Shank
12-22-2008, 05:19 PM
Dirk Nowitzki says he'd take a pay cut to help Dallas Mavericks in 2010 free-agent market 2:59 PM CT
03:22 PM CST on Monday, December 22, 2008
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
Dirk Nowitzki is keeping all his options open for his future, including the possibility of taking less money in 2010 to facilitate the Mavericks acquiring a marquee player or players in that summer's bountiful free-agent market.
While adamant that he will not allow himself or the Mavericks to give up on the next two seasons, Nowitzki said he's aware of how brim-full the free-agent pool will be in 2010.
"Every team is trying to be a player in 2010," he said. "Every team is trying to clear money under the cap so they can make a move.
"I'm very fortunate that I've made a lot of money in this league, even though I've never really played for money. I love the sport. I love this organization. Obviously, I want to win. I won the MVP, and individually, there's nothing really left but winning a championship.
"If that means I have to play for less money, it's all possible. It's all open."
During a heartfelt interview on the Mavericks' just-completed road trip, Nowitzki said he believes the Mavericks have the potential to be an elite team this season. He also realizes that the organization and its fans have to keep an eye on the future. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Shaquille O'Neal, Joe Johnson, Nowitzki and many others are on that 2010 free agent list.
Some, like Nowitzki, can exercise an option they have after the 2009-10 season. In Nowitzki's case, he can earn $21.5 million in the 2010-11 season. Or he can opt-out and be an unrestricted free agent. A more appealing option for the Mavericks is to extend Nowitzki's contract and reducing the 2010-11 salary considerably, but adding many years onto the deal to help make the deal fair to Nowitzki.
With that sort of deal, the Mavericks could be well under the salary cap and be a major player in the 2010 free-agent frenzy.
"That's still a long time away," Nowitzki said. "Nobody's talked to me about extending or anything like that. I never really thought about it because we're in the midst of figuring this thing out.
"I've got two years and I don't want to throw these next two years away and say basically we're waiting on 2010 to get another player in. That's not how I want to look at these next two years. I still feel I'm in my prime and I don't want to just throw these next two years away."
Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban was not surprised to hear that Nowitzki would be open to a reduced salary if it mean getting a marquee player alongside him.
"Dirk is Dirk," Cuban said. "He's a team player all the way and wants to in. He's a first-class guy and we've grown up together in this organization. So I think we've always tried to be on the same page."
In this NBA era, most salary-related headlines are made by players like Stephon Marbury, who refuse to allow their team to buy out their contract for anything less than its full value.
There have been numerous instances, however, of top-tier players surrendering salary so the team could sign certain players. Michael Jordan was consistently underpaid so that the Chicago Bulls could add key personnel during their championship seasons in the '90s.
Charles Barkley signed for a paltry-even-in-the-'90s $1 million in Houston to facilitate the signing of free-agent Scottie Pippen.
Nowitzki's openness to working with the Mavericks financially doesn't mask the fact that the Mavericks still don't know how good this year's team could be. The possibility of trading for a big man who can score or a perimeter ballhandler remains, although the Mavericks apparently have nothing serious in the works.
The trading deadline isn't until Feb. 19.
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It's absolutely unbelievable that an athlete would behave this way. What a selfish asshole. He should be taking notes from Josh Howard on how to REALLY play the game - chill out, lay back, throw up some shit - maybe it goes in, maybe it doesn't, get a paycheck and live it up.
03:22 PM CST on Monday, December 22, 2008
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
Dirk Nowitzki is keeping all his options open for his future, including the possibility of taking less money in 2010 to facilitate the Mavericks acquiring a marquee player or players in that summer's bountiful free-agent market.
While adamant that he will not allow himself or the Mavericks to give up on the next two seasons, Nowitzki said he's aware of how brim-full the free-agent pool will be in 2010.
"Every team is trying to be a player in 2010," he said. "Every team is trying to clear money under the cap so they can make a move.
"I'm very fortunate that I've made a lot of money in this league, even though I've never really played for money. I love the sport. I love this organization. Obviously, I want to win. I won the MVP, and individually, there's nothing really left but winning a championship.
"If that means I have to play for less money, it's all possible. It's all open."
During a heartfelt interview on the Mavericks' just-completed road trip, Nowitzki said he believes the Mavericks have the potential to be an elite team this season. He also realizes that the organization and its fans have to keep an eye on the future. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Shaquille O'Neal, Joe Johnson, Nowitzki and many others are on that 2010 free agent list.
Some, like Nowitzki, can exercise an option they have after the 2009-10 season. In Nowitzki's case, he can earn $21.5 million in the 2010-11 season. Or he can opt-out and be an unrestricted free agent. A more appealing option for the Mavericks is to extend Nowitzki's contract and reducing the 2010-11 salary considerably, but adding many years onto the deal to help make the deal fair to Nowitzki.
With that sort of deal, the Mavericks could be well under the salary cap and be a major player in the 2010 free-agent frenzy.
"That's still a long time away," Nowitzki said. "Nobody's talked to me about extending or anything like that. I never really thought about it because we're in the midst of figuring this thing out.
"I've got two years and I don't want to throw these next two years away and say basically we're waiting on 2010 to get another player in. That's not how I want to look at these next two years. I still feel I'm in my prime and I don't want to just throw these next two years away."
Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban was not surprised to hear that Nowitzki would be open to a reduced salary if it mean getting a marquee player alongside him.
"Dirk is Dirk," Cuban said. "He's a team player all the way and wants to in. He's a first-class guy and we've grown up together in this organization. So I think we've always tried to be on the same page."
In this NBA era, most salary-related headlines are made by players like Stephon Marbury, who refuse to allow their team to buy out their contract for anything less than its full value.
There have been numerous instances, however, of top-tier players surrendering salary so the team could sign certain players. Michael Jordan was consistently underpaid so that the Chicago Bulls could add key personnel during their championship seasons in the '90s.
Charles Barkley signed for a paltry-even-in-the-'90s $1 million in Houston to facilitate the signing of free-agent Scottie Pippen.
Nowitzki's openness to working with the Mavericks financially doesn't mask the fact that the Mavericks still don't know how good this year's team could be. The possibility of trading for a big man who can score or a perimeter ballhandler remains, although the Mavericks apparently have nothing serious in the works.
The trading deadline isn't until Feb. 19.
--------
It's absolutely unbelievable that an athlete would behave this way. What a selfish asshole. He should be taking notes from Josh Howard on how to REALLY play the game - chill out, lay back, throw up some shit - maybe it goes in, maybe it doesn't, get a paycheck and live it up.