The Dallas Mavericks are not picking up their 2018-19 option on Dirk Nowitzki, though, the move is a decision made by both parties in order to carve out extra room on the team’s salary cap, according to a report by Marc Stein of The New York Times.
“The Mavericks, in a mutual decision with Dirk Nowitzki, are declining Nowitzki's $5 million team option for next season and plan to hash out a new contract with him in July, according to league sources.”
This is also possibly a move in anticipation of DeAndre Jordan’s arrival in Dallas, three years after snubbing the Mavericks in a controversial flip-flopping. Jordan has reportedly made up his mind not to exercise his option worth $24.1 million on the final year of his contract with the L.A. Clippers, interpreted by many as a sign that he’s finally going to Dallas.
Going back to Nowitzki, the sweet-shooting power forward is not going anywhere despite the cancellation of this contract. Instead, he’s expected to remain a Maverick with the team looking to offer him a new deal, albeit a cheaper one, per Bobby Marks of ESPN via his colleague, Tim McMahon.
“Something @BobbyMarks42 notes on Mavs: There is a possibility that Dirk’s team option is declined to create $5M in cap space, per source. There is no doubt he will be back next season, possibly using $4.4M cap-room exception to re-sign him.”
Dirk Nowitzki, 40, accepted a deal below the standard of most other stars even on the twilight of their careers in 2017, when he signed a one-year deal worth $5 million with a club option for the second year.
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