Dirk Nowitzki plans to opt-in with Mavericks for next season
Dirk Nowitzki says he’s going to make the expected move and opt-in to a deal to stay with the Mavericks for next season
The Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki are the NBA pairing that makes you believe in love again. Despite the tumultuous times within the organization over the years that Dirk has had to suffer through, he’s remained loyal to Mark Cuban and company and the assumption has always been that he’d ride it out until his career comes to a close. According to Nowitzki, he plans to make that closer to becoming the reality.
Talking to the media on Friday Dirk said that he plans to pick up the player option for the last year of his deal next season:
Dirk says he plans to pick up the player option in his contract for next season. "I always said I wanted to play those 3 years to the end."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 25, 2016
That final year of his contract will pay Nowitzki $8.7 million next season, but money has long not been an issue for the future Hall-of-Famer. In the same line of questioning on Friday, Dirk clarified what we already knew—that he was loyal to the organization and wanted to retire as a member of the Mavericks:
Dirk: "In my mind, after we won the championship, it was always clear I will retire a Mav." But he wants no part of a rebuilding project.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 25, 2016
Nowitzki not wanting to be part of a rebuilding process in Dallas is interesting, but Cuban’s approach to free agency in recent years alongside the crop of high-impact free agents hitting the market this offseason would indicate that there will be no rebuilding when it comes to the Mavs this summer. More than likely, they’ll be looking to add another big name to their roster to try and make a run at one more title.
And Dirk Nowitzki will be along for the ride.
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H/T to ProBasketballTalk