Dirk Nowitzki Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Mavericks To Decline Option On Dirk Nowitzki, Negotiate New Deal

June 25th, 2017 at 12:27pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Mavericks will decline their $25MM option on Dirk Nowitzki for next season and work out a new contract, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

The team is considering a two-year deal for the veteran forward, although one source tells Stein that Dallas will do “what Dirk wants.” He has previously indicated that he wants to continue his NBA career on a year-by-year basis.

Nowitzki signed a two-year deal last summer worth $50MM that contained a team option for 2017/18. Turning down that option will give Dallas more financial flexibility when free agency starts on Saturday.

The move leaves Dallas with $64.4MM in guaranteed contracts for next season, along with $55MM in cap holds for Nowitzki and Nerlens Noel, tweets Bobby Marks of The Vertical. The team could have as much as $21MM to work with, but only if Nowitzki agrees to take the $4.3MM room mid-level exception (Twitter link).

Sources tell Stein that Dallas plans to re-sign Noel and focus on its young core and won’t pursue Pelicans free agent Jrue Holiday, who has been linked to the team in past rumors.

Nowitzki has played 19 NBA seasons, all in Dallas. He remained productive this year, averaging 14.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in 54 games after returning from an early-season Achilles injury.

Mavericks Notes: Nowitzki, Noel, Ntilikina, Isaac

June 10th, 2017 at 9:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Mavericks’ best financial move may be to decline their option on Dirk Nowitzki, writes Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Nowitzki agreed to a two-year deal last summer that pays him $25MM each season. Dallas has until June 29th to either pick up his salary for 2017/18 or renounce him and try to fit his new deal under the team’s cap. By opting out, the Mavericks could extend Nowitzki’s contract for another season, again with an option, and create more financial flexibility to re-sign Nerlens Noel. Nowitzki has been willing in the past to adjust his contract to help the team, and would almost certainly play along with any new scenario, Sefko adds.

There’s more news out of Dallas:

Stuck behind the Knicks in the draft is the worst place for the Mavericks to be, Sefko contends in a separate story. Both teams need help at point guard in a class that’s loaded with them, but Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and De’Aaron Fox are expected to go early, and the Knicks are in front of the Mavs to take the best one left on the board. Even if Dallas grabs a point guard on draft day, the team still may pursue a veteran such as Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague or George Hill in free agency. If two new point guards join the roster, it will probably signal the end in Dallas for Devin Harris, who has one year left on his contract at about $4.4MM.
Dallas sent a large contingent, including owner Mark Cuban, to Italy today to meet with French point guard Frank Ntilikina, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Ntilikina didn’t work out for the group, and probably won’t get to, as his Strasbourg team is in the French League final, which could last until the day before the draft. Several NBA teams have representatives in Italy for the youth Adidas Eurocamp, Berman notes, but Ntilikina met only with the Mavericks. Knicks GM Steve Mills traveled to France last month for a first-hand look at Ntilikina, and the team’s former European scout, Tim Shea, is convinced that he’s ready for the NBA. “If he was coming now [for pre-draft workouts], the Knicks aren’t going to get him,’’ Shea said. “He’d have a good showing and might be a top-seven pick. He’ll still be top 10. He’s 18 and has a man’s body now.’’
If the Mavs can’t get the point guard they want at No. 9, they should opt for Florida State’s Jonathan Isaac, says Matt Mosley of The Dallas Morning News.

Mavs Notes: Nowitzki, Draft, Liggins, Powell

June 6th, 2017 at 12:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Last summer, Dirk Nowitzki signed a two-year deal with the Mavericks that included a team option for 2017/18. The Mavs are due to make a decision on that option before the end of June, but Nowitzki told local reporters today, including Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com (Twitter video link), that he doesn’t know yet what the club plans to do.

According to Nowitzki, team owner Mark Cuban is on vacation, and the two sides will likely sit down and discuss the big man’s contract situation when Cuban returns. While Dallas will certainly keep Nowitzki on the roster, his option is worth $25MM, so the team may be interested in lowering that number.

