Doug McDermott won’t become a restricted free agent on Sunday after all, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the Mavericks have withdrawn their qualifying offer to the four-year veteran.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Mavs, after we heard on Tuesday that the team had extended a qualifying offer to McDermott. According to Lowe, Dallas still has interest in retaining McDermott, but this decision will make the sharpshooter an unrestricted free agent. It will also clear extra cap room for the Mavs, since McDermott’s cap hold as a restricted free agent would have been worth nearly $9.9MM.
McDermott, 26, recorded 9.0 PPG on .478/.494/.857 shooting in 26 games with the Mavericks last season after coming over from New York in a deadline deal. While the former 11th overall pick has never averaged double-digit points in a season, he has been a reliable three-point threat since entering the league, making 40.3% of his outside attempts.
The Mavericks, who added Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson in last week’s draft, have been linked to a number of big men in free agency, including DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan, Julius Randle, and Clint Capela. If they decline Dirk Nowitzki‘s $5MM team option, as suggested by Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link), the Mavs could get up to approximately $26MM in cap space, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Marks (Twitter link).
If Dallas requires all its available cap room to make a play for one of those bigs, it could offer the $4.4MM room exception to Nowitzki or McDermott. However, since the Mavs will no longer have the right of first refusal, the team won’t be able to stop McDermott from signing outright with another suitor.
That was quick. Cuban needs to stop acting like a GM when Donnie is on vacation in Hawaii. Nelson came back and said WTF Marc !!
why would they decline Dirk’s Option that would be messed up
Because Dirk is 40 and unlikely to help the team now and in the future as much as a Julius Randle or DeMarcus Cousins or Clint Capela. Dirk’s not going anywhere anyway. He’ll either be a Maverick or retire.
First off McDermott isn’t worth the 9 million cap hold and they would decline Dirk to free up cap space for free agents they do this almost every year now
Dirk shoots 42%/49%/90% and has positive overall stats, while being cheap at %5mil.
The option decline is SOLELY made on the assumption that he will want to move back into Dallas money later.
Actually was hoping he might have been part of a bigger sign and trade seal for Randle with the Lakers
yeah but Dirk has been committed to Dallas forever! and if he still wants to play then Dallas should keep him he’s been loyal so should they!!
Y’all….Dirk isn’t going anywhere. They do this regularly. He’s open to being paid whatever it takes to better the team. So they’ll decline the option, free up the room, and then pay him as much as they can when they’ve got everyone else. It’s not disrespect to Dirk, it’s how he wants it.
Also, don’t hold your breath on Randle….he’s not a fit in Dallas.
i honestly feel like theres some handshake agreement between dirk and cuban
Agree Dirk still was a very positive contribution last year, great year for him at his age, unbelievable.
For sure this guy is not worth 9.9MM/year, maybe he can make that money in 5 years… & count himself lucky for it.