Dirk Nowitzki expected to opt out of contract

[Kobe Molested Me]

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=5210625

The Dallas Mavericks are expecting star forward Dirk Nowitzki to opt out of his contract late next month and become an unrestricted free agent July 1, according to sources close to the situation.

The Mavericks, though, continue to negotiate with Nowitzki on a contract extension in hopes of convincing him to pre-empt his free agency. They remain confident that the leading scorer in franchise history is staying with the only team with which he's ever played, even if Nowitzki winds up joining the most anticipated free-agent class in league history.

The sides have until the end of June to reach terms on an extension that would keep Nowitzki off the open market, but sources told ESPN.com this week that it's more likely -- with free agency less than 40 days away -- that the nine-time All-Star becomes an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.

[IronMexican]

:rollin

[Ditty]

we stacked!!

[Ignorant Spurs fan]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I just had the biggest orgasm of my life!!!!This is the best day ever for me!!!!!!!

The CHOKEricks are losing their best player in franchise history!!!!

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/AAHE099_8x10~Shaquille-O-Neal-And-Dwayne-Wade-2006-NBA-Finals-Posters.jpg

http://my-basketball-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/baron-in-triumph.jpg

[TIMMYD!]

:lmao:lmao:lmao

[Donkeybong]

i think dirk is bouncing.

[IronMexican]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I just had the biggest orgasm of my life!!!!This is the best day ever for me!!!!!!!

The CHOKEricks are losing their best player in franchise history!!!!

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/AAHE099_8x10~Shaquille-O-Neal-And-Dwayne-Wade-2006-NBA-Finals-Posters.jpg

http://my-basketball-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/baron-in-triumph.jpg

Another classic, BUMP:lmao

[boston.balla]

we stacked!!

lmao!!!

[Kai]

lol, funny considering the mavfan mass delusion here but I still think he stays in Dallas.

[rAm]

rofl

[Mavs_man_41]

he's just doing this to ensure that cuban makes something happen..putting the pressure on him. nothing to see here

[Cane]

Dirk to Miami?

[oh crap]

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z208/DerMeisterRammstein/TeaBagging.jpg

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

the german is teabagging that ass!!!

[Stump]

According to the ESPN report, opting out and resigning rather than just extending his contract gives him the option to add a no-trade clause. Dirk will stay.

[Mavs_man_41]

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

the german is teabagging that ass!!!

we all knew that your faggish mav hating ass would be here shortly. but why not troll under your king fan name? :lmao

[Ignorant Spurs fan]

Hey Mav Fans how did the Devin Harris trade work out?

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

[sefant77]

lol

He opt out to sign an extension, nothing more.

[Ignorant Spurs fan]

http://files.spursdynasty.com/uploaded_images/dallaschokersDVD-734256.gif

[Mavs_man_41]

:lmao

[Ignorant Spurs fan]

Sorry Mav fans its hard to hear you guys, I should probably turn down the volume on my TV.

What am I watching?

My San Antonio Spurs CHAMPIONSHIP DVDs. Something the Mavericks will never have

[Ghazi]

non-issue

[JamStone]

He misses his little buddy. Maybe he'll sign with run and fun when STAT leaves.

[Shastafarian]

He misses his little buddy. Maybe he'll sign with run and fun when STAT leaves.

I wonder how much that would go into his decision, assuming he's opting out to test the market.

[DPG21920]

This is just odd. Not sure what this accomplishes if it actually gets to the point of him opting out. Can he get a bigger contract by becoming a UFA from the Mavs?

[sefant77]

This is just odd. Not sure what this accomplishes if it actually gets to the point of him opting out. Can he get a bigger contract by becoming a UFA from the Mavs?

Of course.

[Ghazi]

:danceclub

[HarlemHeat37]

At least Mav fans will actually have made a great prediction in regards to Lebron and Dirk playing together next year..

Lebron + Dirk in NY or NJ next year..make it happen..

[Ghazi]

lol inner nets/knicks fan leaking

:cry :cry

[Mavs_man_41]

lol inner nets/knicks fan leaking

:cry :cry

:lmao spur fan named HARLEMheat

crofl

[Basketballgirl25]

At least Mav fans will actually have made a great prediction in regards to Lebron and Dirk playing together next year..

Lebron + Dirk in NY or NJ next year..make it happen..

send Dirk to the Knicks I sure as hell don't want him on the Nets. We would then get bandwagon fans if he came, no thanks

[Mavs_man_41]

send Dirk to the Knicks I sure as hell don't want him on the Nets. We would then get bandwagon fans if he came, no thanks

you wouldn't want dirk to come to NJ and dick you down?

