Mavericks boost Nowitzki’s two-yr deal to $50 millions
Blazers resign McCullum
DALLAS, July 28, (AP): Dirk Nowitzki has signed his contract with Dallas, and a person with knowledge of the deal says it’s worth more than the original agreement.
The 38-year-old star who has spent all 18 of his seasons with the Mavericks signed a two-year, $50 million contract on Wednesday — $10 million more than the deal struck before contracts could be signed. The person with knowledge of the contract provided terms to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t released.
After playing for two years on a hometown discount at roughly $8 million per season, Nowitzki will be the highest-paid Dallas player at $25 million in 2016-17. Free agent addition Harrison Barnes, who signed a four-year, $94 million contract, will make about $22 million next season.
Nowitzki has said he would like to play 20 seasons. There is a team option in the second year of the deal, but that decision will be driven by the 7-foot German and whether he feels he has another season in him.
The Portland Trail Blazers formally signed guard CJ McCollum to a four-year contract extension Wednesday.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team, but a person familiar with it told The Associated Press on Monday that it is worth $106 million.
The extension, which takes effect after the upcoming season, will keep McCollum in Portland through the 202021
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McCollum was voted the NBA’s 2016 Most Improved Player after averaging 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists during the regular season. He raised his scoring average by more than 14 points over the previous season.
The National Basketball Players Association’s player representatives have voted unanimously to fund health insurance for all retired NBA players with at least three years of service.
“The game has never before been more popular, and all the players in our league today recognize that we’re only in this position because of the hard work and dedication of the men who came before us,” Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul, the union president, said in a statement Wednesday. “It’s important that we take care of our entire extended NBA family, and I’m proud of my fellow players for taking this unprecedented step to ensure the health and well-being of our predecessors.”
§The June 26 vote in New York established a health insurance program through UnitedHealthcare. Under the current proposal, for example, retired players with between three and six years of NBA service time, but who are not yet eligible for Medicare, would be offered a plan that includes medical, hospital and prescription drug coverage with modest out-ofpocket costs for deductibles and co-pays.
The NBA will bring a seventh regularseason game to London next January when the Denver Nuggets meet the Indiana Pacers at the O2 Arena, league officials announced Thursday.
US Olympian Paul George is set to lead the Pacers against Italy’s Danilo Gallinari and the Nuggets on Jan 12. It will be the first time either team has played in Britain.