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Dallas Mavericks: Complete 2017 offseason grades

By Jordan Treske

DALLAX, TX - JUNE 23: Donnie Nelson, Mark Cuban, Dennis Smith Jr., Rick Carlisle and Michael Finley of the Dallas Mavericks introduce their 2017 draft pick Dennis Smith Jr. during at a press conference on June 23, 2017 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glen James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAX, TX - JUNE 23: Donnie Nelson, Mark Cuban, Dennis Smith Jr., Rick Carlisle and Michael Finley of the Dallas Mavericks introduce their 2017 draft pick Dennis Smith Jr. during at a press conference on June 23, 2017 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glen James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /

Re-signing Dirk Nowitzki

In a move that shouldn’t surprise anyone, the Mavericks re-signed franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki to a two-year, $10 million deal a few days into free agency this summer (a team option is included on the second year).

At 39 years old, Nowitzki carries the type of limitations anyone would expect in a player who has played the game for this long at a very high level. Nowitzki’s 26.4 minutes per game last year rank as the lowest minute total of his career since his rookie season in 1998-99 and the same nearly goes for his 54 appearances as well, the exception being the 2012-13 season where the German native missed nearly the first two months due to injury.

While the latter was certainly exaggerated as the team’s playoff hopes faded the further we went into the season, it’s clear that some parameters are put in place to preserve Nowitzki over the course of a regular season at this point in his career.

Despite being at his advanced age, Nowitzki still can be depended on delivering the same things that have made him the player he has been for this long.

He’s still a lethal shooter, especially from deep, and though his scoring output isn’t the same as it once was under regular measures, he still packs a scoring punch in his more monitored role by per-36 minute standards (Nowitzki posted 19.4 points per-36 minutes last season).

Although Nowitzki’s mobility is far from what it once was, head coach Rick Carlisle has opted to use him as a stretch-5 from time to time, opening up the team’s spacing to even greater degrees.

All in all, there wasn’t a surer bet this offseason than Nowitzki re-upping with the Mavs for what will be the 20th season of his career. If Nowitzki can keep fighting off Father Time, who knows if this upcoming year will be his curtain call.

Grade: B+

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