[sefant77]

you wouldn't want dirk to come to NJ and dick you down?

Nah, she prefer fat lesbian girls.

[HarlemHeat37]

lol inner nets/knicks fan leaking

:cry :cry


:lmao spur fan named HARLEMheat

crofl

:lol

I'm a fan of Dirk, I want to see him win TBH..he's no Pau Gasol, but he's still an elite big man in the NBA and has enough in the tank to be a great #2 option to a guy like Lebron..a Lebron-Dirk duo in NY/NJ would be a great chance for him to win and it would help bring back the NBA in the NY area..

[Mavs_man_41]

he's no Pau Gasol

right, he's better

[lurker]

It's been known for over a year that Dirk plans to opt out. He's the one that put the idea out that he'd opt out and re-sign for less.


I think it would be best for Dirk personally to leave Dallas, but he won't.

[redzero]

lol

So, if he doesn't resign, the Mavs will be as irrelevant as the Hornets.

I will never live this down. Ever.

[ffadicted]

Dirk just wants another max before the new CBA, jesus ppl, he'll be back in D

[badfish22]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs514.ash1/30303_10150187536265117_740975116_12396217_2375628 _n.jpg

[sefant77]

lol

So, if he doesn't resign, the Mavs will be as irrelevant as the Hornets.



Thats impossible.

[Mel_13]

This is just odd. Not sure what this accomplishes if it actually gets to the point of him opting out. Can he get a bigger contract by becoming a UFA from the Mavs?

No. He could get just as much (actually a little more) by signing a three year extension to his current deal.

The Stein article implies that the full value of a new contract would be less likely to be decreased by a new CBA than an extension would. I have no idea what he was talking about.

I think this is less about money and more about power and influence in team decisions this summer. I can't see Dirk leaving Dallas, but he can get almost identical money from any team with max cap space.

[Rogue]

its guaranteed he'll opt out, so will Amare because this summer is the very last chance for these superstars to sign monster contracts, knowing that NBA is going to turn retrenching mode next year and will start to tax harsher on players salaries from then on.

But Dallas will still be the only franchise Dirk can sign with, considering that rebuilding teams won't cast a max contract to the 32-yr-old and none of other contenders can afford a maximum for a free agent.

and, why should Dirk want to leave? big D is the place that even Lebron builds his trust&hope on.

[Findog]

He could leave. What if LeBron goes to NY and asks Dirk to sign with the Knicks for $13 million a year?

[Rogue]

:lol

I'm a fan of Dirk, I want to see him win TBH..he's no Pau Gasol, but he's still an elite big man in the NBA and has enough in the tank to be a great #2 option to a guy like Lebron..a Lebron-Dirk duo in NY/NJ would be a great chance for him to win and it would help bring back the NBA in the NY area..

Blade cosigns with you.

[Rogue]

He could leave. What if LeBron goes to NY and asks Dirk to sign with the Knicks for $13 million a year?

From Mavs, Dirk has been offered a 3-yr contract worth 75 mil, according to my knowings from inside the Mavs office.

Dirk will sign 13 mil a year with NYC? cool story bro.

[sefant77]

He could leave. What if LeBron goes to NY and asks Dirk to sign with the Knicks for $13 million a year?

James: "Hey Dirk, lets go to the Knicks!"

Dirk: "Uh...do they have a good defensive center and backup to beat the Lakers and Magic the next years?"

James: "Uh...no...fuck Knicks. Why the morons drafted that pizza guy instead of Lopez."

Dirk: "Who is the PG there making our lives easy?"

James:"eeeemmm...."

Dirk: "Wanna join me in Dallas? We got at least Haywood and Kidd"

James: "Fuck yeah"

[BUMP]

He could leave. What if LeBron goes to NY and asks Dirk to sign with the Knicks for $13 million a year?

I don't see how he would turn down a max deal from Dallas. The Knicks arent gonna give a max to a 32 yr old Nowitski. He could do it, but I can't see Dirk pulling a Boozer

[redzero]

Dirk: "Who is the PG there making our lives easy?"

James:"eeeemmm...."

You don't watch LeBron play much, do you?

[sefant77]

You don't watch LeBron play much, do you?

