Dirk Nowitzki says he wants to remain in Dallas
By Sam Richmond
We very well could see many high-profile free agents in a new uniform next season. However, don’t expect that to be be the case with unrestricted free agent and Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki.
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There have been no crazy rumors about Dirk heading elsewhere because he’s about as close to a 100-percent lock to return as a free agent can be. He’s spent the first 16 years of his career with the Mavericks, holds many franchise records and has an incredibly close bond with owner Mark Cuban, who has made it clear in the past his goal is for Dirk to retire with Dallas.
Still, if there was any semblance of doubt Nowitzki wouldn’t head back to Dallas, he erased it with his comments on Wednesday.
From Marc Berman of the New York Post:
"“I don’t want to go anywhere,’’ Nowitzki said. “Hopefully it will be a short quick meeting, get it over with and get better as a franchise. I’ve been in Dallas so long it wouldn’t feel right [leaving].’’"
With Dirk re-signing as a Maverick simply a formality, Nowitzki’s focus now is on trying to convince one of those high-profile free agents, such as Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, to join him in Dallas. Although Dirk did admit he’s had little success recruiting in the past.
"“I was active the last couple of years recruiting, but it didn’t do anything,’’ Nowitzki said before playing in the Steve Nash Foundation Soccer Showdown on the Lower East Side. “I was active with [Deron Williams] but he stayed [in Brooklyn]. I flew to LA last year to meet with Dwight [Howard] but he went to Houston. I guess they don’t like me much."
It will certainly be interesting to see if Dirk’s recruiting luck takes a turn for the better this summer.