As expected, the Dallas Mavericks came to an agreement with Dirk Nowitzki on Tuesday. The power forward will stay in Dallas where he has spent his entire career.
Regardless of the expectation that he would re-sign, the actual decision is still a major one. Nowitzki has given up a lot of money by taking pay-cuts. Unfortunately, outside of one near miraculous championship run, the Mavs haven’t had much to show for it. Time and time again, the Mavs have struck out on their free agent targets, leaving an older Dirk as the best player on the team.
This summer is similar. The Mavs were unable to sign Mike Conley and Hassan Whiteside. In the meantime, their own free agent, Chandler Parsons, left to join the Grizzlies. Dallas scrambled to sign Harrison Barnes to a max offer sheet and trade for Andrew Bogut. But it appears they are destined for another year of mediocrity.
But despite having no shot at a title this season and perhaps in the near future, Nowitzki re-signed. And that may have everything to do with Mavs’ owner Mark Cuban’s feelings towards his star.
Following from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon:
And Cuban, who has really been unconditionally loyal to only one player, has made it clear that doing right by Dirk is his top priority. At the minimum, every move the Mavs make must be approved by Nowitzki. In some cases, he’s calling the shots, including getting to make as much money as he wants up to the max.
“Dirk gets to do whatever he wants to do, period, end of story,” Cuban said last month. “Dirk gets to do what Dirk wants to do. If Dirk wants to be the head coach, we’ll move Rick over a little bit. Dirk’s [done] so much for this franchise that he’s earned that opportunity.”
If Dirk wants to leave, he’s free to go. That some Mavs fans wish it would happen, out of respect for their NBA legend, speaks to the frustration of the past five years in Dallas.
Dirk Nowitzki has stuck around in Dallas for years and it appears he will finish his career with the Mavs. Cuban’s words about doing anything possible for the power forward are encouraging. But so far, he has not put his words into action as the Mavs continue to struggle to build another title winner around the legend.
