The Mavericks’ best financial move may be to decline their option on Dirk Nowitzki, writes Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Nowitzki agreed to a two-year deal last summer that pays him $25MM each season. Dallas has until June 29th to either pick up his salary for 2017/18 or renounce him and try to fit his new deal under the team’s cap. By opting out, the Mavericks could extend Nowitzki’s contract for another season, again with an option, and create more financial flexibility to re-sign Nerlens Noel. Nowitzki has been willing in the past to adjust his contract to help the team, and would almost certainly play along with any new scenario, Sefko adds.
There’s more news out of Dallas:
- Stuck behind the Knicks in the draft is the worst place for the Mavericks to be, Sefko contends in a separate story. Both teams need help at point guard in a class that’s loaded with them, but Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and De’Aaron Fox are expected to go early, and the Knicks are in front of the Mavs to take the best one left on the board. Even if Dallas grabs a point guard on draft day, the team still may pursue a veteran such as Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague or George Hill in free agency. If two new point guards join the roster, it will probably signal the end in Dallas for Devin Harris, who has one year left on his contract at about $4.4MM.
- Dallas sent a large contingent, including owner Mark Cuban, to Italy today to meet with French point guard Frank Ntilikina, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Ntilikina didn’t work out for the group, and probably won’t get to, as his Strasbourg team is in the French League final, which could last until the day before the draft. Several NBA teams have representatives in Italy for the youth Adidas Eurocamp, Berman notes, but Ntilikina met only with the Mavericks. Knicks GM Steve Mills traveled to France last month for a first-hand look at Ntilikina, and the team’s former European scout, Tim Shea, is convinced that he’s ready for the NBA. “If he was coming now [for pre-draft workouts], the Knicks aren’t going to get him,’’ Shea said. “He’d have a good showing and might be a top-seven pick. He’ll still be top 10. He’s 18 and has a man’s body now.’’
- If the Mavs can’t get the point guard they want at No. 9, they should opt for Florida State’s Jonathan Isaac, says Matt Mosley of The Dallas Morning News.
I don’t exactly get the Mavs plan. I hear they are trying to dump Matthews. They trade for Noel but already have Powell under contract cheaply and are only giving him junk minutes. They have a SF in Barnes they have their part time stretch 4 for another season or two. They have an athletic center in Powell. Overpaying Noel makes no sense. I would try to sign and trade him to the Lakers for Clarkson and Deng’s contract if they find a taker for Matthews great if not they attempt to use Clarkson at the point.
Clarkson draft Ntilikina or Smith Jr.
Matthews
Barnes and Deng
Dirk and Barnes
Powell
Maybe they could trade Matthews to the Pelicans for Anjica.
Noel is better than Powell. If Mavs don’t get a PG and manage to get Isaac them trading for D. Russell makes more sense than Clarkson.
Mavs are finally starting to make the right moves I think.
I don’t see Isaac falling to 9. So you’re trading Isaac and what for Russell? And I’ve seen 4 years of Noel he isn’t that good and he lacks work ethic. It’s hard to develop a player if he can’t show up on time for practices or meetings. And he’s about to cost 20+ a year. Hell get rebounds, around 10-13 points and weakside blocks. He isn’t a great 1 on 1 shot blocker.
You’ve seen him on a crap team with a crap coach for 2.5 years and that crap team just kept drafting big men. Plus he’s only 22 and has only played in 3 seasons.
I wasn’t suggesting they trade Isaac if he manages to fall that far. I was suggesting the Mavs try to trade for Russell to go along with Issac IF they were lucky enough to draft him. If they get Ntilikina, Smith, or Monk then they clearly don’t need Russell.
Remember when the warriors plan b to KD was Dirk!