Yes, PG means then "Give me the damn ball without turnover, dont fuck up my transition fastbreaks (i demand two Top10 plays each game) for highlight dunks and hit the damn open three"

= Jason Kidd :rollin

Toney Douglas? :lol

[redzero]

Yes, PG means then "Give me the damn ball without turnover, dont fuck up my transition fastbreaks for highlight dunks and hit the damn open three"

= Jason Kidd :rollin

Toney Douglas? :lol

LeBron already plays point. Having LeBron and Kidd would be redundant. And Kidd is 50 years old anyway.

[Findog]

I don't see how he would turn down a max deal from Dallas. The Knicks arent gonna give a max to a 32 yr old Nowitski. He could do it, but I can't see Dirk pulling a Boozer

I don't see him leaving $21 million a year on the table to sign with a contender for the MLE, but in the case of the Knicks, they have about $33 million in cap space. After they sign Lebron to a deal that starts at around $20-21 million a year, they could theoretically sign Dirk to a deal that averages around $12-13 million a year. He's already made a fortune that his grandkids can live off of.

[024]

he probably read that hollinger article and is already planning to join lebron in NJ. damn, imagine a starting lineup of devin harris, courtney lee, lebron james, dirk, and lopez.

[Mel_13]

I don't see him leaving $21 million a year on the table to sign with a contender for the MLE, but in the case of the Knicks, they have about $33 million in cap space. After they sign Lebron to a deal that starts at around $20-21 million a year, they could theoretically sign Dirk to a deal that averages around $12-13 million a year. He's already made a fortune that his grandkids can live off of.

LeBron's contract will start at 16.8M, the max allowed by the CBA.

[Findog]

LeBron's contract will start at 16.8M, the max allowed by the CBA.

With annual raises? So Dirk could get a similar figure if he signed with the Knicks, because last I checked, they have about $32-33 mil in cap space. It wouldn't be much financial sacrifice for either guy.

[Shastafarian]

No. He could get just as much (actually a little more) by signing a three year extension to his current deal.

The Stein article implies that the full value of a new contract would be less likely to be decreased by a new CBA than an extension would. I have no idea what he was talking about.

I think this is less about money and more about power and influence in team decisions this summer. I can't see Dirk leaving Dallas, but he can get almost identical money from any team with max cap space.

Like Phoenix after A'm'a'r'e opts out. To be fair it wouldn't be a true max deal because they'll likely only be about $14 million under the cap for next year. But after that the designated pay increase per year would get him $$$

[Findog]

I just don't think it's a lock that Dirk returns. I understand signing an extension before a new CBA kicks in, but he doesn't have to opt out to do that, right? Cuban and Dirk can come to an agreement on that without an opt-out.

Let's see Amare opts out and signs with Miami to team up with Wade. I can easily see Dirk signing with Phoenix to reunite with Nash.

[Shastafarian]

I think that ESPN article mentioned something about him seeking a no trade clause. That I don't think you can do with an extension.

Here it is.


Only players with at least eight years of NBA service time and four seasons with the same team are eligible to have a no-trade clause, but such clauses can only be added to new deals. NBA rules prevent major changes, such as adding a no-trade clause, to an existing contract or an extension, which is largely why Bryant possesses the league's only active no-trade clause.

[Mel_13]

With annual raises? So Dirk could get a similar figure if he signed with the Knicks, because last I checked, they have about $32-33 mil in cap space. It wouldn't be much financial sacrifice for either guy.

All those guys with less than ten years in the NBA can max out with a six year contract for about 127M. First year is around 16.8M.

So, in this scenario Lebron would'nt be giving up much if he started at 16M. For Dirk, a max extension from Dallas would pay him just under 100M for the next four seasons. Four years from NY starting at 16M would pay him about 72M. Of course, financial sacrifice is a very relative term when we talk about the money these guys make.:lol

[Shank]

I just don't think it's a lock that Dirk returns. I understand signing an extension before a new CBA kicks in, but he doesn't have to opt out to do that, right? Cuban and Dirk can come to an agreement on that without an opt-out.

Let's see Amare opts out and signs with Miami to team up with Wade. I can easily see Dirk signing with Phoenix to reunite with Nash.

He's re-signing with the Mavs. Guaranteed.

There are some dumb motherfuckers around here. Some of you think this is a surprise to Mavs fans? We all knew this was coming.

[4>0rings]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I just had the biggest orgasm of my life!!!!This is the best day ever for me!!!!!!!

The CHOKEricks are losing their best player in franchise history!!!!

