The Mavericks may not strike it rich in free agency, but they are becoming quite adept at adding quality role players.

After scoring with Brandon Bass and James Singleton in recent summers, the Mavericks started this year's free-agent season by making a strong pitch to Quinton Ross, the former SMU and Kimball High School standout.

Ross has been in the league for five years, the first four with the Los Angeles Clippers and last season with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 6-6 guard has been a part-time starter throughout most of his career.

While owner Mark Cuban was wining and dining Jason Kidd in New York during the first hours after free agency opened, coach Rick Carlisle and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson were meeting with Ross in Dallas.

Ross' numbers (4.6-point career average) will never overwhelm anybody. But he has always been a good defender and can shoot the 3-pointer well enough to keep defenses honest. He shot 37.5 percent from beyond the arc last season.

While Ross may be headed to the Mavericks, Kidd's situation is less certain, although Cuban appears hopeful.

"Had a great meeting with J-Kidd," he said. "Now it's up to us to work on the fine details. But I'm very optimistic."

Cuban added that the Mavericks touched base with each of their free agents, or talked to their agents, on Wednesday. Cuban said they had a couple more targets to talk to but was reluctant to divulge who they were.

One of them may be Rasheed Wallace, the 6-11 center who was in Dallas this week. His presence was purely coincidental, although Wallace is on the Mavericks' wish list of free agents.

There was no clear picture of what the Mavericks offered Kidd on Wednesday, but they are caught in a tough situation. They may be willing to offer three years to Kidd, probably averaging in the $8 million to $10 million range. Kidd probably is seeking more.

But if the Mavericks offer three years, all the money Kidd makes in 2010-11 will subtract from the funds available to offer free agents next summer, when the talent pool is much deeper.

The Mavericks have done a good job of clearing cap space for next summer. But if Kidd signs for multiple years, it might mean Dallas can only make a run at one elite free agent next summer instead of two.

Of course, without Kidd on the Mavericks roster, luring any of those free agents is an even longer shot.

Kidd also met with New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and team president Donnie Walsh on Wednesday. At least one other team, Cleveland, was expected to meet with Kidd. He may not reach a decision until next week.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are expected to have little trouble re-signing Singleton, who had stretches of solid play last season and is working this summer on getting stronger.

He may be the safety net if Bass moves on.

Bass' agent, Tony Dutt has indicated that the 6-8 forward will seek the full mid-level exception (about $5.5 million).