"The Washington Wizards are in "deep conversations" with the Dallas Mavericks about a deal that would exchange starters Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood and reserve DeShawn Stevenson for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden and other yet-to-be determined secondary pieces, according to two people with knowledge of the situation.

The deal may be finalized by early next week. The teams have been discussing a trade for the past few weeks, but the talks stalled with the Wizards insisting on including Stevenson in any package. The Mavericks regained interest when Haywood was added to the proposal, according to a league source. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because talks are still ongoing.

The conversations intensified the past two days with team President Ernie Grunfeld and Mavericks General Manager Donnie Nelson in Dallas for All-Star Game festivities. The deal would be the first step toward shedding salary and altering the direction of the franchise in the aftermath of the season-ending suspensions to Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton.

While the Wizards have yet to agree on whether to acquire Quinton Ross, Tim Thomas or James Singleton from Dallas as part of the trade, the teams have essentially agreed upon the principals -- Butler for Howard -- meaning that the deal is unlikely to collapse, according to a league source. "