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/AAHE099_8x10~Shaquille-O-Neal-And-Dwayne-Wade-2006-NBA-Finals-Posters.jpg

http://my-basketball-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/baron-in-triumph.jpg
No one ever says the Chokericks, you dumb shit.

[Allanon]

Alot of people say the Knicks...they can possibly do it.

The Heat have a ridiculous amount of cap room. The Heat can actually put together Dirk, Lebron and Wade together.

[4>0rings]

Knicks making a run at Dirk and Tony Parker? Dirk will finally be paired with an able point guard.

[redzero]

Could you imagine Chris Paul setting up Dirk? Scary stuff.

[Mel_13]

Alot of people say the Knicks...they can possibly do it.

The Heat have a ridiculous amount of cap room. The Heat can actually put together Dirk, Lebron and Wade together.

Max contracts for those three would take about 11M more in cap space than Miami has. Possible if one or more are willing to take much less than max.

Dirk to the Heat? That would be crazy.:lol

[Rogue]

All those guys with less than ten years in the NBA can max out with a six year contract for about 127M. First year is around 16.8M.

So, in this scenario Lebron would'nt be giving up much if he started at 16M. For Dirk, a max extension from Dallas would pay him just under 100M for the next four seasons. Four years from NY starting at 16M would pay him about 72M. Of course, financial sacrifice is a very relative term when we talk about the money these guys make.:lol

that's a difference of 38 Million that I do think as something worth pondering for Dirk. Having finished the 3yr or 4yr contract he signs in this summer, he will still have a couple years in NBA during which we can forgivably seek a ring by signing LLE or MLE with the favourite championship pursuer, like Gary Payton did in 06.

[mogrovejo]

All those guys with less than ten years in the NBA can max out with a six year contract for about 127M. First year is around 16.8M.

So, in this scenario Lebron would'nt be giving up much if he started at 16M. For Dirk, a max extension from Dallas would pay him just under 100M for the next four seasons. Four years from NY starting at 16M would pay him about 72M. Of course, financial sacrifice is a very relative term when we talk about the money these guys make.:lol

Not correct. Dirk starting salary isn't $16 millions.

[Mel_13]

Not correct. Dirk starting salary isn't $16 millions.

:sleep

You really need to read the thread in order and in context.

[Rogue]

http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/leserreporter/themen/vips-mit-1414/2009/06/26/dirk-nowitzki/dirk-nowitzki-in-wimbledon-12664850__MBQF-1246027686,templateId=renderScaled,property=Bild,h eight=349.jpg

[stretch]

if he does, hes just gonna resign for less to have more cap space to build a better team.

[DPG21920]

if he does, hes just gonna resign for less to have more cap space to build a better team.

Stop posting that.

[Basketballgirl25]

you wouldn't want dirk to come to NJ and dick you down?

I'd want Dirk, just not the fans that suck his dick:toast

[badfish22]

I'd want Dirk, just not the fans that suck his dick:toast

stop posting.

[Basketballgirl25]

stop posting.

no thanks, but thanks for asking, that was very kind of you:toast

[redzero]

no thanks, but thanks for asking, that was very kind of you:toast

Post 1,000.

Perfect.

[badfish22]

Post 1,000.

Perfect.

Every single one has had a :toast in it.

[Basketballgirl25]

Every single one has had a :toast in it.

hey, what can I say I'm a happy person that likes to give a toast:lol

[BlackSwordsMan]

dirk and lebron on the same team would be nice maybe lebron can show dirk how to drive to the rim

[Pelicans78]

Could you imagine Chris Paul setting up Dirk? Scary stuff.

:nope

Signing Dirk would set us back 5 years. We need to get younger and more athletic, not German.

[sefant77]

Dude, in 5 years Paul cant walk on a street in NO without drowning, Dirk has a bigger window in NO

[Jacob1983]

Why would a person get an orgasm over an NBA player becoming a free agent? Kind of weird if you ask me but hey it's 2010. Anything is possible.

[ElNono]

I hope he opts out and we see some good shuffling of talent around. These playoffs have been a complete disgrace so far, and maybe a little shuffling around will improve the quality of some teams a bit.

[Roddy Beaubois]

I hope he opts out and we see some good shuffling of talent around. These playoffs have been a complete disgrace so far, and maybe a little shuffling around will improve the quality of some teams a bit.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs566.snc3/30894_796091853620_23930407_43338590_7701980_n.jpg

[Amarelooms]

If Dirk decides to leave...I support his decision and will pull for whatever team he joins...but I'll still pull for the Mavs too.

