NBA Free Agency 2014 Rumors: Dallas Mavericks to Aggressively Pursue Luol Deng Next Summer

The Dallas Mavericks are expected to make a splash on the free agency market this offseason as part of the team's goal to secure another superstar next to Dirk Nowitzki.

NBA Analyst David Aldridge believes that the Mavericks will make a strong push to sign Cleveland Cavaliers forward Luol Deng, who is set to become a free agent after this season.

Sources said that if Deng can lead the Cavaliers to the playoffs this season, the All-Star small forward's stock will be on the rise, which could force the Cavaliers to give him up, knowing that signing Deng to a big contract would affect their financial flexibility in years to come.

"If Luol Deng rallies Cleveland to a playoff spot in the East, he's going to assure himself a pretty strong payday this summer -- either from the Cavs or elsewhere. I suspect a call from Dallas would be forthcoming on or around July 1," Aldridge noted.

Deng, who was acquired by the Cavaliers in a recent trade with the Chicago Bulls, has already expressed desire to sit down with the Cavaliers and talk about an extension, but the team has yet to make a move.

If no extension is signed before June 30, Deng will become an unrestricted free agent in July and will have the opportunity to pick a team from a long list of expected suitors next summer.

The Cavaliers are expected to be on top of the list, especially if they can make a good run this season.

However, Cleveland will likely focus on the possibility of reuniting with LeBron James if the Miami Heat superstar decides to make himself available after the season.

When asked about his team's intention to wait for James' situation to develop before offering an extension to him, Deng said that he doesn't worry about it, insisting that he is focused on doing what he can to help the Cavaliers win as long as he is still in Cleveland.

"I'm here to do what I can do and be Luol Deng. I don't really worry about it. I don't have the mindset that I can control what everyone else thinks. I just do what I can do and try to be the best at what I do," Deng told Yahoo Sports.