Mavericks Get Deal Done With Nowitzki

By: Tyler Ward

The Dallas Mavericks announced late Saturday night that they have re-signed franchise player, Dirk Nowitzki, to an estimated 4-year/$80 million contract with a no-trade clause. This really isn't a shocker, as many people didn't think that Nowitzki would leave Texas. This is yet another member of the free agent class to re-sign with their 2009 team (Paul Pierce, Rudy Gay). Nowitzki becomes only the second player in the league to have an active no-trade clause; the other being Lakers star, Kobe Bryant. Nowitzki's deal can't be finalized until July 8, which is the first day contracts could be considered done. This gives the Mavericks leeway in pursuing a sign-and-trade deal that they have been exploring for the last few weeks.

Nowitzki's longtime personal coach, Holger Geschwindner, told the Associated Press that Nowitzki and Mark Cuban both agreed to get the job done and get Nowitzki back in a Mavericks uniform next season.

Dallas really needed their franchise's leading scorer to come back this season. Nowitzki has led the team for a better part of a decade. He has had a close relationship with owner, Mark Cuban, and Cuban had publically stated that he "would do anything to keep Dirk in Dallas".

Chosen by Milwaukee in 1998, Nowitzki was taken 9th overall, but his draft rights were traded to Dallas for PF Robert Traylor. He has spent his entire career in Dallas, and now, it appears that he will finish his career in the place it all started. Nowitzki has posted career averages of 22.9 points and 8.5 rebounds and he has a decent shot in making the Hall of Fame. In 2007, Nowitzki was named the NBA's MVP, but like every year, Dallas would not win a championship. He has helped lead the Mavericks to ten straight 50+ win seasons, but they have not been able to win the "Big One". Since blowing a 2-0 lead to the Heat in the Finals a few years ago, the Mavericks have only won one postseason series. The following year, Dallas had the best regular season record at 67-15, but lost to the Warriors in the first round, cementing one of the biggest chokes in NBA history. 

Dallas' all-time leading scorer and rebounder will officially be in Dallas until the 2013-14 season. No one, not even Nowitzki, will know when he will decide to retire, but it is almost certain he will retire as a Maverick.