If he leaves Dallas I hope he signs where ever Lebron goes and teams up with a squad that wins it all. God bless him and everyone on Spurstalk

:elephant

[Amarelooms]

Also while this might be a move to just restructure and get a longer deal...Cuban better watch out cause Dirk could bolt....I can see big named free agents try and convince him to come sign on their team...i.e. Lebron

:elephant

[Rogue]

from before the series got done we know Dirk will remain in Dallas for another 3-4 seasons, no matter whether he opts to execute the last year of contract or opts out.

[Rogue]

Also while this might be a move to just restructure and get a longer deal...Cuban better watch out cause Dirk could bolt....I can see big named free agents try and convince him to come sign on their team...i.e. Lebron

:elephant

yes Dirk will sign with the team Lebron tells him he will go to, and that is Dallas guaranteed.

[poop]

hes going to Miami to win a title with DWADE

[Ghazi]

Amarelooms bandwagon colors are showing.

Dirk leaving the Mavs would be terrible. This story needs closure. We got robbed by the officials in 2006 and the teams since then haven't been good enough for one reason or another. The story needs motherfucking closure. Either Dirk never gets that championship or gets a ring to compliment his 2006 "ghost ring", but it must be in Dallas either way. Bolting and ring chasing with another franchise is a shitty ending to a sad story.

Anyway, we staaaaaaaaaaaaaaacked.

[Amarelooms]

Amarelooms bandwagon colors are showing.

Dirk leaving the Mavs would be terrible. This story needs closure. We got robbed by the officials in 2006 and the teams since then haven't been good enough for one reason or another. The story needs motherfucking closure. Either Dirk never gets that championship or gets a ring to compliment his 2006 "ghost ring", but it must be in Dallas either way. Bolting and ring chasing with another franchise is a shitty ending to a sad story.

Anyway, we staaaaaaaaaaaaaaacked.

Son what the f are you talking about. I predict Dirk will stay in Dallas but if I were him I would think long and hard about it. Cuban needs to do whatever it takes to get another "star" player here next year.

If he does leave...any Maverick fan and fan of basketball should be pulling for him to win.

Maybe it's time for you to make a youtube video or something.....

:elephant

[Basketballgirl25]

Dirk's to loyal of a guy to leave Dallas, he isn't leaving. If he did leave I wouldn't be shocked since basketball is a business

[jack sommerset]

I don't see Dirk staying with Mavs unless money is the motivation ( not a bad one either).

[Shank]

I don't see Dirk staying with Mavs unless money is the motivation ( not a bad one either).

How much would you like to put up that he's staying in Dallas? Would your kids and family mind being homeless, because I'd gladly take your house from you.

[jonnybravo]

if he does, hes just gonna resign for less to have more cap space to build a better team.

Uh, no. They're over the cap regardless. They have an mle and lle (maybe, not sure about the latter if they used it last year).

[Crytek]

From what i've read, he might sign for the max, possible with a no-trade-clause, but limited at 35% of the teams cap to start the new contract. So in essence he starts (depending on the salary cap line next season) a little lower, $ 19 Mil or so.

[Rogue]

How much would you like to put up that he's staying in Dallas? Would your kids and family mind being homeless, because I'd gladly take your house from you.

you've already lost it for just thinking he has a house to lose.

[phxspurfan]

Amarelooms bandwagon colors are showing.

Dirk leaving the Mavs would be terrible. This story needs closure. We got robbed by the officials in 2006 and the teams since then haven't been good enough for one reason or another. The story needs motherfucking closure. Either Dirk never gets that championship or gets a ring to compliment his 2006 "ghost ring", but it must be in Dallas either way. Bolting and ring chasing with another franchise is a shitty ending to a sad story.

Anyway, we staaaaaaaaaaaaaaacked.

How would it be sad? Nash left and got 2 MVPs. If it werent for Horry he may even have gotten his championship in 07. If he did would it be sad?

[phxspurfan]

See also Finley, Mavs' franchise player prior to Nash and Dirk, who left, got his ring and was happy as hell.

[rayjayjohnson]

non-issue

yes. non issue. lebron will absolutely leave cleveland to go somewhere that the mean age is one hundred and fucking two.

[sefant77]

See also Finley, Mavs' franchise player prior to Nash and Dirk, who left, got his ring and was happy as hell.

Dirk has time until 35 before he thinks to become a cheap non important ring whore.

