Dirk Nowitzki Plans To Stay With Dallas Mavericks Next Season
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Back in 2014, one-time NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki chose to take a discount to stay with the Dallas Mavericks in an effort to help the team bring in some more talent. Although Dallas struggled initially, the Mavericks have added a few pieces around Nowitzki in the last two years and the aging veteran plans to stick around for at least one more season.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Nowitzki will opt-in to the remaining year of his contract with the Mavericks as he has intended to all along:
Dirk says he plans to pick up the player option in his contract for next season. "I always said I wanted to play those 3 years to the end."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 25, 2016
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Apparently, Nowitzki was always planning to retire with the Mavericks after the team won a title in 2011 via MacMahon:
Dirk: "In my mind, after we won the championship, it was always clear I will retire a Mav." But he wants no part of a rebuilding project.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 25, 2016
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Nowitzki has shown signs of slowing down the last few years but continues to play at a high level for the Mavericks. Dallas has lost two straight with the end of the regular season drawing near. The one-time NBA champions are currently sitting in the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 35-37.
The Utah Jazz is sporting an identical 35-37 record and will likely challenge the Mavericks for the final sport. The Houston Rockets (36-37) are also on shaky ground in the seventh spot only a half game ahead of Dallas.
As for Nowitzki, the German import will likely attempt to recruit more players to Dallas in the NBA offseason. Dallas has put together a decent roster of veterans with Nowitzki playing alongside Deron Williams, Chandler Parsons, Wesley Matthews, J.J. Barea, Zaza Pachulia, Devin Harris, and David Lee.
Much like many teams in the league, the Mavericks may try to lure Kevin Durant to Dallas. Durant played for Texas in college and may consider visiting the team with Nowitzki potentially helping the sales pitch.
