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For the Dallas Mavericks, the ability to get Derek Fisher at this stage of the season has been a godsend. "I think we were fortunate that he was available, and the timing was right,'' said Donnie Nelson. the Mavs' president of basketall operations. "He adds leadership, he adds big playmaking ability in crunch time, and certainly three-point clutch shooting. "And he’s perfect with the Mavericks that are in that locker room. He’s going to fit in really well with our guys.'' Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Derek Fisher, Donnie Nelson 

The Mavericks didn’t pick up Dominique Jones’ fourth-year on his rookie scale contract, which means he’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season. But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t return to the Mavericks. The Mavericks might elect to re-sign him after the season. “We are in position to keep all our young guys, and veterans too, for that matter, regardless of contract status,’’ president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. “Our flexibility affords us that luxury.’’ Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Dominique Jones, Donnie Nelson 

Rick Carlisle is in his fifth year as your coach, and won a title in 2011. Is he still the right man for this franchise moving forward? Donnie Nelson: Rick is one of those guys that whether it's a veteran team or whether it's a team with a lot of new faces like we have now, I think he's one of those rare guys that's equally effective in both of those areas. You have some guys come in that are specialists that can rebuild, you have some guys that are good with the kind of in-between teams, you've got some guys that come in and are specialists and take this championship team and get the most out of them. I think Rick really runs the gamut.. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Coaching, Donnie Nelson, Rick Carlisle 

In 1985, his third summer with the team, Nelson ended up in Eastern Europe, facing off against Lithuanian star Sarunas Marciulionis, who scored 40 points against him. Nelson was amazed at what he saw, and it was through his intercession that Marciulionis eventually signed with the Golden State Warriors, becoming the first Soviet NBA player. "I'm an inquisitive guy," Nelson said. "I like people. I'm good at relationships, and people like me. So it was fascinating just to me, the different cultures, different ways of living, different belief systems whether it's religious or political." Fox Sports North

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson 

"He's proven that there's some pretty good ideas out there that are beyond U.S. borders," Nelson said. "If Dirk was born in the U.S., I would venture to say that we would cookie-cut him at the age of 14. … We certainly wouldn't be enjoying the player that we see today if Dirk was born into a U.S. situation." Fox Sports North

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson 

Longtime NBA executive Tony Ronzone will be joining the Mavericks’ scouting staff, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said today. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson, Tony Ronzone 

And then there's the character that is new Mavs center Chris Kaman, a former teammate on Dirk's German national team even though the red-blooded American -- who has tweeted pictures of his guns, his Texas-sized pickup and a new pair of cowboy boots -- was born in blue-collar Wyoming, Mich. "Chris has definitely hit me up for all my hunting contacts," Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said last week. "He wants to bag a white-tail deer and go hog hunting. So, I'm working on that." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson, Chris Kaman 

“We’ve never had a low-post presence like Chris Kaman since I’ve been here, certainly; a guy that we can throw the ball into and you don’t have to throw the ball to Dirk every other possession,” Nelson explained. “You know, our backcourt is young and it’s athletic. I think we’ll be able to get after folks defensively a little bit more. So, I’m really looking forward to it. … Obviously, you take a guy like Elton Brand, with his kind of integrity and presence, and he can go inside, he can go outside; he gives our frontline some versatility. You know, O.J. Mayo, here’s a guy that can play a little bit of 2, a little 1. So, I think we’re more athletic. I think defensively we’ve got the propensity and the bodies to be a little bit better. We’re not veteran, so we’re gonna have to attack in a different way, but I think we’re a little bit more youthful and athletic and dynamic, and I think that’s a good thing. NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand, Donnie Nelson, Chris Kaman 

