Dirk's Opt Out Decision

[Mezotarkus]

Rumors are swirling Dirk intends to opt out of his contract. Some speculate this is purely related to a motivation to ink an extension under the current CBA which is commonly considered to be more player friendly that the CBA that will likely follow the current CBA. Couldn't Dirk opt in to his final $21m year and then ink a 5 year extension to his current contract which would be governed by the current CBA?

[Three34]

You mean like Kobe did?

[Mezotarkus]

You mean like Kobe did?

Yes, forgot about that. I think Mavs fans are trying to soothe themselves that Dirk opting out would allow him to sign for more money under the current CBA but it seems to be he'd be better off opting-in and extending off that salary.

[Dunkenstein]

Couldn't Dirk opt in to his final $21m year and then ink a 5 year extension to his current contract which would be governed by the current CBA?

Dirk will be 32 years of age on June 19. That means if doesn't exercise his ETO for next season, as I understand the "over-36" rule, the longest extension he can sign would be three years without Dallas facing onerous salary implications. Similarly, if he exercises his ETO, as he has recently indicated, the longest new contract he can sign would be for four years to avoid the "over-36" rule.

[answerthink]

Yep, three years in an extension or four years in a new contract if he wants max money.

The premise of the ESPN article is that opting out in favor of a new contract would lock in terms based on the NBA's current agreement. Since an extension would not take effect until after the new agreement is (hopefully) in place, such an extension could be subject to potential reductions if league owners are successful in their attempts to lower the value of maximum salaries in the next agreement.

Whether or not you believe this premise is a separate issue, but Dirk doesn’t seem to be losing very much by opting out in favor of a new deal. A new contract from Dallas could net him as much as $96.2 million over four years. If the rules of the new agreement stayed the same, an extension would very likely net him $96.1 million over the same term. So the added measure of protection of a new contract would likely cost him nothing. Of course, opting out would also allow him to test the free agent market if he so chooses.

[FGump]

Couldn't Dirk opt in to his final $21m year and then ink a 5 year extension to his current contract which would be governed by the current CBA?

As others have noted, Dirk is in over-36 territory. But let's reword your question to read as follows:
"Couldn't Dirk opt in to his final $21m year and then ink a 3 year extension to his current contract which would be governed by the current CBA?"

Here's my thoughts on that.

1 I respect M Stein. He typically does his homework. So he probably asked someone about this. But ....
2 ...even if he asked, isn't he merely getting an opinion and speculation? He's writing it as if there's a rule that there could be a rollback on extensions without one being applied to other ongoing deals, when instead I have reason to question whether those two items are even distinct from each other.
3 To elaborate, a crucial fact being overlooked is that in signing an extension, Dirk would not be on a new deal that begins in 2011, but rather on a deal that has been in place since 1998.
4 Also, if the league negotiates a rollback, items like which contracts it applies to will be negotiated, but I can't see there being a differentiation between one already signed ongoing contract and another, regardless of labeling.

In conclusion, I'm with you. While I've seen such speculation offered by others as well as Stein regarding various opt outs or options to be determined by June 30, I have a hard time buying the distinction some want to make and have serious doubts whether it actually exists.

Anyone else have an opinion, or something that might validate one angle or the other? To me it feels like some are seeing "extension that begins in 2011" as being a new deal that has not yet gone into effect until 2011, when instead my sense is that once the ink is dry, the 2011 year is merely a stretching of the same old contract albeit with more years and different numbers.

[Dunkenstein]

I agree with FGump. Whatever else they do, I can't see the league trying to roll back an individual contract (an extension is after all a contract between a team and a player) that has been signed by both parties and approved by the league.

Whatever rollbacks in contract parameters (length, size of raises, maximums, etc.) are agreed to in the new CBA, they will no doubt be for contracts signed after the new CBA is in place.

[Mezotarkus]

The latest:

The Mavericks expect Dirk Nowitzki to opt out of the final year of his contract, a source said Saturday, because it will allow the two sides to work on a new four-year deal.

If Nowitzki opts out by July 1, it may allow him to add a no-trade clause to any new contract.

The source added that whether he opts out or not won't have any impact on the likelihood that Nowitzki will remain with Dallas.

Working out a new deal could give the Mavericks more flexibility in the next few seasons.

Read more: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... z0onjwLimQ

[FGump]

The latest:

The Mavericks expect Dirk Nowitzki to opt out of the final year of his contract, a source said Saturday, because it will allow the two sides to work on a new four-year deal.

If Nowitzki opts out by July 1, it may allow him to add a no-trade clause to any new contract.

The source added that whether he opts out or not won't have any impact on the likelihood that Nowitzki will remain with Dallas.

