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to the spurs
Welcome to San Antonio...
SAN ANTONIO -- Dirk Nowitzki's return to the Dallas Mavericks is no slam dunk. He could join the superstar-loaded free agency class this summer.
Nowitzki had never left much doubt that he'd stay in Dallas until the Mavericks' season ended Thursday night with a 97-87 Game 6 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He can opt out of his contract this summer, which he indicated he would consider after the Mavericks exited in the first round for the third time in four seasons.
"I wanted to obviously have a long playoff run and go for my dream again," said Nowitzki, who would make $21.5 million next season if he doesn't opt out of his contract. "Now it's obviously too shocking and too disappointing. I haven't really thought about anything about my future yet. I guess I've got some time now to think about some stuff and think about my options.
"We'll just have to wait and see. Like I said, everything is too fresh now."
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban declined to answer questions via e-mail about Nowitzki's comments.
Nowitzki has said on several occasions that winning a championship wouldn't be as meaningful if he did it with a team other than the Mavericks. He's played his entire 12-season career in Dallas, serving as the cornerstone of a franchise that is one of only four in NBA history to have 10 consecutive 50-win seasons.
However, the Mavericks are the only franchise in that group that didn't win multiple championships.
The Mavericks blew a golden opportunity to win a le in 2006, when they failed to win another game after jumping out to a 2-0 lead over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Since then, the Mavericks' only playoff series win came in the first round against the injury-ravaged Spurs last season.
"As much as I'm disappointed for the team and for Mark [Cuban] and for myself, I'm even more disappointed for Dirk, because a lot of this was about trying to get him to a point where he could realize the dream," coach Rick Carlisle said. "The window is still open, but this is a tough blow."
Tim MacMahon covers the Mavericks for ESPN Dallas. You can follow him on Twitter or leave a question for his weekly mailbag.
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba...ALLASHeadlines
to the spurs
if this happens, dallas goes right back to being the doormat to the NBA. do it, dirk!
LOL @ Cuban if Nowitzki decides to opt out.
Consecutive 50-win seasons
Team Start End Years High Low les
Boston '58-59 '67-68 10 62-18 ('64-65) 52-20 ('58-59) 9 ('59-66, '68)
LA Lakers '79-80 '90-91 12 65-17 ('86-87) 54-28 (twice) 5 ('80, '82, '85, '87-88)
San Antonio* '99-00 '08-09 10 63-19 ('05-06) 53-29 ('99-00) 3 ('03, '05, '07)
Dallas** '00-01 '09-10 10 67-15 ('06-07) 50-32 ('08-09) --
miami has a vacant spot for a player
dirk opts out to sign for vet min in dallas so cuban can sign Wade.
Wade+Dirk
Like what TNT said earlier tonight...why would Dirk want to opt out of $20+ million dollars?
Hes got enough money.
Opt out, then use Richard Jefferson for a S&T. LOL, just kidding, I know that would be greedy.
he's not opting out of 21 million
rofl live it up now. Soon you will be joining us on this here fishing boat.
European players/foreign players tend to have a different set of sensibilities.
Unlikely, but can you imagine a Duncan and Dirk tandem, never mind Parker and ginobili???
Sick!
Orlando is the only team I could see him working well on.
Dirk best option will be Chicago, they have max contract to give and he exactly the player they need to become championship caliber team, he will have there a young superstar PG beside him in Rose, a defensive center to accomplish him in Noah and a bunch of good role players in Deng, Hinrich, Gibson.
Even to sign a 3 year max deal before the lockout slashes salaries next year?
Dirk has served Dallas well. Dont want to see him go but if he does, all the gates open for Dallas to sign another super star.
Maybe he won't, but he's been hinting at opting out and re-signing with the Mavs for less money for two years now. He's not a very money driven person.
Dirk won't opt out. Cuban put players around him and assembled a good roster.
Sign for the MLE with the Lakers and lead our bench dirk!
Instant offense!
Dirk isn't going anywhere.
i call dibs!!! get at this man portland!!!
Maybe he just wants Cuban to give him a long term deal before the CBA as well...
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