"Vince Carter is close to joining the world champion Dallas Mavericks, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations.

The only holdup now is if Carter will agree to a one-year contract, since the Mavs want to maintain their salary cap flexibility for next summer's free-agent market.

Carter, a 6-foot-6 forward who turns 35 next month, averaged 13.5 points and shot 42.2 percent in 51 games for Phoenix last season. The Suns got Carter last Dec. 18 from Orlando, where he averaged 15 points in 22 games.

Carter was a teammate of Mavs point guard Jason Kidd with the New Jersey Nets from 2003-'07.

The Suns waived Carter on Friday within a 72-hour window that allows them to pay only $4 million of the $18 million he's owed for 2011-12."