Dirk Nowitzki wrote:I still don't really understand the contract though. The one logical thing is that he is right, with this contract, no one will think this is Dirk's last year. But I doubt there would have been much talk with any other contract structure.
He mentions not wanting to expose Dirk to waivers, but that's the only way the Mavs have of being flexible (they'd have to stretch his contract I think and then re-sign him after getting their new max player or other free agents). At the same time, he explicitly mentions that it gives them "a lot of flexibility", so I guess I'll trust him.
Saw some clarity on this today somewhere on twitter. Apologize I don't remember exactly who, but they said the contract was a straight 2/$50 with a TO on year 2 and the $5M gtd in the 2nd year was misreported and isn't part of the actual deal.
Which means Dallas wouldn't have to waive him if they wanted to pay him less next year, but could simply decline his option and then sign him to a new deal. They did indicate that Cuban was worried about sending him through waivers which surprises me for 2 reasons:
1. Dirk isn't worht $25M a year in cap space to any other team at this point.
2. I think teams have way too much respect for Dirk to put in a claim on him. Plus I think if a team put in a claim he would have likely retired.
Obviously its a moot point now, but I did find that interesting. I pooh-poohed someone on the trade board yesterday suggesting someone might claim Dirk and it turns out maybe he was more right than me.
Glad it wasn't true.
Maybe I'm in denial. 