises his $25 million player option for 19-20. Sacramento wants to keep Barnes long-term. Dallas, meanwhile, will be able to reenter the 2019 offseason with cap space after taking on the contracts of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee last week.

Barnes was sitting on the bench with the Mavericks when news of the trade broke.

Barnes signed a four-year, $94 million deal with the Mavericks in the 2016 offseason after the Golden State Warriors agreed to sign Kevin Durant.