Dallas Mavericks’ guard Vince Carter hosted a $30,000-per-person fundraising event for President Barack Obama according to Star Telegram.

According to reports, about 70 guests, including Obama himself, gathered to show support for the upcoming presidential campaign. Among other basketball figures in attendance were commissioner David Stern, Magic Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Marc Cuban, and Chris Paul.

Obama thanked Stern for helping to resolve the NBA labor battle which threatened to cancel the 2011-12 season.

“I don’t know what I would be doing with myself if I at least didn’t have some basketball games around,” Obama said, according to the Star Telegram.

Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Vince Carter may return for Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz according to ESPN. Injured power forward Dirk Nowitzki, however, will miss his fourth consecutive game.

Carter has missed the last five games with a sprained left foot, but he returned to practice on Thursday where he told reporters that there is a chance he may return Friday when the Mavericks host the Utah Jazz.

Nowitzki sore right knee will keep him sidelined for his fourth consecutive game Friday and possibly longer. Nowitzki said he is making progress; however, he could not commit to playing in Sunday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

“This week is a mental week, too,” Nowitzki told reporters, “where you push yourself to make those moves, even though it might be a little sore or stiff.”

Before his injury, Carter averaged 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and a team-best 44.4 percent from 3-point range.  Likewise, Nowitzki averaged 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds on 45.6 percent shooting.  The Mavericks are currently third in the Southwest Division with an 11-8 record.

The Dallas Mavericks and forward Vince Carter have agreed to terms on a contract, the team announced Monday. Details of the deal were not disclosed.

Carter, an eight-time all-star, split time last season with the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns. He has averaged at least 14 points per game in each of his 13 seasons.

Drafted fifth out of North Carolina in 1998, Carter made an immediate impact with the Toronto Raptors and was named Rookie of the Year following the 1998-99 season.

It looks like Vince Carter won’t be on the street for long.  The Dallas Mavericks are moving swiftly to sign the eight-time All-Star, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

Carter was cut by the Phoenix Suns as a cost-saving move; some early reports indicated that Phoenix might try to bring the veteran guard back for less money, but it appears that Dallas will instead pair him with his former teammate Jason Kidd.

Kidd and Carter played together on the New Jersey Nets from midway through the 2004-05 season (when Carter was traded from Toronto) until 2008.  With the duo on board, the Nets twice advanced to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, losing both times.

Eight-time All-Star guard Vince Carter will be released by the Phoenix Suns at some point during the first three days of NBA free agency, according to a report from ESPN’s Marc Stein and Chris Broussard.

According to the report, Carter’s $18 million salary for the upcoming season will be fully guaranteed if he is not released early in free agency; the Suns will save $14 million by making the move, and will still be able to bring Carter back under a new contract if they so desire.

According to the ESPN report, Carter will be pursued by the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs if he is indeed released.