NBA Rumors: Dallas Mavericks have strong interest in Marcin Gortat

The Dallas Mavericks, thanks to Dirk Nowitzki, will have plenty of cap space this offseason as their franchise player stated he’d be willing to take a significantly reduced contract in effort to improve the team. We’ve already heard that the Dallas Mavericks may have interest in free agents Luol Deng and Pau Gasol, but it seems they have another player on their radar.

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According to ESPN Dallas, the Mavericks are said to have ‘significant interest’ in Marcin Gortat, though, fear his current team, the Washington Wizards will be able to out-bid them as they attempt to retain the center.

“They also have significant interest in Washington’s Marcin Gortat, whom they recruited as a restricted free agent in 2009, signing him to an offer sheet that was surprisingly matched by the Orlando Magic,” says Tim MacMahon.

“Sources, however, say the Mavericks fear they’ll be priced out of the hunt to pry Gortat from the Wizards, who have ample space under the salary cap and are interested in keeping the 29-year-old Gortat as part of a young core of the team that broke the franchise’s five-year postseason drought and advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.”

Given the Wizards own Gortat’s Bird Rights, they can offer him more money and more years than any other team in free agency, which puts the Mavericks in a bit of a predicament, especially since they’re likely looking to attract more than one free agent.

Talented as Gortat is, the Dallas Mavericks may be best served going with an alternate plan given Gortat’s expected price range.