MAVS STAR DIRK NOWITZKI AGREES TO POSTPONE DEAL

“I’ve been in Dallas so long it wouldn’t even feel right to wear a different jersey”

(AP) Dallas Mavericks are in advanced discussions with star forward Dirk Nowitzki on a new contract but agreed to hold off on finalizing deal terms until after the team’s face-to-face meeting this week with Carmelo Anthony.

After acquiring former teammate Tyson Chandler Nowitzki expressed happiness about the state of the Mavericks. The Mavericks will have about $26.5 million of salary cap space after the Chandler trade if the salary cap moves to about $63.2 million..

James and Anthony will become free agents on Tuesday. The Mavericks are hopeful about getting a meeting with James, a source told Yahoo Sports.

The Mavericks now have a strong lineup with Nowitzki at power forward, Chandler at center, Ellis at shooting guard and a likely upgrade at some point at point guard. The only thing missing is a small forward. Adding James or Anthony would make Dallas a title contender again.

Nowitzki said he would be willing to help the Mavs in their efforts to recruit James, Anthony and other free agents. “I don’t want to go anywhere. [Dallas owner Mark Cuban] doesn’t want me to go anywhere,” Nowitzki said. “Hopefully, it will be a short and quick meeting and get it over and we can get better as a franchise again.

“I’ve been in Dallas so long it wouldn’t even feel right to wear a different jersey and live somewhere else. I never saw that happening in 2010, the last time I was a free agent, and I’m not going to see it now. Mark and I are going to find a deal that is respectable for both sides and hopefully get better again. Last year was a lot better.”