Rick Carlisle, head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, is ready for owner Mark Cuban to break open the piggy bank on Dirk Nowitzki’s behalf.
The 37-year-old superhuman has made just over $16 million through each of the last two seasons, accepting a pay cut of epic proportions so that the Mavericks could afford to pay Chandler Parsons, Wesley Matthews and DeAndre Jordan, even though the latter didn’t stick with Dallas. He is now, to the surprise of yours truly, expected to opt out of the last year of a deal that is slated to pay him around $8.7 million next season. If he signs on for less than that, he affords the Mavericks even more wiggle room—flexibility they can use to, perhaps, carve out a pair of max-contract slots, plasticity that will come in handy with the impending cap boon and Chandler Parsons’ expected foray into free agency.
But Carlisle isn’t counting on that. Or he doesn’t want that. Or something.
Per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com:
Rick Carlisle says the Mavericks must give Dirk Nowitzki “the ultimate respect” in free agency, regardless of Nowitzki indicating he has no intention of leaving Dallas. “Hey, we’re not taking this thing for granted,” Carlisle said on 103.3 FM ESPN in Dallas. “When you do that, that’s when you can get in trouble. … We’ve got to take every measure to make sure he understands how much he means to all of us.”
Should you think this is all talk?
No.
Will the Mavericks end up footing a lucrative bill for Dirk as part of a thank you for his last two years worth of concession?
Also no.
Nowitzki isn’t angling for a monster payday. Even if he accepts a raise, it would be truly shocking to see that increase be more than a couple million dollars. He wants to win, and he’s already said he doesn’t give two craps about the money.
That Carlisle, and presumably Cuban, are assuming this stance, though, only bodes well for negotiations. Their appreciation might actually incite a desire within Nowitzki to take even less than planned.
Now excuse me while I go imagine what the Mavericks could do in free agency if Dirk stays on at the veteran’s minimum…
