Yogi Ferrell backs out of deal with Mavericks
After reportedly agreeing to stay with the Mavericks on a two-year deal, Yogi Ferrell has had a change of heart.
On Thursday, Yogi Ferrell reportedly agreed to a two-year, $5.3 million deal to stay with the Dallas Mavericks. But pen was not yet officially put to paper, and according to Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports Ferrell backed out of the verbal agreement on Friday morning.
Ferrell was originally a restricted free agent this summer, as the Mavericks tendered him a $2.9 million qualifying offer. Then last weekend the team rescinded the qualifying offer, after reportedly expecting Ferrell to sign the tender. But virtually instant reports of a looming multi-year deal moved quickly to the reported agreement on Thursday, and it appeared to be a done deal.
Ferrell’s agent, speaking on his client’s behalf, cited being “uncomfortable” and wanting to “weigh our options.” Apparently, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the decision to back out of the verbal agreement was news to the Mavericks at the time of Charania’s report.
Sources: Guard Yogi Ferrell has changed course on Dallas Mavericks deal in order to reenter free agency. “We felt uncomfortable and will weigh our options,” agent Cervando Tejeda said.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 20, 2018
Per source, the Mavs didn’t hear from the agent until after seeing this tweet. https://t.co/DkEmkXvhMM
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 20, 2018
Ferrell played all 82 games last year for Dallas, starting 21. He averaged 10.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, with a 37.3 percent mark from beyond the arc. But with the Mavericks drafting Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson in June, a reduction in playing time is surely coming for the third-year combo guard out of Indiana next season.
The second year of the reported two-year deal with Dallas was not guaranteed. That means Ferrell would have had less guaranteed money coming to him than if he had signed the original qualifying offer. So the change of heart, with an eye on something more concrete beyond 2018-19, is easily explained.
Next: 5 winners of the Kawhi Leonard trade
Exactly what the market for Ferrell’s services will be at this late stage is unclear, and a circling back to the Mavericks can’t be ruled out. But with this decision to back out before officially signing back with Dallas, interest from at least one other team can be assumed.