Mavericks Notes: Free Agents, Bynum, Burke

The Mavericks, losers of four of their last five, will try to avenge Sunday's loss in Houston tomorrow night when they take on the Rockets in Dallas in the second half of a home-and-home.  Let's round up all thing Mavs here on Tuesday:

• The Mavericks could head into this offseason with an incredible 10 players in the final year of their contracts, reports Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  While the team is a little short on talent — at least compared to their recent history — the Mavs have flirted with playoff contention throughout the year largely due to the increased effort and efficiency of players auditioning for jobs.
• Per Price's story, Darren Collison and Rodrigue Beaubois can be retained via qualifying offer.  O.J. Mayo has a player option for 2013-14 which he will almost certainly not pick up given his performance this season.  Finally, Chris Kaman, Elton Brand, Bernard James, Mike James, Dominique Jones, Anthony Morrow and Brandan Wright will all be unrestricted free agents unless they are re-signed.  Despite Price's assessment, it appears that Bernard James has a non-guaranteed deal with Dallas next season, which still leaves the Mavs with nine players in the last year of their contracts.  Should the team let James go, however, he would also become a free agent. 
• Kaman, who confessed to frustration with his situation within Price's story, also expressed an admiration for the organization's professionalism.  Presumably following up on his story, Price tweets that Kaman said Tuesday that he hopes to have the option to return to Dallas in 2013-14.  "Hopefully I'll have the option to come back here next year," Kaman said.
• Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News took Mavericks questions from readers, hitting on several roster-related topics.  Sefko compares Andrew Bynum to Dwight Howard in terms of risk, implying that if the Mavs are willing to give big money to one enigmatic and injury-prone center (Howard), they may be willing to do the same for another (Bynum).  
• Sefko sees Michigan's Trey Burke as a possible fit in Dallas, mainly because the NCAA Player of the Year candidate figures to be able to contribute right away.  The Mavs currently hold the 12th pick in June's draft, which as of now, is likely high enough to have a good shot at Burke.
• Sefko says that if the Mavs make a "big splash" this summer, it will likely be via sign-and-trade as opposed to a traditional free agent signing.  In today's NBA, Sefko writes, superstars either stay put or are moved in a sign-and-trade to maximize contract dollars.