"Owner Mark Cuban is heading to Los Angeles with the hope of setting up a face-to-face meeting with free-agent Joe Johnson soon after the free-agent gates open Wednesday night.

An NBA source said Cuban will have his plane fully gassed for quick trips to several other spots, too. But he will start with Johnson, while president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson begins free agency by making sure he's in Dirk Nowitzki's neighborhood by 11:01 p.m. Wednesday.

The Mavericks are hoping to pull off a sign and trade for at least one marquee free agent to pair with Nowitzki. It is believed Cuban has positioned the Mavericks on the short list of teams that will get a chance to make sales pitches to LeBron James."