The Mavs don’t consider Chris Bosh a proper fit with Dirk Nowitzki and aren’t interested in offering him anything close to the maximum salary he’ll likely command if he chooses to become a free agent this summer, according to Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com. Earlier this season, league executives reportedly expected the Mavs to go after the Dallas native, but Bosh has made it clear that he doesn’t like the idea of playing in his hometown, McMahon asserts.
Bosh has an early termination option worth $20.59MM for next season. If he opts out, his next contract can include a starting salary of up to $20,020,875 or the maximum salary for a veteran of 10 or more seasons, whichever is higher. It would be a tight squeeze for the Mavericks to cram such a deal for Bosh plus a new contract for Nowitzki, likely to be worth between $10-12MM annually, under the cap. The Mavs and Nowitzki have repeatedly stated their plans to continue their long-running relationship, so it doesn’t sound like there’s room for Bosh, particularly given the similarities between the way Bosh and Nowitzki play on offense.
Dallas would prefer to make a run at soon-to-be free agent Marcin Gortat or trade for Tyson Chandler to fill the center position, McMahon writes. The team also intends to keep incumbent starter Samuel Dalembert, whose nearly $3.9MM salary for next season is partially guaranteed for $1.8MM. Bosh has hinted that he and LeBron James will stay in Miami for at least one more year.