[Shank]

yes. non issue. lebron will absolutely leave cleveland to go somewhere that the mean age is one hundred and fucking two.

You don't think the Mavs could successfully recruit strong, younger players to play alongside LeBron and Dirk?

[Shank]

Oh, and newsflash - older teams usually end up going far in the postseason. See the Celtics.

[TheChillFactor]

lol 2006 ghost ring

[greensborohill]

We STACKED!!

[TDMVPDPOY]

wtf ghost ring dont count

[greensborohill]

We stacked!!

[Mel_13]

Well, at least he's not opting out:

http://www.thetruthsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/DeShawn-Stevenson-Black-Card.jpg

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=5214846

Reserve guard DeShawn Stevenson has exercised his player option to return to the Dallas Mavericks next season, his agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed Monday.

Stevenson will earn $4.15 million next season, a salary he would have been hard-pressed to command on the open market come July 1 had he opted out of the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.

[Shank]

Again, Stevenson taking the PO isn't a surprise either.

[Basketballgirl25]

Oh, and newsflash - older teams usually end up going far in the postseason. See the Celtics.

old teams that play great defense. I wouldn't say Mavs defense is as great as Celtics, maybe they will be better as it next year:toast

[Shank]

old teams that play great defense. I wouldn't say Mavs defense is as great as Celtics, maybe they will be better as it next year:toast

Stop posting.

[HarlemHeat37]

LOL, is basketballgirl25 the best Mav baiter here?..

[Roddy Beaubois]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/image.php?u=11597&dateline=1274240947

[Chubby_Love]

Sometime loyalty is your worst enemy! I like Dirk as a player, I just The Mavericks organization would simply go away! If he decides to opt out...I hope he ends up with a team that will get him a championship.

[Basketballgirl25]

Stop posting.

No thanks, just saying what I think is that a crime? Celtics are better at defense.:toast:toast

[Basketballgirl25]

LOL, is basketballgirl25 the best Mav baiter here?..

well you know I don't try to be, lol

[Basketballgirl25]

Sometime loyalty is your worst enemy! I like Dirk as a player, I just The Mavericks organization would simply go away! If he decides to opt out...I hope he ends up with a team that will get him a championship.

so true, loyalty is your worst enemy sometimes.

[duncan228]

Mark Cuban Says Dirk Nowitzki Opting Out Would Be a Great Thing for the Mavs (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=tsn-markcubansaysdirknow)
SportingNews

The Mavericks have an interesting summer ahead of them. Face of the franchise Dirk Nowitzki can opt out of his contract to avoid being a free agent during the summer of 2011’s likely lockout, and there’s no guarantee he’ll return to Dallas once he’s on the open market.

It’s a scary time for a franchise that’s always had a strong bond with its best player. Yet Mark Cuban says there’s no reason to fear (http://www.dallasbasketball.com/fullColumn.php?id=3054), because Dirk choosing to opt out would actually be terrific news for the team. From DallasBasketball.com:

I asked Cuban this morning if it would be true to say the Mavs remain as optimistic as ever about Nowitzki staying with the club.

“True,’’ Cuban said.

In our email exchanges (part of which has also been noted by CBS11), Cuban is making three points about the possible opt-out of Nowitzki:

1. “Dirk is actually helping the team by opting out,’’ Cuban said.
2. An opt-out “gives us the ability to create financial room to add players,’’ he said.
3. That “financial room’’ is “not cap room, just dollars we save in a new, but longer deal,’’ Cuban said.

Yeah, Mark, everyone knows that you want your best player to opt out of his deal and get on the open market right after your team was ousted in the first round of the playoffs. It’s an NBA cliche, right next to "defense wins championships" and "never draft a tall, skinny white guy from the Balkans."

It’s no surprise that Cuban would make this argument considering he’s a relentless self-promoter who discusses every event in the league as if it’s in his self-interest (except when it involves referees, of course), but it’s hard to argue that all this is puppy dogs and ice cream for the Mavs. Because, while re-signing Dirk to a new deal would help the team a lot, there’s always the possibility that he’ll get a great offer from another team and decide to change teams for the first time in his career.

Look, Cuban is owner and probably knows this situation pretty well. But there’s no planning for a surprising change of heart, and that’s exactly the kind of thing that could happen once Dirk officially becomes a free agent. He loves Dallas and the team will do everything in their power to retain him. At the same time, though, this isn’t just a case of Nowitzki making a business decision that helps his current team. A change of scenery might not be likely, but it’d be a possibility.