Mar 20, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) celebrates with teammates after scoring a three point basket in overtime against the Portland Trail Blazers at American Airlines Center. The Mavs beat the Trail Blazers 132-120. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Mavericks fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
Dirk Nowitzki said Monday he will opt out of his contract to become a free agent, but he added he has no plans on entertaining offers from other teams and he will remain with the Mavericks.
One year remains on a three-year deal that would pay Nowitzki $8.7 million. By opting out of his final year, Nowitzki gives team owner Mark Cuban and general manager Donnie Nelson options to better the team through free agency.
“We had one more year on the contract, but I think this is the right thing to do,” he told 1310 The Ticket in Dallas. “We’re going to sit with Mark [Cuban] and Donnie [Nelson] obviously over the next few weeks and figure out how to improve this franchise again,” Nowitzki.
“Ever since after the championship, we’ve been basically a first-round exit. We’ve been a seven, eight seed. We’ve only won a few playoff games, and obviously the goal was to compete at the highest level in my last couple of years. So there is some moving to do, some thinking, some putting our heads together the next few weeks heading into free agency, heading into the draft.”
Nelson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the team would not hesitate to work out a new contract with the sixth leading scorer in NBA history.
“There is not a player that I’ve been around that has his kind of winning software,” Nelson said. “He’s our Roger [Staubach], our Troy [Aikman], our Mike Modano, Nolan Ryan. That’s who he is, so he deserves the courtesy of the first sit-down.”
Nowitzki, who led the Mavericks to the NBA title in 2011, has said staying with the only franchise he has played for is important to him. If he plays two more seasons with Dallas, he will join Kobe Bryant as the only two players to suit up for one NBA team for 20 seasons.
