Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks have agreed on what could be the

fnal contract for the big German.

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Re&ort, Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki reach terms on new three!"ear, #$ million
deal N.( S&orts
) &erson with knowledge of the deal told %he )ssociated *ress on
%hursda" that Nowitzki would get a three!"ear contract worth roughl" #$
million. %he &erson s&oke on condition of anon"mit" because the deal has
not been announced.
New contracts can0t be signed until ne2t %hursda".
%he 3!"ear!old Nowitzki is taking a big &a" cut with a contract similar in
value and structure to the one %im Duncan signed with San )ntonio two
"ears ago.
Duncan, who also took a much lower salar", is e2ercising a &la"er o&tion
to return for the fnal season of his deal after hel&ing the S&urs win their
ffth title since 4555.
Nowitzki 6ust com&leted a four!"ear deal worth #7$ million, and he left
mone" on the table in that deal ho&ing the Mavericks could get some
&ieces around him.
%he &ursuit of other stars is even more urgent with Nowitzki getting close
to the end of what fgures to be a 8all!of!9ame career. %he :$44 N.)
9inals M;* &ut o< fnalizing the deal until after the Mavericks met with
free agent (armelo )nthon", which ha&&ened =ednesda" night.
Mavericks owner Mark (uban recentl" acknowledged that he couldn0t o<er
)nthon" a ma2 contract, so Dallas fgures to be stressing the :$44 title
led b" coach Rick (arlisle, Nowitzki and center %"son (handler, who
recentl" re6oined the team in a trade with the New 1ork +nicks.
>f the Mavericks miss out on )nthon", there are a number of other small
forwards on their wish list, to&&ed b" 8ouston0s (handler *arsons. 8e is a
restricted free agent, and the Rockets can match an" o<er.
Dallas also wants to re!sign &oint guard Devin 8arris, and will target
several others at that &osition if 8arris goes elsewhere.
!!!
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