Here’s more from out of Dallas:

Nowitzki was also asked today about the Mavericks’ draft plans, and acknowledged that it’s “not a secret” the club would “love” to add a point guard (Twitter link via Sneed).
After claiming DeAndre Liggins off waivers late in the 2016/17 season, the Mavericks intend to use the summer to get more familiar with the former Cavalier and to evaluate whether he has a spot on the roster going forward. Sneed has the story at Mavs.com, with some quotes from Cuban and head coach Rick Carlisle.
Given Dwight Powell‘s contract situation, he’s unlikely to draw a whole lot of trade interest anytime soon, which means it makes sense for Dallas to be patient and eventually hope for a payoff on the team’s four-year contract investment, says Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News.
Former Iowa State wing Deonte Burton is participating in a group workout for the Mavs today, league sources tell Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link).

Southwest Notes: Leonard, Pelicans, Parsons, Nowitzki

May 15th, 2017 at 9:27pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kawhi Leonard‘s MRI revealed no structural damage, Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com tweets. Leonard injured his left ankle twice in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday, including a controversial play in which Warriors center Zaza Pachulia moved into his landing space after Leonard released a jump shot. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich ripped Pachulia on Monday for what Popovich felt was a reckless closeout. Leonard is expected to miss Game 2.

In other news around the Southwest Division

Donatas Motiejunas is unlikely to re-sign with the Pelicans because of their frontcourt logjam, Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas tweets. Motiejunas told Urbonas, ‘They don’t need me with already 4-5 big (men) on the roster for the next season.’ The 7-foot forward, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer, averaged 4.4 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 14.1 MPG over 34 games with the Pelicans.
Chandler Parsons‘ future with the Grizzlies could be as a stretch four rather than playing his natural small forward spot, according to Michael Wallace of the team’s website. That could be a sensitive subject this offseason with veteran power forward Zach Randolph becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer and fellow big man JaMychal Green entering restricted free agency. Knee injuries limited Parsons to 34 games in the first year of his four-year, $94MM contract with Memphis.
Dirk Nowitzki is willing to assist the front office as the Mavericks prepare for the draft, according to team website reporter Earl K. Sneed. The club holds the No. 9 overall pick, pending the results of Tuesday’s lottery. “Maybe I’ll be in the draft room this year, if that’s what it takes,” Nowitzki told Sneed. “I think we’ve got plenty of time over the next few weeks to set a plan, execute the plan on draft day hopefully and maybe in free agency, and we’ll go from there.”
Improving 3-point shooting is paramount for the Pelicans to make the playoffs next year, coach Alvin Gentry said on The Vertical podcast. Gentry’s comments were relayed in a story by Scott Kushner of the New Orleans Advocate. The Twin Tower duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins won’t work unless the club acquires better perimeter shooters, according to Gentry. “We are going to have to upgrade there and the players that we have are going to have to show vast improvement over the summer,” Gentry said on the podcast. “If you’re going to play the two big guys that we have, obviously, there are going to be a lot of double-teaming. … in order to make that work, we’re going to have to be able to knock down perimeter shots.”

Dirk Nowitzki To Return For 20th Season With Mavs

April 13th, 2017 at 12:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Dirk Nowitzki completed his 19th NBA season this week and will turn 39 in June, but he’s not ready to call it a career just yet. As expected, Nowitzki said today that he intends to return for the 2017/18, which will be his 20th year with the Mavericks (Twitter link via Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com). Nowitzki also left the door open to play in 2018/19, depending on how next season goes.

“I think my body will tell me when it’s time,” Nowitzki said (Twitter link via Sneed). “I’m going to play next year as hard as I can.”

Nowitzki technically remains under contract for next season with the Mavs, but his $25MM salary for 2017/18 is a team option. Team owner Mark Cuban has displayed a strong willingness to work with Nowitzki over the years when it comes to new deals, so he’d likely be happy to pick up that option, if that’s the future Hall-of-Famer’s preference. The two sides could also work out a new arrangement.

Health issues nagged at Nowitzki throughout the 2016/17 season, with Achilles injuries slowing him and limiting him to 54 games, his lowest mark since his rookie season. Although he’s no longer at the peak of his powers, Nowitzki was still an effective scorer for Dallas this season, averaging 14.2 PPG and shooting 37.8% on three-pointers.

The German big man could have an opportunity to pass Wilt Chamberlain for fifth on the all-time NBA scoring list next season if he stays healthy. Nowitzki currently ranks sixth with 30,260 points, which puts him 1,159 points behind Chamberlain.

