Dallas ? After today, for the first time in 12 years, Dirk Nowitzki will not be a Maverick.

His free agency, confirmed Tuesday when the notification that he will opt out of the final year of his contract arrived at the Mavericks’ office, is not expected to last long. In fact, when he wakes up Thursday morning in Germany, he’ll probably have a handshake deal waiting for him.

Source: Cavs have not made offer

Cleveland — The Cleveland Cavaliers have not offered Los Angeles Lakers assistant Brian Shaw — or anyone — a coaching contract, a person familiar with the search said.

The team has narrowed its field of candidates to “two or three,” but will not be offering any of them the job Tuesday, said the person, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the club is not publicly discussing its search.

Shaw, who has been on Phil Jackson’s staff for five seasons, is returning to Los Angeles following a two-day visit with the Cavs.

Yao returning to Rockets

Houston — Yao Ming is returning to the Houston Rockets.

The 7-foot-6 All-Star center said Tuesday that he has picked up his player option for next season, the last year of his five-year contract. Yao sat out last season following reconstructive foot surgery and said he wanted to see how his foot recovered before making his decision. Yao says he has resumed basketball activities and should be 100 percent when training camp begins.

Nets trade Yi to Wizards

East Rutherford, N.J. — The New Jersey Nets traded forward Yi Jianlian to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, creating even more room under the salary cap as they head into free agency.

The Wizards dealt forward Quinton Ross to the Nets, who also sent an undisclosed amount of cash to Washington.

The Nets freed up another $3 million with the deal, leaving them about $30 million to spend once free agency opens on July 1.

Heat waive James Jones

Miami — Forward James Jones has been waived by the Miami Heat, an expected move that provides the team with more money to spend during free agency.

Manute Bol remembered

Washington — Manute Bol is being remembered as a giant on and off the court.

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning for the 7-foot-7 former NBA player, who died June 19 at age 47.

Bol’s body was brought into the Washington National Cathedral in a specially built 8-foot casket. The service included representatives from the NBA and the Sudanese community, who spoke of Bol’s efforts to build schools in his native country.

Bol became ill during his last trip to Sudan. He was hospitalized immediately after returning to the U.S. and died in a Virginia hospital from complications resulting from a painful skin condition and severe kidney problems.

MLB

Tigers’ Zumaya out for season

Detroit — Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya is gone for the rest of the season due to a fractured right elbow.

The team said Tuesday that the hard-throwing Zumaya fractured his right olecranon, which is the bony tip of the elbow right under the skin.

Heyward: no All-Star game

Atlanta — Injured Atlanta Braves rookie Jason Heyward says he won’t try to play in the All-Star game.

Marlins: Interim manager staying

Miami — Edwin Rodriguez told the Florida Marlins’ top executives last weekend that he would happily accept whatever job they wanted him to have.

Turns out, they want him to stay on as manager.

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria told the team before its game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday night that Rodriguez will remain as manager through the rest of the 2010 season.

NFL

Chiefs sign fifth-round pick

Kansas City, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have signed fifth-round draft pick Kendrick Lewis, a defensive back out of Mississippi.

Terms of the deal announced Tuesday were not released.

Bengals’ Benson arrested

Austin, Texas — Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson was arrested Tuesday and charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a bar employee in the face nearly a month ago.

Benson was booked into the Travis County jail, where he later posted $5,000 bail and was released. The charge of assault with injury carries a maximum potential penalty of up to $4,000 in fines and up to a year in jail.

Giants’ S Jones to be moved

New York Giants rookie safety Chad Jones was to be moved to a New York hospital Tuesday after he was seriously injured in a car accident early Friday in New Orleans.

Jones, a two-sport star at LSU who was drafted by the Giants in the third round this year, is being transferred to Presbyterian Hospital for plastic surgery and additional orthopedic procedures.

World Cup

Blundering refs cut

Johannesburg — Uruguay’s Jorge Larrionda and Italy’s Roberto Rosetti, whose blunders have prompted FIFA to rethink using video technology, have been left off the list of referees for the rest of the World Cup.

Larrionda failed to see an England shot cross the line in a 4-1 loss to Germany, and Rosetti wrongly awarded a goal to Argentina’s Carlos Tevez against Mexico when he was offside.

College athletics

WAC not expanding now

Denver — The Western Athletic Conference does not plan to replace departing Boise State for the 2011-12 season.

Commissioner Karl Benson announced Tuesday that the conference will operate with eight members in 2011-12 and won’t add any new schools until July 1, 2012, at the earliest.

UCLA football dismisses three

Los Angeles — UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel has dismissed three incoming freshmen from the football team for violating team rules.

The school says Paul Richardson, Shaquille Richardson and Josh Shirley were informed of the decision Tuesday morning.