Mavericks Hoarding 2012 Cap Space With Eyes Reportedly On Deron Williams

Read More: nba rumors, Deron Williams (G - NJN), Tyson Chandler (C - NYK), New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks

If you're curious as to why the Dallas Mavericks are letting Tyson Chandler flirt with other teams instead of dropping an offer no other team can match, CBS Sports' Ken Berger proffers a potential answer: the reigning NBA champions are looking to maintain enough salary cap space in 2012 to sign Deron Williams to max contract.

That may seem crazy given that on Monday Williams told the New York media that he feels that there's a 90 percent chance he'll re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets in 2012. But Berger says that the Mavericks are banking on the Nets struggling in 2011-12 without a big acquisition like Dwight Howard or Nene.

Williams is from Dallas.

As for Chandler, Berger reports that serious interest has been registered by the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Nets. New Jersey, then, could deal a double-blow to Dallas by picking up Chandler and watching he, Brook Lopez and Williams return the team to its former glory.