Southwest Rumors: Anderson, Pelicans, Nowitzki, Spurs

April 6th, 2017 at 8:11pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Rockets power forward Ryan Anderson is expected to return to action this weekend after missing six games with a sprained right ankle, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports. Anderson practiced without limitations on Thursday and could return as soon as Friday against the Pistons, Feigen continues. Anderson feels it’s important to return to action before the postseason, as he relayed to Feigen. “It’s super valuable for me, in my mind, to be out there before the playoffs, to get my wind back, get back to the flow of playing with the group,” Anderson said. “Obviously, we want to have our full group ready to go at the best we can be for the playoffs. We have a few games to do that. We’ll be good. The timeline’s working out well.”

In other developments around the Southwest Division:

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry believes his club can be a serious playoff contender next season if it re-signs unrestricted free agent point guard Jrue Holiday, William Guillory of the New Orleans Times-Picayune writes. Gentry is brimming with optimism that the trio of Holiday, DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis can succeed after seeing the team go 8-5 over the past 13 games. “I think we’re light years ahead of where we were,” Gentry told Guillory. “We’ve got arguably two of the best 10 players in the NBA. Then you add Jrue to the mix, and hopefully that’s going to be somebody we can keep on our team, you’ve got guys that are a year older playing (together).”
Dirk Nowitzki realizes the Mavericks are probably a few years away from being a serous contender again but he’s enjoying his mentoring role, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com. The team holds a $25MM option on Nowitzki’s contract for next season and he looks forward to playing with an increasingly younger group at least one more year, MacMahon adds. “To turn this around, to be a franchise that plays for the championship, is going to probably take a few years again,” Nowitzki told MacMahon. “I’ve got to do what I can to keep this thing going and get the young guys to improve and see where we can take this next year.”
New Mexico contacted Spurs assistant James Borrego regarding its head coaching job, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical tweets. Borrego, an Albuquerque native, was the interim coach of the Magic in 2015 before joining Gregg Popovich’s staff.

Injury Notes: Crowder, Thompson, Rose, Anderson

April 5th, 2017 at 1:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Jae Crowder‘s status for Boston’s game against Cleveland on Wednesday night isn’t yet known, but an MRI on his injured left elbow confirmed that there’s no structural damage, which is good news for the Celtics forward, writes Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com. Crowder referred to himself as day-to-day, and there’s a chance he’ll play through the injury.

Meanwhile, on the other side of tonight’s matchup, there’s some some good news and bad news for the Cavaliers. In the positive column, Kyle Korver returned to the team’s lineup on Tuesday night after missing 11 games with a foot injury. However, another key rotation player, Tristan Thompson, left that game with what has since been diagnosed as a sprained right thumb.

Thompson has appeared in 447 consecutive games, but that streak will come to an end this week, as he has officially been ruled out for the Cavaliers’ next two games against Boston and Atlanta. The veteran big man will continue to undergo treatment and be re-evaluated, with the team presumably hoping he can return in time for the playoffs.

Here are a few more injury updates of note from around the NBA:

The Knicks announced today (via Twitter) that point guard Derrick Rose underwent an “uncomplicated” left knee arthroscopy to address his meniscus tear. The team expects Rose to resume basketball activities in about three to six weeks.
Rockets forward Ryan Anderson, who has been sidelined with a sprained ankle for nearly two weeks, may return later this week. As Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston tweets, James Harden suggested today that the club is hoping to get Anderson back on Friday.
Dirk Nowitzki has a chance to return to the lineup for the Mavericks on Wednesday night, per head coach Rick Carlisle. Nowitzki will be a game-time decision after having sat out the team’s last game with Achilles soreness, tweets Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com.
Colin Hoobler, a physical therapist in Portland, took a closer look at Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic‘s fibular fracture in an interesting piece for The Oregonian.

Southwest Notes: Harden, Anderson, Pelicans, Dirk

March 30th, 2017 at 10:19am CST by Luke Adams

With the Rockets locked into the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com wonders if it’s time for the team to shut down James Harden for a few games. Houston’s star guard is making a push for the MVP award, but has been battling a jammed left wrist, and could probably use a little rest to prepare for the postseason.

