Mavs ready for free agency, starting with Howard

The Dallas Mavericks are set for the start of free agency. This time they’re not waiting for Dwight Howard or some other star to give them roster stability.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says the team has meetings set up in Los Angeles with “a couple of different players” after the NBA’s free agent period opens late Sunday night.

Dallas is remaking its roster for the third straight year since winning the franchise’s first championship in 2011, trying again to find help for Dirk Nowitzki.

There’s some urgency, too, with the 35-year-old German star ready and willing to recruit after a 12-year playoff streak was snapped last season.

Cuban says the Mavericks won’t settle for a bundle of expiring or one-year contracts like they did the past two years.

HASLEM PLAYED THROUGH INJURY, NEEDS KNEE SURGERY

Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem revealed that he played through a torn right meniscus throughout the second half of this season, and tells The Associated Press that surgery will take place soon.

Haslem also says he plans to be ready for the start of training camp this fall.

He disclosed the injury Saturday in an interview following a promotional appearance where hundreds of fans began lining up five hours before he arrived.

Haslem averaged 3.9 points in 75 regular-season games this past season for the Heat, who captured their second straight NBA title.

Haslem and Dwyane Wade are the only players who have been part of all three of Miami’s NBA championship clubs.

HAWKS NEED FREE AGENCY TO COMPLETE ROSTER

Danny Ferry is not ready to say whether either first-round draft pick will wear a Hawks uniform next season.

However, the general manager acknowledged that player development will be of utmost importance for 20-year-old Lucas Nogueira and 19-year-old Dennis Schroeder.

The Hawks passed on a contingent of college players who many consider more NBA ready. Now they must turn to free agency to build a roster for next season.

The Hawks have seven players from last season who will become unrestricted free agents Monday, including Josh Smith. Two restricted free agents await qualifying offers. Just six players are under contract (three guaranteed, three non-guaranteed contracts).

Last season the Hawks took Vanderbilt’s John Jenkins and Virginia’s Mike Scott, opting for established college players rather than more raw prospects.