Nowitzki re-ups with Dallas for two seasons
Dirk Nowitzki’s new contract will give the Dallas forward a chance to spend 20 seasons with the only franchise he has ever played for.
The Mavericks and Nowitzki have reached agreement on a two-year, $40 million contract, sources say. Nowitzki will have a player option in the second year.
At $20 million per season, Nowitzki’s deal is a significant raise for the 38-year-old, who opted out of the final year of a three-year, $25 million deal that was a huge discount for the Mavericks. It helped them get Chandler Parsons in free agency two years ago, although he is leaving for a max deal in Memphis.
L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant was just the fifth player in NBA history to reach 20 seasons and he retired in April as the only one so far to do it all with one team. Tim Duncan of the Spurs is considering whether to return for a 20th year in San Antonio.
Nowitzki said after another firstround playoff exit that he felt as if he had at least two more good seasons in him after leading the Mavericks in scoring for the 15th time in 16 seasons. The 2007 NBA MVP essentially told a media outlet in his native Germany on Tuesday that he would retire with the Mavericks.
“I’ve always said that I’ll end my career in Dallas,” Nowitzki told the German news agency DPA. “I’ve been here 18 seasons. It would be great if I can make it 20.”
Nowitzki’s future with the Mavericks was actually a legitimate question Friday, the opening day of free agency when Dallas struck out on its top targets for the fifth straight year. Nowitzki had said the only way he wouldn’t return is if the Mavericks tried to surround him with unproven players. But the Mavericks added three veteran starters in two days, including Golden State small forward Harrison Barnes, who is set to sign a max deal at four years and $94 million. Barnes was a restricted free agent, but the Warriors will renounce the rights to him to make room under the salary cap for Kevin Durant.
Nowitzki, the NBA final MVP when the Mavericks won the franchise’s only championship in 2011, figures to become the sixth player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points next season. The seven-footer with the smooth jumper has 29,491.
HORNETS ADD DEPTH: Centre Roy Hibbert and point guard Ramon Sessions have agreed to terms with New Orleans.
Hibbert will receive one-year deal worth $5 million and Sessions will get a two-year deal worth $12.3 million with a team option for the second season.
Hibbert gives the Hornets a replacement for Al Jefferson, who agreed to a three-year, $30 million free-agent deal with the Indiana Pacers. The 30-year Sessions will fill the role vacated by fan favourite Jeremy Lin