Dallas Mavericks Expect Dirk To Opt Out; Predicted Landing Spots for Free Agents

Dirk Nowitzki , the Dallas Mavericks longtime star power forward, is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein . If he does so, the 11-year veteran and nine-time All-Star will join one of the best free-agent classes in NBA history. Where will he and 2010′s other available stars land?

Nowitzki could easily end up back in Dallas. He may just be looking for a restructured deal from the team. But if he indeed does want a change of scenery, to leave the team he has spent his entire career with, the offseason gets a lot more interesting.

I predict that if he does leave Dallas he will go to the Phoenix Suns and rekindle the magic with point guard Steve Nash , whom he played with earlier in his career. Within this gaze into the crystal ball, I am under the impression that Amare Stoudemire , the Suns power forward and impending free agent, will move onto bigger and better things.

Nowitzki’s game is best suited for an uptempo style, and still will be in the coming years despite his current age of 31. An outside shooter with a relatively unguardable shot, he would fit perfectly as a stretch-four in Alvin Gentry’s run 'n' gun system.

The Mavericks averaged 102 points per game. But, though playing for a team that averaged eight more points per game would be enticing on its own, the real clincher would be suiting up with Nash, one of his better friends in the NBA and a player he had an incredible amount of chemistry with.

But what if Nash moves on? He’s a free agent and the Suns have Goran Dragic waiting in the wings. Yet, I don’t see any way Phoenix lets Nash get away. He is pushing 37 years old and would only be around for three more years at most. And Dragic has seen his fair share of minutes and has made a considerable impact despite playing in the future Hall of Famer’s shadow.

So, the incentive would most likely still be there for Nowitzki to try to win with Nash short-term, but though it seems like a logical destination for him, General Manager Steve Kerr has expressed his desire to woo another star. That would be LeBron James .

After Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $100,000 for his comments regarding the possibility of signing James this offseason, Kerr was fined $10,000 for a minimal version of Cuban’s presumed tampering. He said in a joking manner that he would sign the superstar if he would take the Mid-Level Exception, a one-year deal worth $5.5 million.

James could end up in Dallas. He could, despite Kerr’s brilliant joke, actually end up with the Suns. But I doubt he would realistically go to either team. They have a fools hope and General Managers that love to dream.

Yet, though the possibility of actually signing him is slim, acquiring him through a sign and trade increases their chances exponentially. Cuban could trade expiring contracts and presumably anyone else not named Jason Kidd or Rodrigue Beaubois. The Suns have players like Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley, and Luis Amundson that could get Cleveland listening.

Even still, I believe, like most, that James will end up in Chicago. I will leave it to my friend and colleague on Fan Huddle , Kevin Baron, to explain the reasoning behind this prediction .

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“The Bulls only have enough cap room to sign one max free agent. They are LeBron James’ most likely suitor because of the young nucleus of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah . Chicago has proven that they are tough and resilient over the last two post-seasons. Jerry Reinsdorf, the Bulls owner, is known for spending and will not shy away from adding more talent to the roster.

The Bulls would also have Luol Deng , draft picks, Taj Gibson and Kirk Hinrich to dangle in trade offers for Chris Bosh , Dwayne Wade , Amare Stoudemire , Carlos Boozer, or another big name free agent.

Another possibly more viable option is for the Cavs to sign-and-trade James to the Bulls for Luol Deng and a couple throw-ins. This would leave Chicago with enough cap space to sign yet another superstar.”

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Chicago could potentially sign James and, as Baron suggests, trade Deng, Gibson, and Hinrich for another marquee free agent. Chicago is a bigger market than Cleveland. James would most likely make more money from endorsements there than Cleveland.

And, though the Cavaliers are a tremendous Eastern Conference team, Chicago is younger, has a star he could team up easily with in Rose, and is much more of a contender than New York or New Jersey, two teams that have the most money and are in dire need of a bright spot.

Onto the other stars on the free-agent market. I think Wade will stay in Miami and Stoudemire will join him. I think James, if he does indeed sign with Chicago, will recruit one of his buddies to come along. That could be Bosh, especially if Nowitzki does stay with Dallas. Joe Johnson could also fit the bill. So could Boozer.

It is all up in the air right now. So many enticing teams have money. And there are so many talented players on the free-agent market—so many players that could turn a mediocre franchise into a relevant one or bolster the those that are already stacked with a championship-caliber roster.

Time will tell where the impending free agents land. The bidding wars and desperate wooing begins July 1.