Follow Club Spurs on Twitter
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
11:49 PM CDT on Sunday, June 27, 201
Dirk Nowitzki is headed to free agency.
That's not a huge surprise, although the Mavericks were hoping talks about a contract extension for the nine-time all-star would come to fruition.
A source confirmed that an extension now is unlikely and that if the face of the franchise is to stay in Dallas, it will happen via a new contract in free agency.
Nowitzki said last month that he would exercise his early termination option and explore free agency. It's the first time he'll be free on the open market.
The team was able to continue negotiating until Nowitzki officially informed them that he would opt out, which must be done by Wednesday.
Assuming Nowitzki and adviser Holger Geschwindner take care of that detail, the Mavericks can begin negotiating a new contract, likely for four seasons.
Nowitzki has been in Europe vacationing the last few weeks. He probably will get a visit or a call from owner Mark Cuban and/or president Donnie Nelson at 11:01 p.m. Wednesday, when free-agent wooing can begin. Contracts can be signed starting July 8.
When Nowitzki opts out, he will be leaving $21.5 million on the table. A new deal could start at a lower number, but would provide more security by stretching over four years.
