DALLAS — At 11:01 p.m. Central time Monday, the NBA's free-agent period will open, and the Dallas Mavericks will start courting players who no longer have a job.

As with every free-agent season, the first order of business is their own.

The Mavericks expect to hear today that Eddie Jones is going to exercise his option and be a member of the 2008-09 team. The other choices would be to become a free agent or retire. But at $1.9 million, Jones is a relatively cheap insurance policy and a good outside shooter. He could also be a chip in future trade scenarios.

The Mavericks, who are not allowed to talk about any free agents, including their own, until tonight, also are believed to have interest in retaining the services of Devean George, J.J. Barea and Antoine Wright.

One or more of those could be used in a sign-and-trade for DeSagana Diop, who is believed to be one of the Mavericks' top targets in free agency. Traded to New Jersey in the Jason Kidd deal, Diop has voiced his desire to be with either the Mavericks or Nets.

There are other names of interest, too. Most of the marquee players will be restricted free agents, meaning that the team that had their rights last season can match any offer. With very few teams owning salary cap space, the most likely way for those players to change teams is via sign-and-trade scenarios. While Josh Smith of Atlanta sounds like a great fit for the Mavericks, nobody expects him to be playing for anybody but the Hawks next season.

Most other top players who have early termination options in their contracts have elected to stick it out for one more year with their teams. Jones falls in this category. That leaves a mediocre class of unrestricted free agents, which might be just as well given that the Mavericks don't have a lot of assets they are willing to part with.

Among the unrestricted free agents, one of the most intriguing names is James Posey, who has become a new-age Robert Horry since he's been on two of the last three championship winners (Miami in 2006, Boston this season).

Horry, the role player who is believed to be coming back for yet another season, has seven championships with three organizations, making him the ultimate partner-chooser in NBA history.

Horry is expected to either stay with San Antonio, where he's helped win two titles, or sign with Houston, where he has a home.

Posey is expected to re-sign with Boston.

The top talent

A look at the most attractive unrestricted free agents this off-season:

CENTER

Name . . . Team . . . Comment

DeSagana Diop . . . New Jersey . . . His value is proof that position is thin

Francisco Elson . . . Seattle . . . Similar to Diop, but he's 32, not 26

Kwame Brown . . . Memphis . . . Hard to believe he was a No. 1 overall draft pick

Others of note:

Earl Barron, Miami; Michael Doleac, Minnesota; Adonal Foyle, Orlando; Primoz Brezec, Toronto

POWER FORWARD

Name . . . .Team . . . Comment

Antawn Jamison . . . Washington . . . Good numbers, high character

Eduardo Najera . . . .Denver . . . Mavs would love to snag him

Kurt Thomas . . . .San Antonio . . . .Nice career is slowly winding down

Others of note:

Brian Skinner, Phoenix; Robert Horry, San Antonio

SMALL FORWARD

Name . . . Team . . .Comment

Mickael Pietrus . . . .Golden State . . . . Hard-nosed player lacks some instincts

Maurice Evans . . . Orlando . .. Solid shooter who's entering prime

Matt Barnes . . . .Golden State . .. .Solid backup who can hit 3-pointers

Others of note:

Jarvis Hayes, Detroit; James Jones, Portland

SHOOTING GUARD

Name . . . Team . . ..Comment

James Posey . . .. Boston . .. .All-around game that coaches love

Bonzi Wells . . ..New Orleans . .. . Streaky shooter; improving disposition

Ricky Davis . . . .Miami . . . Streaky shooter; still-suspect disposition

Others of note:

Flip Murray, Indiana; Kareem Rush, Indiana; Gordan Giricek, Phoenix; Michael Finley, San Antonio; Ronald Dupree, Seattle

POINT GUARD

Name . . .Team . . . .Comment

Gilbert Arenas . . . Washington . . . .Nobody expects him to leave Wizards

Beno Udrih . .. .Sacramento . . . Will parlay nice season into big contract

Jason Williams . . . .Miami . . ...Game has warts, but he's got a ring

Others of note:

Sam Cassell, Boston; Earl Boykins, Charlotte; Chris Duhon, Chicago; Anthony Carter, Denver; Juan Dixon, Detroit; Keyon Dooling, Orlando; Jacque Vaughn, San Antonio