The Dallas Mavericks, in the aftermath of Thursday's stunning departure of point guard Jason Kidd, have reached out for a second time to Ramon Sessions, this time with a starting job to pitch.
A source close to the situation said the Mavs initially contacted Sessions' representatives prior to Kidd opting to pass on a three-year, $9 million offer from Dallas and instead agreeing to a similar deal to join the New York Knicks.
After Kidd reached his decision to move on, the Mavs again reached out to Sessions, the 26-year-old point guard that was traded from Cleveland to the Lakers at the trade deadline last season. Sessions, the source said, is seeking a starting job and security.
The source said the Mavs had a second round of talks Friday with Sessions' agent and that the Houston Rockets also are now in play for the 6-foot-3 guard.
Sessions opted out of the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent and was removed from the Lakers' plan when they completed a sign-and-trade with the Phoenix Suns for two-time MVP Steve Nash.
Sessions is one of a dwindling number of point guards left on the free-agent market after a bevy of activity that has left the Mavs empty handed at the position. Deron Williams, the Mavs' free-agent priority, on Tuesday elected to remain with the Brooklyn Nets. The Mavs then turned their attention to Nash and were also interested in Jeremy Lin.
It appeared Dallas and Kidd were on course for an agreement late Wednesday night, but by Thursday afternoon, Kidd decided to leave a stripped-down Mavs roster in favor of joining former teammate Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire in the Big Apple.
Other guards on the Mavs' radar include Phoenix's Aaron Brooks, Los Angeles Clippers' Randy Foye, Memphis' O.J. Mayo, Portland's Raymond Felton and Atlanta's Kirk Hinrich.
Sessions, acquired in a deadline deal when the Lakers traded for Derek Fisher, would have made $4.55 million next season had he opted into the final year on his contract.
Sessions played 23 games for the Lakers in the regular season, averaging 12.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds. He shot 47.9 percent from the field and 48.6 percent from beyond the arc.
His numbers plummeted in the playoffs, where he averaged just 6.8 points and 3.0 assists while shooting 35.3 percent in the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.