Mavs Spotlight - Brendan Haywood (Offseason Edition)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs Spotlight - Brendan Haywood (Offseason Edition)

"Mavs Spotlight" is a series of exclusive one-on-one video interviews conducted by Mavs.com's Earl K. Sneed with various Dallas Mavericks players and coaches. The offseason preview series continues with center Brendan Haywood, as he talks about his approaching free agency in July.

Of the current Mavericks, no player's future is as uncertain as Haywood's pending days. The 7-footer will be well sought after this summer, as teams try to enhance both their front lines and chances at contending for a championship.

The former North Carolina standout hasn't given much thought to the summer yet, still heartbroken by the Mavs' first-round playoff loss in six games to the San Antonio Spurs.

"I'll worry about free agency when it gets here. July 1, that seems like a long time. So, I have a long time to sit around and think about this last loss," Haywood said.

But while the 30-year-old big man has a big decision to make in the coming months, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle has made it clear that he wants to see Haywood in a Dallas uniform for a long time to come.

"It's very important to get Haywood re-signed," the coach said. "I really liked what he did for us. He's a guy that had an impact on both ends. At 30 years old, he's relatively young for a center. Centers tend to play for a very long time...Brendan is very athletic. He's got a good feel for the game. He's got a good knowledge of the game."

No. 33 averaged 9.1 points and a career-best 9.3 rebounds while splitting 77 games with the Washington Wizards and the Mavs. But Haywood, who was having a career year even before the Feb. 13 trade that shipped him, Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson from Washington to Dallas, hasn't ruled out coming back to the Mavericks. In fact, he would love the opportunity to continue his career in Big D.

"I would love to be back in Dallas. The team's great. The city's great. The fans are great. We had a very good group of guys. Everything around here is done first class. I think any basketball player that experiences what this franchise has to offer would love to come back here," the free-agent-to-be concluded.

Hear more of what the big man in the middle had to say:

In case you missed it, here's what Jason Terry, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, Rick Carlisle, Roddy Beaubois and J.J. Barea said, as they head into the offseason.

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.