DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed backup center Salah Mejri, who will join former European teammate and rookie third overall pick Luca Doncic.Mejri has spent the past three seasons in Dallas. The 32-year-old Tunisian has career averages of 3.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 168 games. He led the Mavericks in field goal percentage and blocks the past two seasons.The 7-foot-1 Mejri will be one of the backups to DeAndre Jordan, who signed with Dallas after opting out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.The Mavericks added Mejri originally not long after Jordan backed out on a pledge to sign with Dallas in free agency three years ago and stayed with the Clippers.Mejri and the 19-year-old Doncic played together briefly with for Spain's Real Madrid. Mejri was a member of the Tunisian national team at the 2012 Olympics in London.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks are making another run at DeAndre Jordan, three years after the center jilted them in free agency to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.Jordan has opted out of the final year of that contract he signed with LA in 2015, and the Mavericks intend to pursue him as an unrestricted free agent, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Friday.Dallas also intends to decline the $5 million club option on Dirk Nowitzki's contract and re-sign him once its salary structure is more settled, the person told the AP on condition of anonymity because the sides are not publicly commenting on moves ahead of free agency opening Sunday.The move on Nowitzki is designed to create more room under the salary cap, as were the decisions to rescind qualifying offers to shooting guard Doug McDermott and center Salah Mejri, making both unrestricted free agents.Jordan was set to make $24.1 million under the four-year, $87.6 million contract he signed to stay... [More]