Hawks guard Jamal Crawford hasn't received the contract extension he desires from the team, which means he'll likely become a free agent next summer.

The Knicks, one of Crawford's former teams, will have cap space and the guard is open to a return to New York.

"I would definitely listen," Crawford said.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says he desperately tried to recruit LeBron James and his business manager, Maverick Carter, through a series of text messages after the July 1 start of free agency.

"Before he made his decision, what I told [James] ... and what I told Maverick was no team had ever blown up their team to ground zero -- well, I shouldn't use those words -- blown their team up of all of their core, and then added a couple of free agents and won a championship," Cuban said.

"It's always taken someone to come into a good team, make it better, and put it over the top. That's what I told him, and that's what I told Maverick."

Cuban had envisioned James playing with perennial All-Stars Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd and surrounding them with one of the league's deepest supporting casts.

The Lakers aren't expected to sign a center to fill the gap between now and when Andrew Bynum returns in a few weeks.

The stance could change, but Los Angeles is against the move currently as they are in luxury tax territory.

The Lakers have the NBA's highest payroll and lost depth in the paint when veteran Theo Ratliff was sidelined at least three to five more weeks after surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent guard John Lucas III.  In accordance with team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

Lucas III (5-11, 165) saw action in five preseason games with the Bulls and averaged 2.2 ppg and 0.8 apg in 6.4 mpg.

Undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2005, Lucas spent two seasons with the Houston Rockets (2005-07) and appeared in 60 regular season contests.  While with the Rockets he averaged 3.1 ppg, 0.8 apg and 0.7 rpg in 8.2 mpg, and shot .396 from the field, .250 from behind the arc and .789 from the line.

C.J. Miles hopes to remain with the Jazz past the current season.

"I would love to stay here," Miles said.

Utah holds a team option worth $3.7 million for Miles next year.

Miles has played his entire six-year NBA career with the Jazz after joining the league following high school.

Thunder forward Nick Collison received a four-year contract extension from the team on Tuesday.

According to a report, Collison's extension is worth $11 million.

ESPN.com is reporting that the deal is a carefully and creatively constructed, front-loaded contract that will pay the eight-year veteran more than half of his money in the remainder of this season.

The Spurs waived guard/forward Danny Green on Tuesday and they'll replace him with Ime Udoka, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

"After Spurs waived Danny Green, bringing back Ime Udoka is next in their 12-1 sights. I'm told Udoka on way to SA and "likely" to sign soon," Stein wrote on his Twitter page.

With Udonis Haslem possibly out for the rest of the season, the Heat signed Dampier to a veteran-minimum contract on Tuesday.

The Heat waived the non-guaranteed contract of Jerry Stackhouse in order to make room on the roster for Dampier.

The Heat is off to a disappointing 8-6 start.  A lack of size in Miami's frontcourt has so far proven to be one of the team's most glaring weaknesses.

Nick Collison has signed a multiyear contract extension with the Thunder, according to general manager Sam Presti.

Presti praised Collison for his "smart, physical and hardworking approach."

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Hawks guard Jamal Crawford has admitted that his uncertain future is affecting his play on the court.

Crawford, the NBA's reigning Sixth Man of the Year, has averaged just 10.0 points on 36.4 percent shooting in Atlanta's past five games.

He is making $10.08 million in the final year of his contract and wants to sign an extension.

"I'm overthinking," Crawford said in an interview with FanHouse.

"I think with everything going on, I'm just thinking too much and not just playing basketball. ... I'd be lying if I said it hasn't crossed my mind, you know, the future. ... Everything's been a little bit of a distraction."