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It's too bad that Dirk can't wise up and mature like that selfless paragon of virtue Josh Howard. Oh how we'd be in much better shape if Dirk took his cue from him.
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 - maybe it goes in, maybe it doesn't, get a paycheck and live it up.
It's too bad that Dirk can't wise up and mature like that selfless paragon of virtue Josh Howard. Oh how we'd be in much better shape if Dirk took his cue from him.
That's all well and good, and Dirk is obviously a class act. But I'd rather he drive to the hoop and post up occasionally (a la 2006) with a max contract than jack up fadeaways and watch other people take shots in the 4th quarter for half that.
And let's be honest, which of those free agents will come here? I had fun with the LeBron pipe dreaming and all, but he's not coming here. Neither is Wade, Bosh, Amare, or whoever else.
You obviously don't know Chris Bosh is from Dallas. That means he's signing with the Spurs or Mavs.
Just ask Spurs fans.
26/9 brother... not many complains from Dirk... I would like to see more free throws AND more 3 PT attempts though.
He's not playing at the same level he was 2-3 years ago... but most players play their best basketball at 27-28, and have slight regression at age 30.
That 4th quarter thing is very odd to me considering how good he was in the 4th last year.. It's not as if he's been gunshy though, he just has for some reason shot very poorly in teh 4th... hovering around 35% I believe.
Dirk is a class act and as a spurs fan i would love to have him on this team (actually any spurs fan would). To think of it he's exactly what we need, a scoring big man alongside Duncan. I think we'd be unstoppable if we had a guy like Dirk on this team.
Coming back to Dirk, Cuban is wasting Dirk's prime with his stupid ass trades. They should've had Stat Jack (in place of J Ho) if little Nellie had a brain cell. I'll say this again, the Mavs were very fortunate to have Don Nelson spotting talent for this team in the early 2000's. Too bad little Nellie screwed up this team.
I think Bosh to Dallas is a possibility. Depends on the Raptors success until 2010. If they don't get any better, then he probably would leave.
Bosh + Dirk wouldnt play together well as they are similaer players (Dirk is better though)
as for Dirk.... I always liked him and wanted him to go to some other team so I could really root also for his team and not just him
I don't know if I want to see it. Bosh is a poor man's Garnett, nothing more. Giving him a max contract would be pretty dumb IMO.
Bosh said he might sign with Dallas "when he's old and almost out of the league."
Dirk is simply a class act. Not many players inside the NBA would be willing to accept pay cuts only to help the team.
props to Dirkit's always nice to see that winning stills matter in sports
Bosh is a better scorer, better down the stretch, and doesnt act like an ass.
I dunno. I think having them together would be really good. Can you imagine the matchup nightmares that would be created? If they were selfish players, then I could see there being a problem, but neither of them really are. Having two gifted 7-footers that have great shooting range, as well as interior scoring ability (Bosh has more of a post up game while Dirk has more of a driving game) would be really tough for opposing defenses.
He's also physically weaker, soft on defense (not a bad defender, just soft), and lacks the intensity & leadership this team really needs.
Basically mix all the worst qualities of Dirk and Garnett (besides Garnett's baggery) and you have Bosh. Still a great player, but not a franchise player and not at all worth a max contract.
drob and duncan did the same
Some speculation that Mavs fans can take for what it's worth.
I was listening to Mavs pregame this past Sunday (I was bored) and heard an interview with Art Garcia, one of the Mavs beat writers for the Star-Telegram. On the subject of Chris Bosh, he stated that while everyone from both sides is being very careful and not saying much publically, however privately he's heard that there have been some interest generated from the Bosh camp into the possibility of signing with the Mavs in 2010.
Remember this is only speculation, but if you look at the unstable situation that has engulfed that team in Toronto (the NBA outback), where the coach has been fired and the team is tanking badly, no one could blame Bosh for wanting out. Combine that with the fact that Bosh is from Dallas, and it would make perfect sense for him to come home.
Mavs fans should be excited to hear this. Meanwhile, all of us Spur fans shouldn't get our sports panties in a her expecting Bosh to sign with us. I wouldn't rule it out completely, but the possibility of him signing with the Spurs is highly unlikely. It would take a miraculous sales job from the Pop for that to happen.
I had no idea Dirk was going to do this! This is great! This means I can give hefty raises to guys like JJ Barea & Antoine Wright! And don't forget J-Ho, he's getting an extra special Christmas bonus! Our team will be so kick ass! We love our team!
I'm not all that impressed with Bosh, but it's nice to hear that at least one of those big 2010 fish is realistically considering the Mavs.
I don't believe the Mavs can sign a big-time FA. I'll believe it when I see it.
Question for you:
I'm not all that impressed with Bosh, but it's nice to hear that at least one of those big 2010 fish is realistically considering the Mavs.
In reading your earlier comments, I know that you're also not impressed with Dirk as a leader. Would you feel better with a tandem of Bosh/Dirk?
I'd feel better about that, definitely. Kind of like how Pierce, Garnett, & Allen individually aren't good leaders, but together they're doing great things. If the Mavs could get Bosh and make a move for one other guy for a Big Three similar to Boston's, I'd love that.
Cuban keeps telling us that everybody wants to play here. That guys would take paycuts to come here. 2010 is "put up or shut up" time for Mark.
I personally think it's kind of stupid to do long-term planning around 2010. So a bunch more marquee names than usual are up for FA that year or have the ability to opt out. So what? Ninety percent of the time players go to the highest bidder, even if the highest bidder isn't the best situation for them. In addition, because of the way the collective bargaining agreement is written, ninety percent of the time the highest bidder is the player's original team. Any guy that a team wants to keep, that teams usually gets to keep him. And while Bosh probably isn't quite worthy of a max deal, I'm pretty sure the Raptors will max him out. In that event, Dallas won't be able to outbid the Raptors for him. Bosh will have to be willing to leave a bit of money on the table to come home, and I don't believe that will happen.
A situation like Elton Brand is rare. Most of the time, the only FAs changing teams are role players, or guys whose original teams don't feel like paying what the market will bear (Steve Nash and Baron Davis not getting resigned because their original teams didn't want to give a big contract to 31-year-old guys with significant injury histories).
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