Working out a new deal could give the Mavericks more flexibility in the next few seasons.

Read more: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... z0onjwLimQ

That "latest" isn't anything new or different, just another writer parroting the exact same story you already asked about, after which real GM has put it in their headlines.

[Mezotarkus]

That "latest" isn't anything new or different, just another writer parroting the exact same story you already asked about, after which real GM has put it in their headlines.

Actually, this was the first story that stated Nowitzki's decision to opt out or not would not have any impact on the likelihood he would remain in Dallas so there is something new and different.

[FGump]

That "latest" isn't anything new or different, just another writer parroting the exact same story you already asked about, after which real GM has put it in their headlines.

Actually, this was the first story that stated Nowitzki's decision to opt out or not would not have any impact on the likelihood he would remain in Dallas so there is something new and different.

Actually it appears to me the synopsis writer for Real GM whiffed on that item, either in his comprehension or in the clarity of his writing. The article being summarized didn't carry that concept (that opting out doesn't alter Dirk's likelihood of leaving) as far as I can tell. The DMN article merely says the opt out doesn't alter the Mavs wishes - but it obviously changes completely the possibilities of what Dirk can do.

Here's the entire article.

The Mavericks haven't been told for sure yet whether Dirk Nowitzki will opt out of the final year of his contract, but whether he does or doesn't has no impact on the team's ability to retain Nowitkzi -- or to sign other potential free agents.

"Whether he opts out or not, it doesn't effect anything as far as what we can do and plan to do,'' said president Donnie Nelson. "Nothing has changed.''

Nowitzki has until July 1 to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent. His situation is clearly the priority for the franchise, which still is reeling from the first-round exit in the playoffs against San Antonio and would like nothing more than to have something like Nowitzki's situation flush away those memories and turn fans' attention to keeping the franchise's all-time leading scorer.

The feeling among the Mavericks' brass is that Nowitzki probably will opt out at some point. This could benefit Nowitzki for three reasons.

First, it prevents him from being included in any sign and trade.

Second, it allows the Mavericks to sign him for somewhat less money than he would have gotten, money that perhaps can be spent on another player.

Third, it allows Dirk to get a contract that could go out four years and not be subject to possible future cuts when the collective bargaining agreement is redone. Extensions, which wouldn't kick in until 2011, could be impacted by the new labor agreement.

A source also said that Nowitzki opting out is probable because it would allow him to work with the team on the structure of a new deal, rather than simply taking a three-year maximum extension. It could also allow Nowitzki to have a no-trade clause inserted into his new contract.
--Eddie Sefko

In Dallas when the story broke by Stein and Sefko on the same day (Stein a bit ahead of Sefko), it was obvious to Mavs fans that in all likelihood Cuban or Donnie Nelson (a) met with the two writers, (b) "leaked" the info that Dirk was going to opt out, with the willingness to be a source but not cited directly, and (c) gave the Mavs' spin on the story to try to put it in a positive light. The only alternate possibility was that Sefko wrote the DMN story after reading Stein's story on ESPN.com, and that Stein may have gotten the news directly from Dirk after which he asked for and got the Mavs take/spin. But it was clearly the same story all the way.

[daddyfivestar]

So let's say Dirk opts out. Then goes down in a Roberto Clemente plane crash. Dallas would be free and clear, right? As opposed to if he didn't opt out...
Dirk really needs to think about this.

[Three34]

Dude. Too soon.

[Dunkenstein]

So let's say Dirk opts out. Then goes down in a Roberto Clemente plane crash. Dallas would be free and clear, right? As opposed to if he didn't opt out...
Dirk really needs to think about this.

Or in a similar vein. If you were crushed to death by an on-rushing train, we wouldn't have to read your idiotic and tasteless posts any more.

[daddyfivestar]

So true ^.
Apparently you think this site is something other than a playland for our entertainment. You need to seek professional help for that, get back on your meds, and step back into reality.

[Dunkenstein]

So true ^.
Apparently you think this site is something other than a playland for our entertainment. You need to seek professional help for that, get back on your meds, and step back into reality.

Hey, thanks for the advice. I took a valium. And you know what? I still find your comments tasteless and stupid.

[Mezotarkus]

So let's say Dirk opts out. Then goes down in a Roberto Clemente plane crash. Dallas would be free and clear, right? As opposed to if he didn't opt out...
Dirk really needs to think about this.

Or in a similar vein. If you were crushed to death by an on-rushing train, we wouldn't have to read your idiotic and tasteless posts any more.

Way to respond to what you perceived as a tasteless post with your own tasteless post. go to dictionary.com and look up "humor" and then look up "hypocrite".