“You know, the one thing that stands out is we don’t have veterans like we did. When you lose a guy like Jason Kidd and JET [Terry] in the backcourt, those are decision-making positions. We’re gonna have to do it in a different way. I think we do have the ability with our new guys to get in the paint and collapse some defenses. We all know what Roddy [Beaubois] and Delonte [West] can do, and to have Collison come in there, those are three young point guards that can get toe-to-toe with folks, pick them up fullcourt and they can get in the paint and make things happen. Jason Kidd and JET, those were two of the great Mavericks that ever put on a uniform in the history of our franchise, so I don’t think those are shoes that are easily filled. But I think these guys are gonna put their stamp on it and do it their own way.” NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Elton Brand, Jason Kidd, Donnie Nelson, Chris Kaman 

Marc Stein: Team president Donnie Nelson confirms at press conference that Najera will also join Michael Finley as new members of Mavs' front office Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson, Michael Finley, Eduardo Najera 

Dwain Price: "Eddie will be assisting me on all major decisions with the Mavericks.'' -- Mavs GM Donnie Nelson on Eduardo Najera Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson, Michael Finley, Eduardo Najera 

“I have the utmost respect for Eddie,” commented Legends Owner Donnie Nelson. “The work ethic he exhibited as a player, and his knowledge of the NBA game will serve him well in his role as Head Coach of the Legends. Whether coaching a rookie, or an NBA veteran, Coach Najera will have valuable insight for all of our players. I am equally excited to begin working with Eddie in a front office capacity with the Mavericks as he learns the management side of the game. I am proud to be able to call Eddie an ownership partner with the Legends.” HoopsWorld

Dallas Mavericks, Coaching, Donnie Nelson, D-League, Eduardo Najera 

Donnie Nelson, the general manager and president of basketball operations for the Mavericks, said the team anticipated it could lose assistant coach Terry Stotts this summer, and has been working behind the scenes for a possible replacement. Stotts was named Tuesday at the new head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Donnie Nelson, Terry Stotts 

Nelson said the job of hiring a new top assistant would fall primarily to head coach Rick Carlisle. “Certainly, this is something that has been a possibility for a while, and Rick is fully aware of that and fully prepared. I’m sure he has a list of people he will contact or already has contacted.” Nelson said. “That being said, we have not all sat in a room together and discussed this, so that’s probably the next step.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Donnie Nelson, Rick Carlisle, Terry Stotts 

The guess is the Mavericks will be looking for a top assistant with plenty of experience, possibly as a head coach in the past. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Donnie Nelson, Terry Stotts 

Such memories naturally come flooding back in advance of Saturday’s Group A game between the teams, especially since Jasikevicius, now 36, is still running the show on occasion for the Lithuanians in his fourth Olympics. "Saras is the best quarterback Lithuania has ever had," says Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, using Jasikevicius' well-known nickname after serving as an assistant on the Lithuanian bench for multiple trips to the Olympics at the request of close friend and Lithuanian legend Sarunas Marciulionis. Reminded that Saras is participating in the Summer Games for the fourth time, Nelson added: "He must be drinking from the same fountain as [former Mavericks point guard] Jason Kidd." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson, Olympics, Lithuania, Sarunas Jasikevicius 

Mavs GM Donnie Nelson and Magic GM Orlando GM Rob Hennigan visited last week about a Dwight Howard trade and "will probably talk again,'' Nelson tells FOXSportsSouthwest.com. Meanwhile, Dwight and the Magic seem done visiting. Does this move Dwight-to-Dallas closer to the front burner? Or is is simply a step towards Dallas becoming the favorite to sign the disgruntled superstar center next summer? FOXSports SouthWest

Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Donnie Nelson, Rob Hennigan 

"There's just not much there (in terms of a Mavs-Magic trade to be done in 2012),'' Nelson tells us. FOXSports SouthWest

Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Donnie Nelson 

Nelson suggests that there are offers on the table for Dwight that "trump'' what Dallas can present now or in the near future, which includes expiring contracts, the promise of cap space, and maybe the willingness to take back contract ballast. FOXSports SouthWest

Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Donnie Nelson 

Michael Dugat: Donnie Nelson: “Delonte is a great fit on our roster ... he will bring versatility on both ends of the court as he did last year.” Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson