FRIDAY, 11:08am: The Mavericks officially confirmed James' second 10-day contract in a press release.
THURSDAY, 2:04pm: The Mavericks have re-signed James to a second 10-day contract, according to an AP report (link via NBA.com). Because James' first 10-day deal hasn't technically expired yet, I assume the new one will begin tomorrow.
9:43am: Mike James has appeared in five games for the Mavericks since signing a 10-day contract last week, but he saved the best for last, helping propel Dallas to a win over the Rockets last night with four points and five assists. With his contract set to expire at midnight tonight, James is expected to sign another 10-day deal with the Mavericks, according to Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype (via Twitter).
For the Mavs, there's little risk in extending another 10-day contract to the veteran guard. The team wouldn't be able to offer James a third 10-day deal when his second one expires, but there'd be no obligation to sign him for the rest of the season either. For his part, coach Rick Carlisle suggested last night that he'd like to see James remain on the Mavs' roster.
"I’d say that there’s a great chance that he’s going to be there tomorrow, after tonight," Carlisle said, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. "And by the way, I thought his play at the end of the third quarter and early in the fourth may have been the difference in the game."
As our 10-day contract tracker shows, James signed a pair of 10-day deals with the Bulls last season before eventually joining the team for the remainder of the year, a feat the 37-year-old is hoping to replicate this season in Dallas.