DALLAS — The Sacramento Kings have expressed interest in acquiring Dallas Mavericks forward/guard Josh Howard in a trade for All-Star forward Ron Artest, but the Mavericks aren't interested, according to an NBA source.

The Mavericks reportedly were willing to offer forward Brandon Bass and guard Jerry Stackhouse for Artest. But the Kings wanted Howard included in the deal, halting the discussions.

Because the Mavericks won't budge on Howard, a potential trade for Artest is all but dead, the source said.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban declined comment in an e-mail to The Dallas Morning News.

A deal for Artest would have given the Mavericks an All-Star caliber starter at every position except center and reunited Artest with head coach Rick Carlisle, who coached Artest when he played for the Indiana Pacers.

Trade rumors have swirled about Artest this summer. The Kings and Los Angeles Lakers were reportedly in talks about an Artest-for-Lamar Odom swap, but that has since fizzled. The San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns also have shown interest.

Artest, 28, is one of the top defensive players in the NBA and has averaged 16 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game during his nine-year career. Artest has career playoff averages of 17.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Artest (6-7, 248) is with his third NBA team but doesn't seem to be slowing. He averaged a career-best 20.5 points per game last season with the Kings.

Bass and Stackhouse for Artest would have been almost a wash in terms of salaries. Artest is set to make $7.4 million next season. Stackhouse will earn $7 million next season and Bass $826,269.

Stackhouse, 33, averaged a career-low 10.7 points per game last season, his 13th in the NBA. The 23-year-old Bass, however, set career-highs by averaging 8.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season, his third. Bass (6-8, 240) spent his first two seasons with the New Orleans Hornets.

Howard, 28, averaged a career-best 19.9 points and seven rebounds per game last season, his fifth. He was All-Star in 2007 and will earn $9.945 million next season.

Howard, 6-5, had a rocky finish last season. He went on a local radio show and discussed his off-season marijuana use during the Mavericks' playoff series against the New Orleans Hornets. And after a playoff loss, he passed out fliers in the locker room inviting teammates to celebrate his birthday at a Dallas nightclub.

But despite Howard's off-court antics in late April, the Mavericks don't seem willing to deal the versatile swingman. At least not yet.