By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News (no link, requires registration, long and boring)

FORT WORTH – The big one got away. But the other big one isn't going to.

The Mavericks have reached an agreement on a new contract with restricted free agent Marquis Daniels. The number of years was not immediately known, but a Mavericks source said Daniels will receive most, if not all, of the midlevel exception, expected to be about $5 million.

If the deal is for three years with 12.5 percent raises each year, that would put the total contract worth almost $17 million.

"We feel very good about the situation with Marquis," said Donnie Nelson, president of basketball operations. "By the 14th [of July], we should have things pretty well done."

Daniels made the Mavericks as an undrafted free agent last season. By the end of the season, he was a starter. His new contract represents a huge pay raise over the $360,000 he made as a rookie.

Earlier in the day, Daniels' agent, Glenn Schwartzman, said the midlevel exception was what his client was looking for.

"Some of the teams we've heard from are the teams with the most to spend under the cap," Schwartzman said. "But if someone were to come quickly with the full midlevel exception, we'd probably be inclined to sign the offer sheet and bring things to a quicker conclusion."

Meanwhile, news that Steve Nash had agreed to a deal with the Phoenix Suns sent shock waves through the Mavs' organization.

"It's a huge loss," said Josh Howard, who played for the Mavericks' summer league team in an exhibition against China on Thursday night at TCU's Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. "There's going to be a big piece missing. It's like your little brother going away."

Devin Harris, now No. 1 on the point guard depth chart, said he is disappointed about not having the opportunity to learn from Nash.

"Stuff happens," Harris said. "He's a key piece and he's going to be missed."

Howard was asked after the exhibition, in which Harris showed flashes of why he was made the No. 5 overall pick last week, if the rookie has what it takes to step in.

"He's going to have to learn," Howard said. "There's no choice. He has the ability."