“It’s pretty tough, man, I’m not going to lie,” Harden said, admitting that his wrist issue has been bothersome. “I don’t like to feel sorry for myself at all, but just the shot is short and frustrating when you can’t really follow through and whatnot.”

Harden, who hasn’t missed a game this season, suggested earlier this month that he doesn’t believe in resting when healthy, but if there was ever a time for it, it would be now. The Rockets seem unlikely to shut down Harden for several games, but it’ll be interesting to see if the team plays it safe and dials back his playing time down the stretch.

Here’s more from around the Southwest:

Ryan Anderson, another key Rockets player who is dealing with an injury, is expected to return from his ankle injury before the end of the regular season, as Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
The fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game against Dallas showed the good, bad, and ugly of the Pelicans‘ new-look roster, writes Justin Verrier of ESPN.com. Still, as Verrier observes in a separate piece, the Pelicans are getting a better sense of what does and doesn’t work with DeMarcus Cousins in the mix, which will serve the team well next season.
Speaking to David Aldridge of NBA.com, Dirk Nowitzki answered several questions about his lengthy career with the Mavericks, calling it a “crazy ride” and adding that he’s “enjoyed every minute of it.”
In a chat with readers, Matt Mosley of SportsDayDFW.com discussed potential Mavericks draft targets, reasons for optimism, and the respective futures of Nowitzki and Rick Carlisle.

Southwest Notes: Noel, Pau, Ginobili, Dirk, Curry

March 23rd, 2017 at 10:46am CST by Luke Adams

Since Tyson Chandler left the Mavericks following their championship in 2011, the club has been on the lookout for a long-term center, settling for a series of stop-gap solutions instead. As Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com writes, the Mavs may have finally found a permanent answer at the position after acquiring Nerlens Noel at this year’s trade deadline. Noel will be a restricted free agent this summer, but Dallas is willing to pay big money to keep him in the fold.

“I definitely feel like I’m in a position to be a long-term situation here,” said Noel, who was sent from the Sixers to the Mavericks a month ago. “There are a lot of things that come into it, but I’m definitely comfortable in the system. I’m going to continue to grow as this season ends and continue to capitalize on my opportunities and maybe even get more opportunities.”

Here’s more from around the Southwest division:

Asked once again about the possibility of eventually returning to Barcelona to finish his basketball career, Pau Gasol reiterated that it’s unlikely, per CCMA.cat (via Sportando). However, Gasol didn’t completely rule out the idea. We recently identified Gasol’s 2017/18 player option with the Spurs as one of several offseason decisions to watch.
As Jeff Garcia of News 4 San Antonio details, Manu Ginobili recently hinted in an interview with LU2 Radio Bahia Blanca in Argentina that this season could be his last in the NBA. While the longtime Spurs guard didn’t explicitly state that he plans to retire this summer, he admitted that he doesn’t think his career will “go much longer” as his 40th birthday nears. “Now, basketball is not a priority and I live more peacefully,” Ginobili said. “My priority is my family, my children.”
Like Ginobili, Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki is in the twilight of his career, but tells Michael Lee of The Vertical that he’ll keep playing as long as he still loves the game and his health continues to hold up. And if he ultimately retires with just one championship ring, Nowitzki will be satisfied with that. “I want to win,” he said. “I’d love to be on a great team again. And to play for a championship again, but I’m a big believer in whatever happens, happens. I’ll keep plugging for as long as it goes and then it’s time to go away.”
Many basketball fans simply know Seth Curry as Stephen Curry‘s brother, but the Mavericks sharpshooter is blazing his own NBA trail and enjoying a breakout season in Dallas, writes Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News.

Knicks Notes: Porzingis, Hornacek, Jackson, Holiday

March 14th, 2017 at 3:01pm CST by Milo Taibi

Kristaps Porzingis plans on working out with Dirk Nowitzki over the offseason, Marc Berman of the Post reports. While Mark Cuban initially wasn’t thrilled with the idea, the Mavs owner came to his senses, saying “It was all in fun. It’s up to Dirk.’’

Porzingis, meanwhile, intends to take advantage of an opportunity to learn from an all-time great.

“I’m sure it will help me out and improve my game, hopefully, unless Mark Cuban says no,’’ Porzingis said. “Dirk is a guy who can really help my game. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to work with him, a few days to get on the court with him and pick his brain.”